The claim states that commanders are required to meet new kennel and enrichment standards within 90 days. Official Army reporting confirms the K9 Holistic Health and Fitness program was established via Army Directive 2025-16, issued Aug. 21, 2025, and specifies comprehensive health, welfare, and enrichment standards for Military Working Dogs (MWDs). The 90-day clock is indicated as a policy expectation under that directive, but the Army article emphasizes broader implementation milestones rather than a completed rollout.
The article notes that the directive mandates implementation across Army MWD units and specifically cites that compliance measures are to be incorporated into Army Regulation 190-12 within two years. This framing indicates a two-year timeline for formal policy integration into AR 190-12, with the 90-day kennel/enrichment standard being an initial or interim compliance expectation rather than final, universal completion.
Progress evidence to date centers on adoption and pilot/rollout in various MWD detachments (e.g., Vicenza) as part of the K9H2F program, which standardizes conditioning routines, enrichment activities, nutrition, and recovery protocols. The reporting describes ongoing training and health-monitoring activities across multiple locations, reflecting phased implementation rather than a finished, Army-wide standard.
Concrete milestones cited include the August 2025 directive issuance and the formal plan to embed related criteria into AR 190-12 within two years. The projected completion date tied to the original claim (March 18, 2026) is superseded by the two-year AR-190-12 incorporation timeline, suggesting the 90-day target is part of a broader, evolving compliance framework rather than a one-off completion.
Source reliability is high given the Army's official publication of the directive and program details. The coverage describes a policy-driven initiative with verifiable dates (Aug. 21, 2025; two-year AR 190-12 incorporation) and concrete examples of program rollout at MWD detachments, supporting a cautious, ongoing status rather than final completion. The focus on policy-incentives and structured health metrics mirrors the Army’s formal, centralized approach to
K9 welfare and readiness.