Tech. Sgt. Manuel Martinez/US Air Force
US Army Special Forces soldier jumps off the ramp of CH-47 Chinook helicopter with his military working dog during training in 2011.
When the members of the Navy's elite SEAL Team Six launched their raid into Osama bin Laden's compound, Cairo was one of the first to hit the ground.
The Belgian Malinois, one of the military's favorite breeds, went into battle outfitted similarly to his human counterparts, donning body armor, and high-tech eye wear called 'doggles.'
Cairo, like the SEAL team he served alongside, gained immediate media attention. But he wasn't the first canine to join soldiers in battle; dogs have been an integral part of military units throughout history. Their natural skills and instincts, honed through intense training, make them proficient at locating bombs, weapons and drugs and, at times, finding and supplying wounded soldiers on the battlefield.
Here's a look at the ways militaries have used canines for operations, from aiding wounded troops to sniffing out bombs.