LANSING, Mich. – As the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment prepares for deployment, one member of the regiment is preparing differently and is ready to paws for nothing when it comes to supporting his Soldiers.
Axel, a 3-year-old Dogo Argentino, is the battalion’s ministry dog and will deploy alongside his handler, Sgt. Mollie Karazim, a religious affairs specialist with the Michigan National Guard.
Axel’s journey has been unique from the beginning. Born deaf, he was surrendered to a shelter as a puppy after his previous owners discovered he could not hear. Rather than seeing his deafness as a limitation, Karazim adapted her training methods and developed a system of visual cues and hand signals to communicate with him. That communication includes teaching Axel more than 50 commands, including several in American Sign Language. Over time, Karazim incorporated Axel’s deafness into his training and his ability to serve alongside Soldiers.
“It (training a deaf dog) is very different from a dog who can hear,” Karazim said. “He has to trust me, and we have built that trust from a puppy.”
When Karazim joined the military seven years ago, she never imagined her career would eventually bring together her passion for working with dogs and her role supporting Soldiers. She has spent more than three years with the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, where she works alongside chaplains to support Soldiers throughout the formation.
“When I joined the National Guard, I originally wanted to be a canine handler, but then I learned that was not a role available in Michigan,” Karazim said. “As I explored different options, religious affairs specialist seemed like the next best fit.”
Years later, Karazim found a way to combine those interests when she began exploring the possibility of bringing a ministry dog into the force. When she adopted Axel, a hunting dog known for his strength, athleticism and loyalty, she already had an idea in the back of her mind: He could be the perfect candidate for training as a ministry dog for the unit.
“Axel is loyal, loving and made for an active lifestyle, so I thought he would be a good fit for the infantry. When I first adopted him, I began training him but with the understanding that I would have to wait and see if he would integrate well with the unit when he grew up,” Karazim said.
Even with years of training, Karazim wanted to make sure Axel was the right fit for the unit. Throughout the past year, Axel has become part of the 125th Infantry Regiment’s routine. During drill weekends, he rides in Humvees, spends time in the field and interacts with Soldiers throughout the battalion.
“I would slowly bring him to unit events to see how he would respond,” Karazim said. “He did great. My command team has been outstanding about having Axel in the unit and seeing the value of him.”
Part of earning the command team’s approval was proving that Axel could remain professional at drill. On drill weekends, Axel wears a vest and collar specifically for his ministry duties, giving him a visual cue that it is time to shift into working mode. Karazim’s uniform has become another signal he recognizes.
“He has a vest that he only wears when he is working,” Karazim said. “He also has a special collar that he only wears when he is working. When he sees those, he knows he is going to drill.”
Leadership also wanted to know whether Axel could handle operating in the field.
“Their question was, ‘What are you going to do? Will he be able to be in the field?’” Karazim said. “I said, ‘Yes, of course. What else?’”
At the battalion level, Karazim works with hundreds of Soldiers from multiple companies, often meeting them during counseling and other ministry engagements. Her role is integral to supporting Soldiers as they accomplish their mission, and Axel has made that work even more impactful.
“Having Axel in the infantry has been a huge benefit,” Karazim said. “He is an icebreaker, and he has helped me connect with Soldiers I otherwise would not have connected with.”
With the unit’s approval, the next step was preparing Axel for deployment, which required countless hours of training, specialized courses and adapting the way Karazim communicates with him. Much of the financial investment in his training and care has also been personal.
“This whole experience has been incredibly rewarding,” she said. “Axel has been a great asset to the ministry and has helped make everyone light up.”
As the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment prepares for its next mission, Axel will be right there with the unit, ready to work, support his Soldiers and put his best paw forward.