TYSONS, Va.–The PenFed Foundation has welcomed an assistance dog in-training, WestPoint, as part of PenFed Credit Union’s continuing partnership with Canine Companions for Independence. WestPoint’s puppy raiser is retired Army General John “Mick” Nicholson, PenFed Foundation president and the first four-star general to raise an assistance dog.
“My wife Norine and I are thrilled to welcome WestPoint as he begins his journey to have a powerful impact in the life of a veteran or other person with a disability,” Gen. Nicholson said. “Working with a mission-driven organization like the Canine Companions team is a privilege and their core values of community and compassionate service align with ours at the PenFed Foundation.”
Gen. Nicholson and his wife traveled to the Canine Companions for Independence Northeast Training Center in Medford, N.Y., to receive WestPoint. Video of the special moment can be viewed here. General Nicholson also met with a wounded veteran who served under his command in Afghanistan who was at the center to receive a fully-trained assistance dog.
The yellow Labrador and Golden Retriever cross joins five additional assistance dogs in-training that PenFed employees are raising. WestPoint will spend the next 18 months as part of the PenFed family in preparation for the next step in the program, where he will spend an additional six months with Canine Companions’ professional instructors learning over 40 professional commands that are useful to a person with disabilities.
Gen. Nicholson, who was the longest-serving commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, is the first four-star military officer to raise an assistance dog with the mission of completing training and going on to help a wounded warrior or other person with a disability. WestPoint is named after Nicholson’s alma mater, The United States Military Academy at West Point, where he served as the First Captain, the highest position in the cadet chain of command.
In addition to welcoming WestPoint in the workplace, PenFed and PenFed Foundation have donated over $100,000 to Canine Companions and are covering all costs associated with raising the dogs.
“Our assistance dogs in-training are part of a mission to help open doors for people with disabilities to become more independent. They also provide unconditional love, companionship and loyalty,” said James Schenck, president and CEO of PenFed Credit Union and CEO of the PenFed Foundation. “I especially thank General Nicholson and our five other PenFed teammates who have volunteered to do the important work of raising these assistance dogs in-training.”
Below, PenFed Credit Union CEO and President and PenFed Foundation CEO James Schenck and PenFed Foundation President John “Mick” Nicholson greet WestPoint.