Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, crowned Miss America 2024, donned the bite sleeve Oct. 8, 2024, at the 37th Training Wing. (Miriam Thurber/U.S. Air Force )

Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, who is also Miss America 2024, got her first bite experience during a visit Tuesday to the 37th Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Marsh, the first military service member to be crowned the title of Miss America, donned the K-9 bite sleeve and took part in dog training exercises with Staff Sgt. Adam Gagnon, a military working dog course trainer with the 341st Training Squadron, and learned what training military working dogs and their handlers is all about.

Gagnon positioned Marsh in front of a dog and conducted many biting exercises where they simulated real-life scenarios. For each exercise, the trainers encouraged Marsh to swing her body and yell, mimicking the type of real-world struggle these dogs might face on the job.

“I felt a little bit of pressure,” Marsh said with a smile, “but it didn’t hurt at all, and I felt completely safe.”

Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, crowned Miss America 2024, donned the famous bite sleeve Oct 8, 2024, at the 37th Training Wing. (Miriam Thurber/U.S. Air Force)

Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, crowned Miss America 2024, donned the famous bite sleeve Oct 8, 2024, at the 37th Training Wing. (Miriam Thurber/U.S. Air Force)

Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, crowned Miss America 2024, donned the famous bite sleeve Oct 8, 2024, at the 37th Training Wing. (Miriam Thurber/U.S. Air Force)

Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, crowned Miss America 2024, donned the famous bite sleeve Oct 8, 2024, at the 37th Training Wing. (Miriam Thurber/U.S. Air Force)

Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, crowned Miss America 2024, donned the famous bite sleeve Oct 8, 2024, at the 37th Training Wing. (Miriam Thurber/U.S. Air Force)

Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, crowned Miss America 2024, donned the famous bite sleeve Oct 8, 2024, at the 37th Training Wing. (Miriam Thurber/U.S. Air Force)

During her visit, she absorbed the vital role K-9 teams have in national security and ensuring public safety.

The 341st Training Squadron trains over 600 handlers and nearly 300 canines annually. These dogs are essential partners, trained for detecting explosives, apprehending suspects and much more. Most of the squadron’s dogs are acquired, but about 15% are bred within the squadron, according to a service news release.

Marsh met the puppies and observed their early lessons in obedience and environmental conditioning.

Marsh also visited the handler schoolhouse and connected with airmen, soldiers, sailors and Marines to talk about the rigorous training and schooling aspiring military working dog handlers must undergo.

Aspiring handlers from the Air Force begin their careers in Security Forces and can apply for the specialized training program once they have experience in Air Force law enforcement and security. Those accepted into the program head to Lackland for training, which includes six in-residence courses that teach everything from dog handling and obedience to advanced skills like combat tracking.