FROM COMBAT BOOTS TO TEXTBOOKS: MARINE K9 HANDLER CPL. CADEN VILLEGAS ON HIS JOURNEY TO HPU

Corporal Caden Villegas, a military police officer dog handler based at Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi (MCBH) in Kaneohe, is not only dedicated to the responsibilities that come with putting on a uniform but also those that come with being a student at Hawaiʻi Pacific University. For Villegas, earning his degree highlights his commitment to pursuing opportunities that will contribute to his personal and professional development.

Raised in California, Villegas has always been drawn to the United States Marine Corps. “I wanted to join the best branch,” he said, smiling. His desire was to not just serve but to also make a profound impact.

A Calling to Serve

Intent on becoming a military police officer, Villegas wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, a civilian police officer in California. After learning more about dog handlers and how their work is crucial in saving lives and enhancing security, he was determined to pursue it as a career.

“I didn’t really know much about dog handling until then. But after hearing about the role that handlers play in detecting explosives and IEDs, I was especially attracted to the work,” he said.

The selection process was intense. Not only was Villegas required to demonstrate excellence in physical fitness, but he also needed to graduate from the Military Police Academy and be certified as a rifle and pistol expert. Undeterred, he successfully completed all of the prerequisites to earn a place at a military working dog school in Texas.

Following school, Villegas moved to MCBH and settled into his new role as a K9 handler. His responsibilities are vital and varied, ranging from sweeping VIP areas for explosives to ensuring the safety of visiting dignitaries on the island.

“We’ll go in first to make sure there are no IEDs or harmful things that shouldn’t be there,” he said, a role that places him at the forefront of defense during high-profile events. “I’ve done sweeps for Presidents, Vice-Presidents, former Presidents and Vice-Presidents, foreign diplomats, you name it.”

The rapport between handler and dog is pivotal for any K9 professional’s success. Villegas candidly shared his experiences, both challenging and rewarding, of building trust with these highly trained animals.

“My first dog hates me still to this day,” he laughed. “He had multiple handlers, went through multiple deployments, and faced other challenges that made it harder to build a rapport with him.”

His current canine partner is more receptive. But building this relationship is both a science and an art, demanding patience and constant interaction. “Obedience is a big part of it but so is building that trust. Every day that we spend together helps the dog trust me and also me trust the dog.”

 

Making Room for HPU

Parallel to his military career, Villegas is pursuing his undergraduate degree at HPU. He’s driven by a vision of life in the future beyond the Marines. “I would like to eventually work for a three-letter federal agency, and I need a bachelor’s degree for that,” he explained.

HPU has provided a flexible learning environment that accommodates his unpredictable schedule. “Every teacher I’ve had has been very helpful,” he acknowledged. “It’s less stressful knowing that I have an open line of communication with my professors in case I need to be off island for training or for an assignment and I have coursework due. While I haven’t had to use that much, it’s reassuring to know that it is there as an option should there be a scheduling or timing issue.”

Beyond military and school, Villegas and his wife like to explore the island’s less touristy locales. “She’s made a lot of friends through her job and has embraced the Hawaiian culture to the fullest. She gets me to go out and experience new things outside of Waikiki,” he said.

Villegas’s wife, who he has known since middle school, has also had a huge influence on his academic journey. She serves as his rock, ensuring he stays on track. And her pursuit of her own academic degree inspires Villegas to keep on going even when it can be challenging to balance all of his responsibilities.

“She is an ER technician and is going to nursing school. She is the reason I passed all of my classes in high school. And I admire how she not only is working but going to school at the same time – and paying for it out-of-pocket,” he said.

His understanding of the true value of education and how fortunate he is to have access to resources through the military to pay for it drives his desire to encourage other servicemembers to get their degrees. “To put it simply, I tell them, don’t be silly. Go to college. It’s free,” he emphasized. “At the end of the day, every Marine has to leave the Marines whether that is after serving three years or thirty years so they should set themselves up for success when that time comes.”

Villegas has not only learned a lot in the classroom, but his experience at HPU has helped him to learn more about himself and the type of leader he would like to be. He’s been able to apply these values and skills, in near real time, to his work in the Marines and has improved his professionalism.

“My favorite course so far was the leadership course. It dove into the theory behind leadership and why people make certain decisions when they are in positions of leadership. It helped me to be a better NCO,” he said.

As he nears the completion of his associate degree and plans for a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, Villegas remains committed to his dual roles as a Marine and student. His journey has been one of not just personal achievements but as an example of the potential military personnel have to transform their service into a springboard for lifelong learning and career advancement.

“No matter what happens, I know HPU has my back,” Villegas concluded.