Introduction

Animals

Training

Fleet Systems

Mine Hunting

Force Protection

Object Recovery

Fleet Support

Deployments

Marine Mammal Health Care

Research Programs

NMMP FAQs

Calendar Wallpaper

Internship Program

In The News

Organizational Chart

Annotated Bibliography

While dogs work as effective sentries on land, dolphins and sea lions cannot be outmatched as sentries in the water. In the MK 6 MMS, dolphins and sea lions effectively protect piers, ships, harbors, and anchorages against unauthorized swimmers, SCUBA divers, closed-circuit divers, and swimmer delivery vehicles.

MK 6 MMS was first operationally deployed with dolphins during the Vietnam War from 1971 to 1972 and Bahrain from 1986 to 1987.

MK 6 dolphin marking a diver

MK 6 has now been expanded to include specially trained sea lions to locate water-borne intruders and suspicious objects near piers and ships that pose a possible threat to military forces in the area. They have been shown to be effective under and around ships, piers, and in open water.

The sea lions were deployed to Bahrain as part of the effort to support missions under Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sea lions are used to patrol in and around piers, pilings, and other tight spaces.	Pouring some water over the sea lion keeps him wet and cool.
A 375-pound California sea lion on patrol.	A MK 6 sea lion patrolling the harbor.
A sea lion leaps back into the boat after a harbor patrol mission.	Sea lions are effective sentries in harbors and other high-clutter areas.
Workers look on while a sea lion is on patrol.	On patrol
Snack time for Zak.	A sea lion taking a breath and a look around.
Stay!	The animals are trained using operant conditioning, emphasizing positive reinforcement.