Sergeant reunites with military dog retiring from active duty. Watch the emotional moment

Air Force Staff Sgt. Mike Alcala struggled in 2021 when his duties shifted and he was no longer working with a bomb-sniffing German shepherd named John.

The two had worked together for three years at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. In an interview with Morgan Chesky on TODAY Dec. 22 , Alcala said that when his skills were needed elsewhere, he had to part ways with his canine colleague.

“Leaving him was rough,” Alcala said. "It was definitely hard. Think about your dog at home if you have one. Imagine just walking out the door and just leaving them to someone else. It’s very sad, but you know they’re going to be in good hands."

However, as they were being separated, Alcala made a promise.

"I told them when I was leaving there, I said, 'I am coming back for this dog,'" Alcala said.

That magical moment came recently when John was relieved from active duty after eight years of service and went to live out his golden years with Alcala and his family in Texas.