DOD Support to the Southern Border

Marine Corps Cpl. Benjamin Sawall, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, exits an Army UH-60 Black Hawk in Yuma, Ariz., Aug. 7, 2025.

U.S. Air Force Academy cadets participate in the Acceptance Day Parade at Stillman Field in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 6, 2025. Acceptance Day marks the completion of basic cadet training where new cadets receive the fourth-class shoulder boards signifying the acceptance into the Cadet Wing.

Airmen exit an Air Force HC-130J Combat King II during a free-fall jump as part of Relámpago de los Andes at Palanquero Air Base, Colombia, Aug. 6, 2025. U.S. and Colombian airmen shared tactics and techniques during the exercise.

An image of a Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile. Sentinel ICBMs will replace the 400 Minuteman III ICBMs for U.S. nuclear forces.

An image of a Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile. Sentinel ICBMs will replace the 400 Minuteman III ICBMs for U.S. nuclear forces.

An image of a Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile. Sentinel ICBMs will replace the 400 Minuteman III ICBMs for U.S. nuclear forces.

An Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border carries supplies for soldiers conducting operations in a remote area near Chula Vista, Calif., Aug. 2, 2025.

Soldiers and airmen depart a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during a joint training exercise at Pearce, Ariz., July 31, 2025. The training helps master air-to-ground integration and enhance operational readiness in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to protect the territorial integrity of the U.S.

Army Spcs. Jennifer Reed, left, and Michael Reuss, both assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, align a mortar during a training exercise at Pearce, Ariz., July 31, 2025.

Army Capt. Dana Shears, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, prepares to conduct reconnaissance with a Black Hornet 4 PRS G3 drone near McAllen, Texas, Aug. 1, 2025. The drone can scan for illegal activity along the Rio Grande and other border areas.

Army 1st Lt. Gavin M. Rourke, right, and Spc. Desli Pena-Martinez, both assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, survey the landscape in preparation for a nighttime dismounted foot patrol near McAllen, Texas, July 31, 2025.

Air Force Master Sgt. Troy Lawrence inspects a GBU-54 bomb after assembly during Resolute Force Pacific 2025 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Aug. 7, 2025. The exercise is part of the Department-Level Exercise series, making a stronger, more lethal deterrent force in contested, dynamic environments.

Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border review positions of Army forces at Otay Mountain in San Diego County, Calif., Aug. 3, 2025. The 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team's leadership visited the area to assess how Charlie Company conducts detection, monitoring and sustainment operations across difficult terrain.

An airman descends from an Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter during Exercise Red Flag Rescue 25-3 in Oxnard, Calif., Aug. 4, 2025. The joint combat search and rescue exercise involves various wings and partner nations.

Army Sgt. Brayden Stricker, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, monitors activity from an observation post at Otay Mountain in San Diego County, Calif., Aug. 3, 2025.

Army Sgt. Elias Herrera, right, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, talks to a Border Patrol agent before a joint dismounted patrol in Wellton, Ariz., Aug. 1, 2025. Dismounted patrols enable soldiers and agents to detect suspicious patterns in austere border terrain.

Army Sgt. Arnold De la Riva, left, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, talks to a Border Patrol agent before a joint dismounted patrol in Wellton, Ariz., Aug. 1, 2025. Dismounted patrols enable soldiers and agents to detect suspicious patterns along austere border terrain.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Ryan Racic simulates defending an entry control point during Bamboo Eagle at Camp Robinson, Ark., Aug. 3, 2025. The exercise was designed to test readiness through intricate challenges, improve rapid deployment of forces and exercise mission command.

An Air Force TU-2S Dragon Lady assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing lands at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., Aug. 1, 2025. This flight, which took place on the 70th anniversary of the U-2's first flight, broke endurance records for a U-2 aircraft, flying for more than 14 hours and traveling over 6,000 nautical miles.

Vermont Air and Army National Guardsmen compete in The Adjutant General Match at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Jericho, Vt., Aug. 3, 2025. The match is designed to showcase airmen and soldiers' marksmanship skills in a competition setting.