DOD Support to the Southern Border

Marine Corps Sgt. Frankie Meno fires an M240B machine gun during close air support drills as part of Service Level Training Exercise 4-25 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 26 2025. The exercise was designed to provide a challenging, realistic training environment to produce combat-ready forces capable of operating as an integrated Marine air-ground task force across all domains of military operations.

Marine Corps Maj. Ryan Bare dives onto an assault pack during a water survival qualification event at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, July 29, 2025. Basic water survival is a training requirement for Marines to pass every two to three years to maintain and develop water survival skills.

Army officer candidates roll a barrel of supplies over a simulated minefield during a field leader's reaction course as part of Officer Candidate School at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., July 27, 2025. The training tested officer candidates on leadership and critical thinking abilities before commissioning as second lieutenants.

A soldier applies face paint to prepare for a joint airborne operation during Agile Spirit at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, July 21, 2025. The exercise is designed to strengthen regional security cooperation, build military capacity, integrate innovations and foster interoperability in NATO and with participating partners.

A sailor jumps from an MH-60S Sea Hawk during a combat search and rescue exercise in the Ionian Sea, July 28, 2025.

Marine Corps Cpl. Nathan Baptiste, a small unmanned aircraft system operator assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, operates a Skydio X2D drone during a reconnaissance patrol near Yuma, Ariz., July 21, 2025.

Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border and U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel carry simulated casualties to a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during medevac training near El Paso, Texas, July 11, 2025. The training enhances medical evacuation skills, reinforces interagency collaboration and improves air-ground coordination to ensure rapid, safe transport of casualties.

Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border sling load a Humvee to a CH-47 Chinook during training at Fort Bliss, Texas, July 16, 2025. Sling-load capabilities allow for equipment up to 25,000 pounds to be transported by helicopter to remote areas of the border.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Alejandro Soto, an infantry rifleman assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, prepares materials for barrier reinforcement in Yuma, Ariz., July 24, 2025.

A soldier fires an M240B machine gun during the blank fire portion of a live-fire exercise as part of Exercise Devil Avalanche at Fort Bragg, N.C., July 27, 2025. The exercise trains soldiers to operate in darkness and builds key weapon systems proficiencies.

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon House fires a .50-caliber machine gun during crew-served weapons qualifications aboard the USS Milius in the Indian Ocean, July 23, 2025.

Soldiers conduct crew gunnery training in an M7A4 Bradley fighting vehicle during a combined-arms live-fire exercise at the Central Training Area near Camp Tapa, Estonia, July 25, 2025.

U.S. and South Korean Marines simulate securing a road intersection during the Korean Marine Exchange Program 25.2 in Pocheon, South Korea, July 23, 2025. The program aims to increase combined capabilities through realistic training that focuses on deterring threats and maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific.

Soldiers hook up a Humvee to an Army CH-47 during sling-load operations at Fort Bragg, N.C., July 26, 2025.

A soldier conducts a paradrop from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a reconnaissance and surveillance leaders course at Ledo South Drop Zone at Fort Benning, Ga., July 25, 2025.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Hunter Allison and Senior Airman Andrew Wright drag a hose into position for a distributed integrated combat turn exercise at Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., July 24, 2025. The exercise focused on simultaneous rearming and refueling of multiple fighter jets in under 90 minutes.

Army Cpl. Tyrique Carter, right, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, teaches Marine Corps Sgt. Zachary Obrecht how to operate a Dronebuster device to counter small unmanned aircraft systems during training in Yuma, Ariz., July 20, 2025.

Marine Corps Cpl. Jack Miller, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, practices operating a Dronebuster to counter small unmanned aircraft systems during training in Yuma, Ariz., July 20, 2025.

Army Sgt. Alexis Rohrer, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, inspects the underside of an MQ-1C Gray Eagle drone from its hangar at Libby Army Airfield, Fort Huachuca, Ariz., July 21, 2025.

An MQ-1C Gray Eagle drone assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border is prepared for deployment in a hangar at Fort Huachuca's Libby Army Airfield, Ariz., July 21, 2025.