DOD Support to the Southern Border

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.

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.

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.

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.

U.S. and Australian service members pose with a long-range hypersonic weapon system in Australia's Northern Territory, July 10, 2025. U.S. troops were participating in Talisman Sabre 25, a bilateral exercise with multinational elements hosted by Australia in partnership with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

Army Spc. Max Boatner operates a C100 drone during a field demonstration as part of Agile Spirit, a multinational training exercise, at Norio Training Area, Georgia, Aug. 2, 2025. The demonstration highlighted the integration of unmanned systems into tactical sustainment operations.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Laura Perez, center, a field medical service technician assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, aids Marine Corps Air Station Yuma Fire Department personnel during training in Yuma, Ariz., July 29, 2025.

Army Sgt. 1st Class James Heroux, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, drives an M1301 infantry squad vehicle across rugged terrain near Otay Mountain in Sand Diego County, Calif., July 31, 2025.

An Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border delivers a supplies container to Army Maj. David Rodgers, left, and Spc. Ryen Dean, also assigned to the border task force, near Otay Mountain in San Diego County, Calif., July 31, 2025. Sling-load air operations provide logistics support to soldiers operating in terrain difficult to reach by ground.

An Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border delivers an M1301 vehicle to Army 1st Lt. Amanda Santos and Sgt. Abram Nute, also assigned to the border task force, near Otay Mountain in San Diego County, Calif., July 31, 2025.

An Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border carries an M1301 infantry squad vehicle near Otay Mountain in San Diego County, Calif., July 31, 2025. The transport enabled rapid mobility for soldiers navigating rugged terrain along the border.

From left, Marine Corps Cpl. Israel Garcia, Lance Cpl. Clowen Jones and Cpl. Joseph Halland, all assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, weld a prefabricated bracket to the border barrier for additional concertina wire in Yuma, Ariz., July 29, 2025.

Marines assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border place concertina wire on the border wall in Yuma, Ariz., July 29, 2025.

Marines assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border place concertina wire on prefabricated brackets to reinforce the border barrier in Yuma, Ariz., July 29, 2025.

Marines assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border place concertina wire on prefabricated brackets to reinforce the border barrier in Yuma, Ariz., July 29, 2025.