DOD Support to the Southern Border

Army Brig. Gen. Thaddeus D. Fineran, left, deputy director of operations, U.S. Northern Command, discusses National Defense Area signage with Coast Guardsmen near McAllen, Texas, July 27, 2025. The signs clearly mark designated defense areas and warn of the consequences of unauthorized entry along the border.

Soldiers simulate providing suppressive fire during a combined arms live-fire exercise at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 29, 2025.

Marines conduct dry-fire close-quarter tactical training during Service Level Training Exercise 4-25 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 29, 2025. The exercise presents a challenging, realistic training environment to produce integrated, combat-ready forces.

Soldiers conduct live-fire training with an M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams main battle tank at Camp Ripley Training Center near Little Falls, Minn., July 28, 2025.

Marines assigned to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and 2nd Distribution Support Battalion perform an external lift with a CH-53K King Stallion helicopter as part of training to refine humanitarian aid and disaster relief capabilities at Coast Guard Station Key West, Fla., July 28, 2025.

Marines participate in small boat sustainment training on a combat rubber raiding craft at Naval Base White Beach in Okinawa, Japan, July 28, 2025.

Vessels from the Border Patrol and Coast Guard patrol the recently established Rio Grande Valley National Defense Area near McAllen, Texas, July 27, 2025. Joint Task Force Southern Border is supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection to achieve 100% operational control of the southern border.

An Army paratrooper assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, fires an M240B machine gun during a platoon live-fire exercise as part of Devil Avalanche at Fort Bragg, N.C., July 29, 2025. Devil Avalanche demonstrates the 1st Brigade’s capability to deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours, maintaining the division's mission as the immediate response force of the U.S.

A soldier assigned to the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, fires during a training exercise at Camp Casey, South Korea, July 29, 2025.

Army paratroopers assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, bound toward cover during a live-fire exercise as part of Devil Avalanche at Fort Bragg, N.C., July 27, 2025. Devil Avalanche focuses on demonstrating the brigade's ability to deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours.

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Frankie Cameron III, a martial arts instructor, left, and a British Royal Marine conduct hand-to-hand combat during a physical training circuit as part of "Virginia Tempest" at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., July 30, 2025. The annual event involving U.S. and British marines includes an obstacle course, martial arts and other rigorous activities to support interoperability.

Joseph Humire, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Western Hemisphere affairs, and Army Lt. Col. Kyle Brown, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, discuss how Stryker armored vehicles help the Border Patrol secure the border near Nogales, Ariz., July 28, 2025. This visit facilitates and informs policy to enhance border resources for future implementation.

Army Col. Jennifer Mykins, deputy commanding officer of sustainment for Joint Task Force Southern Border, pointing, briefs Jonathan Owen, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense integration and defense support to civil authorities, on border areas of interest from an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter near Nogales, Ariz., July 26, 2025. The visit was designed to facilitate and inform border policies for future implementation.

Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border prepare to 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.

Army Spc. Benjamin Bell, left, and Sgt. Mackenzie Jones, Washington National Guard snipers assigned to the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team's Long Range Surveillance Section, launch a drone during field training exercise Raven Focus at Yakima Training Center, Wash., July 20, 2025. Soldiers assigned to the unit incorporated drone technology and surveillance tactics in preparation for its transition into a multifunctional reconnaissance company.

Army Sgt. Dominique Green assembles a disruption system for neutralizing improvised explosive devices during training at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, Germany, July 8, 2025.

Air Force pararescuemen assigned to 48th Rescue Squadron wait to board an MV-22B Osprey during a weapons and tactics instructor course at Auxiliary Airfield 2 near Yuma, Ariz., April 23, 2025.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Brady Bane, a defender assigned to the 460th Security Forces Squadron, fires an M4 carbine during heavy weapons training at Camp Guernsey, Wyo., April 4, 2025.

Ohio National Guard soldiers conduct live-fire training with an M1A2 tank at the Camp Ripley Training Center near Little Falls, Minn., July 28, 2025.

Soldiers use hand and arm signals to communicate during a live-fire exercise as part of Devil Avalanche at Fort Bragg, N.C., July 27, 2025. Devil Avalanche focuses on demonstrating the ability of the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team to deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours.