DOW Support to the Southern Border

Army Maj. Gen. Henry S. Dixon, left, Joint Task Force North commander, discusses southern border operations with Marines assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, near San Ysidro, Calif., Jan. 28, 2025. U.S. Northern Command is working with the Department of Homeland Security on the emplacement of temporary physical barriers to add additional security to curtail illegal border crossings.

A soldier assigned to the 192nd Quartermaster Company from Milan, Ohio, uses binoculars to monitor the southern border near Santa Teresa, N.M., in support of U.S. Northern Command, Jan. 28, 2025. Northcom is working with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border. This initial deployment of more than 1,600 active-duty personnel brings the total number of armed forces along the border to nearly 4,000.

A soldier directs fellow soldiers at Biggs Army Airfield, Fort Bliss, Texas, Jan. 26, 2025. U.S. Northern Command is working with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the border with additional military forces.

An airman directs a forklift driver loading Army equipment onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Fort Carson, Colo., Jan. 26, 2025. U.S. Northern Command is working with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the border with additional military forces.

Soldiers exit a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at Biggs Army Airfield in El Paso, Texas, as they deploy to the southern border in support of U.S. Northern Command, Jan. 25, 2025. Northcom is working with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the border with additional military forces.

A Marine assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, reinforces the southern border protective barrier near San Ysidro, Calif., Jan. 25, 2025.

Marines assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, deploy concertina wire along the southern border wall near San Ysidro, Calif., Jan. 25, 2025.

A Marine assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, unravels concertina wire along the southern border near San Ysidro, Calif., Jan. 25, 2025.

Soldiers assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 716th Military Police Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, arrive for their deployment along the southern border, Jan. 25, 2025.

Soldiers assigned to the 549th Military Police Company, 16th Military Police Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps, prepare for rapid deployment to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border with additional military forces, Jan. 25, 2025.

Marine Corps Sgt. Shawn Fichtel participates in a coastal defense rehearsal during Kamandag 8 at Apurawan Beach, Palawan Province, Philippines, Oct. 21, 2024. Kamandag 8 is a bilateral exercise between U.S. and Philippine marines designed to improve multinational readiness, relationships and mutual capabilities.

U.S. Marines and Philippine airmen move pallets of supplies during foreign disaster relief operations at Basco Airport in Basco, Batanes Province, Philippines, Oct. 8, 2024. The Defense Department is providing relief in the aftermath of Typhoon Krathon in Northern Luzon.

A Marine looks out the rear of a Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey over Basco, Philippines, Oct. 8, 2024. The aircraft is transporting disaster relief supplies in the aftermath of Typhoon Krathon in northern Luzon.

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Hsien Clod Pascua from Honolulu plays tag with students during a community outreach event at Arimbay Elementary School in support of Pacific Partnership 2024-2 in Legazpi, Philippines, Aug. 5, 2024. Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission in the Indo-Pacific.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken pose for a photo with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo during the U.S.-Philippines Two-Plus-Two Ministerial Dialogue in Manila, Philippines, July 30, 2024.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken stand for a photo with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Malacañang Palace in Manila, Philippines, July 30, 2024.

A Marine Corps amphibious combat vehicle splashes from the well deck of the USS Harpers Ferry and into Oyster Bay during exercise Balikatan 24 in the Philippines, May 4, 2024. The annual exercise strengthens bilateral interoperability between U.S. and Philippine forces.

A Philippine Marine and U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jonathan Ellis aim an FIM-92 Stinger during low altitude air defense tactical position training as part of Balikatan 24 at Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui, Philippines, April 26, 2024. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the U.S. and Philippine militaries designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust and cooperation.

Marine Corps Cpl. Joshua Henneberg launches a small unmanned aerial system while training with Philippine marines during Exercise Balikatan on Balabac Island in the Philippines, April 26, 2024. The annual exercise strengthens interoperability between the two nations.

Marines conduct a pushup competition with children at an orphanage in Palawan, Philippines, Nov. 19, 2023. Service members played games with the children and distributed food provided by a local catering company.