DOW Support to the Southern Border

Army Sgt. Mauri Sanchez and Staff Sgt. Chris Wright, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, demonstrate the C-100 capabilities during an unmanned aerial observation in Del Rio, Texas, July 3, 2026. The unmanned aircraft system helps detect illegal crossings and enhance aerial monitoring capabilities.

A C-100 unmanned aircraft system hovers above the ground as a soldier assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border demonstrates its capabilities in Del Rio, Texas, July 3, 2026,

Army Sgt. Mauri Sanchez, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, demonstrates the capabilities of the C-100 unmanned aircraft system in Del Rio, Texas, July 3, 2026. The system helps detect illegal crossings and enhances aerial monitoring capabilities.

Air Force Master Sgt. Timothy Williams, a loadmaster assigned to the Wyoming Air National Guard's 187th Airlift Squadron, 153rd Airlift Wing, prepares cable equipment for functional testing of a modular airborne firefighting system at Cheyenne Air National Guard Base, Wyo., July 14, 2026. The wing was activated July 13 to support wildland firefighting operations in the western United States.

Army Sgt. Maj. William Frazer, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border in support of Operation Ardent Vanguard, observes recovery operations of the Persistent Surveillance System-Tethered aerostat at Site Noria near Santa Teresa, N.M., July 8, 2026. The PSS-T aerostat is an elevated monitoring platform that enhances situational awareness and supports border security operations.

Soldiers assigned to the Army's 623rd Field Artillery Regiment fire an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during a live-fire exercise at Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2026 in Kauai, Hawaii, July 11, 2026. Thirty nations, 30 ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 190 aircraft and more than 30,000 personnel are participating in Rimpac 26 on and around the Hawaiian Islands from June 24 to July 31.

Peter Morris, a shipfitter, uses an angle grinder to touch up a steel grate at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, July 7, 2026. The shipyard stands at the forefront of America's commitment to peace through strength, delivering lethal, resilient, combat-ready submarines.

An Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border hovers over a telecommunication network system during an Operation Muleskinner Trailblazer III sling-load mission in Big Bend, Texas, July 2, 2026. The operation helped the U.S. Border Patrol replace telecommunications equipment to boost joint-agency communications.

Army Spc. Derrick Obeng, a construction equipment repairer assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, prepares the reach tube during a sling-load operation as part of Operation Muleskinner Trailblazer III in Big Bend, Texas, July 2, 2026. The operation helped the U.S. Border Patrol replace telecommunications equipment to boost joint-agency communications.

Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Wood, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, monitors terrain from the cargo ramp of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during Operation Muleskinner Trailblazer III in Big Bend, Texas, July 2, 2026. The operation helped the U.S. Border Patrol replace telecommunications equipment to boost joint-agency communications.

Army Spc. Cody Doran, a CH-47 Chinook helicopter crew chief assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, assists with the dual-point sling-load hookup during Operation Muleskinner Trailblazer III in Big Bend, Texas, July 2, 2026. The operation helped the U.S. Border Patrol replace telecommunications equipment to boost joint-agency communications.

Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border await the arrival of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter at a pickup zone to prepare for the transport of a telecommunications network system during Operation Trailblazer III in Big Bend, Texas, July 2, 2026. The operation helped the U.S. Border Patrol replace telecommunications equipment to boost joint-agency communications.

A soldier assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border signals a CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned to the 1st Armored Division to pick up a telecommunications network system during Operation Muleskinner Trailblazer III in Big Bend, Texas, July 2, 2026. The operation helped the U.S. Border Patrol replace telecommunications equipment to boost joint-agency communications.

A drone sits on the ground at Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center, Wyo., May 15, 2026. Joint Interagency Task Force 401 recently published a practical handbook designed to build a shared understanding of the drone threat and the basic principles of protecting against illicit drones.

A service member walks near executive airlift aircraft assigned to the 89th Airlift Wing and military support aircraft staged on the flight line at Joint Base Andrews, Md., July 3, 2026. The base served as a staging location for aircraft supporting the Freedom 250 celebration.

An Air Force F-15EX Eagle II and F-15E Strike Eagle fly in formation on the wing of a KC-135 Stratotanker over the Pacific Ocean, June 29, 2026. The aircraft traveled to Kadena Air Base, Japan, for integration and familiarization training with local units and joint partners, supporting preparations for the permanent arrival of F-15EX at the base.

Airmen prepare to connect an MEP-806 power generator to an Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter during a joint field training exercise at Fort Harrison, Mont., June 26, 2026. The mission validated a joint operational capability between the Montana Army and Air National Guard, strengthening domestic operations capabilities.

Army 1st Lt. Efren Garcia, a UH-60M Black Hawk pilot assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, performs preflight checks before a routine aerial monitoring mission to maintain situational awareness along the U.S.-Mexico border in California, June 22, 2026.

Army Staff Sgt. Cameron Caratti engages a drone with a Dronebuster during counter-unmanned aircraft systems training as part of Khaan Quest at Five Hills Training Facility near Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, June 21, 2026. The exercise was designed to strengthen relationships and increase interoperability with allies and partners.

A soldier releases an RQ-28A unmanned aircraft system during operator training at Volunteer Training Site-Tullahoma, Tenn., June 17, 2026. Soldiers received hands-on instruction on aircraft controls, mission planning, digital map integration and flight operations while learning to employ the reconnaissance drone in a tactical environment.