DOW Support to the Southern Border

U.S. soldiers construct a floating bridge during a wet gap-crossing exercise with South Korean engineers near the Namhan River in South Korea, Nov. 20, 2025.

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, conducts aerial refueling with a KC-135 Stratotanker over the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 17, 2025.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt, left, and the USS Carl M. Levin prepare for a refueling in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 16, 2025. The Theodore Roosevelt, flagship of Carrier Strike Group 9, is conducting exercises to bolster readiness and capability in the 3rd Fleet area of operations.

Sailors assigned to the USS Asheville conduct mooring operations at Naval Base Guam, Nov. 18, 2025. The Asheville is one of five fast-attack submarines forward-deployed in the Pacific Ocean.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents conduct maritime operations with soldiers to share insights about tactics and strategies used to safeguard the nation's southern border in Del Rio, Texas, March 7, 2025.

Marines assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border prepare concertina wire to reinforce the southern border barrier in Yuma, Ariz., Nov. 12, 2025.

Marine Corps Sgt. Alexander Trelease, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, drags concertina wire to a staging area while reinforcing the southern border barrier in Yuma, Ariz., Nov. 12, 2025.

Marine Corps Cpl. Mark Salazar, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, provides security as Marines reinforce the southern border barrier in Yuma, Ariz., Nov. 12, 2025.

Navy aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing 5 and a South Korean navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft fly in formation during a carrier strike group exercise in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility, Nov. 12, 2025.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony Howay heaves a phone and distance line with other sailors on the flight deck of the USS George Washington during a refueling in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility, Nov. 13, 2025.

Pacific Partnership 2025 band member Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Damien Chambers performs for students at Santo East School in Luganville, Vanuatu, Nov. 10, 2025. Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific.

Marine Corps Cpl. Paul Emmanuel Kouassi, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, attaches concertina to reinforce the southern border barrier in Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 15, 2025

Marine Corps Pfc. Ethan Webb works on a bracket at the southern border barrier in Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 15, 2025.

Marines assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border reinforce the southern border barrier in Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 15, 2025.

Marines assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border place concertina wire while reinforcing the southern border barrier in Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 15, 2025.

Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Kimble Petersen is lowered from an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter during a vertical surface training exercise in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, Nov. 12, 2025. Vertical surface hoisting is a specialized technique where aircrews lower rescue swimmers to vertical terrain, such as cliff faces, mountainsides or ship superstructures, to recover stranded or injured individuals.

Marine Corps Sgt. Gavin Bart completes an obstacle as part of the Basic Jungle Skills Course at the Jungle Warfare Training Center in Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 24, 2025. During the week-long course, Marines learned basic jungle survival skills, tactical rope suspension techniques and jungle warfare tactics.

Marines assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border work to emplace a Yuma National Defense Area in Yuma, Ariz., Sept. 24, 2025. The task force executes full-scale, agile and all-domain operations in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to protect the territorial integrity of the United States and achieve 100% operational control of the southern border.

Marine Corps Cpl. Nathan Baptiste, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, prepares a post driver for a Yuma National Defense Area sign in Yuma, Ariz., Sept. 24, 2025.

Army Sgt. Danny Macias, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, prepares to load a buoy to mark the National Defense Area along the Rio Grande near McAllen, Texas, Sept. 25, 2025. The task force executes full-scale, agile and all-domain operations in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to protect the territorial integrity of the United States and achieve 100% operational control of the southern border.