DOW Support to the Southern Border

Mexican Border Defense Medals are displayed during a ceremony honoring soldiers assigned to the 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) at Joint Base San Antonio, June 15, 2026. This image was cropped to emphasize the subject and adjusted for color and light.

Army Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commander of 1st Armored Division and Joint Task Force Southern Border, observes a motion sensor array with soldiers and a U.S. Border Patrol agent near Fort Hancock, Texas, July 18, 2026. The sensor array detects suspected illegal entry into the Joint Operations Area and notifies Border Patrol agents.

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.

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.

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.

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 Sgt. Donovan Hager (left), Staff Sgt. Carlos Richardson, Spc. Destani Cook, Sgt. Deandre Gordon, and Spc. Benjamin Chunn, all assigned to the 890th Engineer Battalion, Mississippi National Guard, Joint Task Force Magnolia, pose for a photo at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., June 10, 2026.

Medal of Honor recipients retired Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams, front left, and retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Britt Slabinski, right, receive recognition during NASCAR San Diego Weekend at Naval Base Coronado, June 21, 2026.

Army Staff Sgt. Chelsey Scott reaches for a pass in a wheelchair rugby match during the 2026 Warrior Games in San Antonio, June 17, 2026. The annual competition brings together nearly 200 wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans to compete in various adaptive sports.

Retired Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Cory Ewton marks his arrows at an archery competition during the 2026 Warrior Games at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, June 15, 2026. The Warrior Games is bringing together nearly 200 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, Space Force and U.S. Special Operations Command to compete in adaptive sporting events.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Abraham Guillen, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, sets up 360-degree light detection and ranging survey equipment to prepare for a topographical scan near Bob Thompson Peak in Sierra Vista, Ariz., June 9, 2026. Service members conducted a site survey using the equipment to gather terrain data for a road improvement project in support of U.S. Border Patrol.

Team Army competitors greet Team Navy and Coast Guard competitors while traveling along the San Antonio River Walk during the Warrior Games kickoff ceremony in Texas, June 13, 2026. The games bring together nearly 200 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans to compete across multiple adaptive sports.

Marines and veterans assigned to Team Marine Corps, Wounded Warrior Regiment, participate in a scrimmage during a sitting volleyball practice session at the Medical Education and Training Campus Fitness Center at Joint Base San Antonio, June 11, 2026, to build communication and teamwork ahead of the Warrior Games.