DOW Support to the Southern Border

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.

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.

A paratrooper assigned to the Army's 82nd Airborne Division prepares to launch an unmanned aerial system at an undisclosed location in the Middle East during a training event, June 16, 2026.

Army Pfc. Ethan Lair, left, and Spc. Jeremiah Ortiz, assigned to the 125th Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, recover an unmanned surface vessel during Exercise Salaknib 2026 from the Casiguran Sound in the northeastern part of Luzon, Philippines, June 8, 2026.

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.

Navy Petty Officers 1st Class Kenneth Mangahas, front, and Zane Elliott launch an Iver3 unmanned underwater vehicle during Baltic Operations in Liepaja, Latvia, June 10, 2026. The exercise was designed to strengthen combined response capabilities critical to preserving freedom of navigation and security in the Baltic Sea.

Marine Corps Cpl. Midley Devariste, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, uses an angle grinder to cut brackets during barrier reinforcement operations in Naco, Ariz., June 1, 2026.

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter conducts sling load operations near El Centro, Calif., March 3, 2026. The sling load operations were required to move materials from the mountainous areas along the southern border after 11,700 miles of concertina wire were built.

A TRV-150 tactical resupply drone fires a 70 mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rocket during flight testing at Fort Rucker, Ala., May 20. The test marked the first time the system flew and successfully fired from its newly integrated three-shot launcher.

Marine Corps Lance Cpls. Samuel Sosa, left, and Sebastian Robles, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, operate a boom lift to replace concertina wire during barrier reinforcement operations in Nogales, Ariz., May 15, 2026. U.S. Northern Command is working side-by-side with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to provide unique military capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of the U.S. southern border.

Marine Corps Lance Cpls. Allen Tomb, left, and Dylan Lindsey, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, weld prefabricated brackets onto the southern barrier during reinforcement operations in Naco, Ariz., May 20, 2026. U.S. Northern Command is working side-by-side with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to provide unique military capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of the U.S. southern border.

Marines assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border extend concertina wire for barrier reinforcement operations in Naco, Ariz., May 20, 2026. U.S. Northern Command is working side-by-side with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to provide unique military capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of the U.S. southern border.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Luke Smith, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, provides security along the southern barrier as part of barrier reinforcement operations in Nogales, Ariz., May 15, 2026. U.S. Northern Command is working side-by-side with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to provide unique military capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of the U.S. southern border.

Marines assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border stand in a line to board a UH-60 Black Hawk during a simulated casualty evacuation exercise near San Ysidro, Calif., May 20, 2026. U.S. Northern Command is working side-by-side with the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection within narrowly defined authorities to provide unique military capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of the U.S. southern border.

Marine Corps Lance Cpls. Rey Gonzalez, left, and Terence Hall, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, patrol along the U.S.-Mexico border near El Centro, Calif., May 21, 2026. U.S. Northern Command is working side-by-side with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection within narrowly defined authorities to provide unique military capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of the U.S. southern border.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Carter Gil, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, launches a Skydio X10 small unmanned aerial system to maintain situational awareness along the U.S.-Mexico border near El Centro, Calif., May 21, 2026.

The Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray takes its first flight April 25 at Boeing’s facility at MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, Ill. The MQ-25 is the Navy’s first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft.

Army Spc. Kincaide Bunfill, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, uses binoculars to monitor the barrier near Bisbee, Ariz., as part of Operation Strike Kraken, May 7, 2026. Monitoring cartel scout sites, maintaining a ready posture to defeat enemy drones and ensuring shared communications with U.S. Customs and Border Protection are the operation's key tasks.

Marine Corps Cpl. Angel Vasquez prepares to fly a drone during a simulated airfield seizure operation as part of Balikatan at Calayan, Cagayan, Philippines, April 29, 2026. The exercise represents the strength of the U.S.-Philippine alliance, improves the capability of the combined force and demonstrates the commitment to regional peace and prosperity.

Marines assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border install triple-strand concertina wire using boom lifts during barrier reinforcement operations in Douglas, Ariz., April 17, 2026. U.S. Northern Command is working with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection within narrowly defined authorities to provide unique military capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of the U.S. southern border.