DOW Support to the Southern Border

A sailor and Marines conduct preflight checks on a UH-1Y Venom assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 11, 2026.

Marines assigned to Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, rappel out of an MH-60S Sea Hawk during training aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 8, 2026. The Tripoli is supporting maritime security and stability in the Middle East.

The guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn approaches the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and the replenishment oiler USNS John Lewis in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, May 8, 2026. The ships are supporting maritime security and stability in the Middle East.

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.

A sailor uses a telescopic alidade aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney, May 4, 2026.

The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush sails in the Arabian Sea while supporting maritime security and stability in the Middle East, May 3, 2026.

The USS Thomas Hudner conducts a replenishment with the USNS Kanawha in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 26, 2026.

Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopters taxi out to conduct a scheduled flight in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility while supporting Operation Epic Fury, May 1, 2026.

Sailors fire a .50-caliber machine gun during a live-fire exercise aboard the USS John Finn in the Indian Ocean, April 25, 2026.

Marines prepare to depart the USS Tripoli to board M/V Blue Star III, a commercial ship suspected of attempting to transit to Iran in violation of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, April 28, 2026. U.S. forces released the vessel after conducting a search and confirming the ship's voyage would not include an Iranian port call.

An Army air defense artilleryman reloads an MIM-104 Patriot missile launcher during Operation Epic Fury in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 29, 2026. The Patriot is the Army's primary terminal-phase antiballistic missile system.

Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit board Blue Star III, a commercial ship suspected of attempting to transit to Iran in violation of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, April 28, 2026. U.S. forces released the vessel after conducting a search and confirming the ship's voyage would not include an Iranian port call.

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.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Avery Lindberg, left, and Cpl. Sergio Garcia, both combat engineers assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, position triple-strand concertina wire from a boom lift during barrier reinforcement operations in Douglas, Ariz., April 17, 2026.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Christian Koch, a combat engineer assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, uses a tie gun to secure triple-strand concertina wire during barrier reinforcement operations in Douglas, Ariz., Friday, April 17, 2026.

The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush sails in the Indian Ocean in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 23, 2026.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney escorts a vessel while conducting blockade operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, April 22, 2026. The Pinckney is deployed to the area to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East.

The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush sails in the Indian Ocean in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 23, 2026.

U.S. forces patrol the Arabian Sea near the Iran-linked merchant ship Touska in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 20, 2026. The vessel attempted to violate a U.S. naval blockade April 19.

Marine Corps Pfc. Conner Kammerer, left, and Lance Cpl. Noah Hardon, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, depressurize a fuel gravity flow nozzle to ensure safe equipment storage after refueling 5-gallon jerry cans for barrier reinforcement operations along the southern border in Douglas, Ariz., April 20, 2026.