DOW Support to the Southern Border

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Malachi Hazelett, a rifleman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and forward-deployed with the 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division as part of the unit deployment program, identifies his targets during live-fire training as part of Exercise Korea Viper 26.2 at Suesong-ri range in Pohang, South Korea, Feb. 20, 2026.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Tanner Mitchell, a hospital corpsman assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines and forward-deployed with 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, as part of the unit deployment program, fires an M240B machine gun during Korea Viper 26.2 at Camp Story, South Korea, Feb. 10, 2026.

Marine Corps Cpl. Nash Crossley, a mortarman assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, forward deployed and 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, as part of the unit deployment program, prepares to fire an M224 60 mm lightweight mortar during Korea Viper 26.2 at Camp Story, South Korea, Feb. 9, 2026.

Marines assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border walk along the southern border during a patrol in El Centro, Calif., Feb. 4, 2026.

Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border operate an M30 bridge erection boat while conducting maritime patrols in the Rio Grande in McAllen, Texas, Jan. 9, 2026.

Marine Corps Pfc. Jacob Matura, a rifleman assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, prepares concertina wire during barrier reinforcement operations in Yuma, Ariz., Jan. 2, 2026.

Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border load onto a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a National Defense Area signage emplacement operation in Imperial County, Calif., Jan. 6, 2026.

A soldier assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border uses binoculars during a patrol in Yuma, Ariz., Jan. 5, 2026. During the patrol, soldiers installed National Defense Area 5 signs in a recently designated area along the border.

Soldiers assigned to the Florida National Guard conduct presence patrols in Washington, Jan. 16, 2026, in support of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission.

Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border prepare to patrol the Rio Grande aboard an M30 bridge erection boat in McAllen, Texas, Jan. 9, 2026.

Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border load an M30 bridge erection boat in McAllen, Texas, Jan. 9, 2026. The boat is well-suited for areas along the Rio Grande, where terrain limits ground mobility. Joint Task Force Southern Border is supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection to achieve 100% operational control of the southern border.

A soldier assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border put triple strand concertina wire onto mountainous terrain along the border near El Centro, Calif., Dec. 26, 2025.

Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border put triple strand concertina wire onto mountainous terrain along the border near El Centro, Calif., Dec. 26, 2025.

Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border put triple strand concertina wire onto mountainous terrain along the border near El Centro, Calif., Dec. 26, 2025.

A soldier assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border interacts with a member of U.S. Customs and Border Protection during a joint patrol in El Centro, Calif., Dec. 31, 2025.

A Marine assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border puts a post for a National Defense Area sign into the ground in El Centro, Calif., Dec. 26, 2025. This marks the fifth such area established along the southern border.

Coast Guardsmen conduct unmanned aircraft systems training aboard the Cutter Robert Ward off the coast of San Pedro, Calif., Dec. 18, 2025. The training expands the crew's operational reach and sharpens response capabilities while saving time and resources.

Marine Corps Lance Cpls. Aaron Duran, left, and Juan Hilario fire on simulated adversary forces with an M240B machine gun while conducting platoon attacks in an urban environment during Korea Viper at Camp Rodriguez, South Korea, Dec. 17, 2025. The exercise was designed to demonstrate the South Korea and U.S. Marine Corps' ability to respond decisively in the region as a singular, unified force while strengthening relationships and trust.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Frank Blahut and Warrant Officer Carter Winters, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, prepare to land a Black Hawk helicopter at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., Dec. 4, 2025, after completing a mission with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Army Col. Joseph Katz, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) deputy commanding officer for support, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, observes the southern border during a visit to El Paso, Texas, Dec. 1, 2025. Katz visited to gain on-ground insight into operations in that sector.