DOW Support to the Southern Border

Explosive ordnance disposal soldiers representing Michigan, Washington and California National Guard units conduct annual training focused on strengthening readiness, interoperability and mission capabilities at Camp Grayling, Mich., May 28, 2026.

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.

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.

Army Spc. Cory J. Hess places the New Jersey state flag, completing the final element during the stress shoot/warrior tasks portion of the Best Warrior Competition at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., May 7, 2026. During the competition, soldiers demonstrated adaptiveness, resilience, lethality and the readiness to respond to future threats.

Hawaii National Guard soldiers and airmen ascend ropes toward a storage container during a collective training exercise between Army and Air National Guard elements in Kalaeloa, Hawaii, May 6, 2026.

Army Spc. Peter W. Kalvelage scales the high-wall obstacle on the 500-meter NATO Standard Obstacle Course during the New Jersey Army National Guard's Best Warrior Competition at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, May 5, 2026. During the competition, soldiers demonstrated adaptiveness, resilience, lethality and the readiness to respond to future threats.

A Georgia Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter dumps water with a bucket during wildfire suppression efforts in Pineland, Ga., April 28, 2026.

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.

Airmen respond to a simulated aggressive protester during an Air Combat Command Combat Readiness Inspection in Swanton, Ohio, April 25, 2026. The inspection is designed to test a unit's capabilities, effectiveness and efficiency.

Indiana National Guard mortarmen fire a 120 mm mortar during a live-fire training exercise at Camp Atterbury, Ind., April 18, 2026. The training emphasized rapid target engagement and lethal effects through coordinated mortar fires.

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.

Army Pvt. Khyler Grant breaches a door with his squad while conducting an assault on an objective during training at Camp Atterbury, Ind., April 18, 2026.