DOW Support to the Southern Border

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Benjamin Gonzales, a motor vehicle operator assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border in support of Operation Ardent Vanguard, helps install concertina wire on a secondary expeditionary barrier in Nogales, Ariz., Aug. 19, 2026.

Army Spc. Domenic Hruby, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, reinforces a barrier by welding "crow's feet" rods to its upper edge at a national defense area near Santa Teresa, N.M., Aug. 12, 2026. U.S. Northern Command is working 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.

Sailors check for foreign objects on the flight deck of the littoral combat ship USS Cooperstown as the ship transits the Gulf of America, July 4, 2026. The ship was supporting efforts to protect the territorial integrity of the U.S. southern border.

West Virginia Army National Guardsmen conduct a night fire mission during Exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center in Grayling, Mich., Aug. 10, 2026. The joint training strengthened fire support integration and battlefield coordination as part of the exercise to build readiness and enhance interoperability.

Soldiers assigned to the West Virginia National Guard fire howitzers under limited-light conditions during a Northern Strike 26-2 live-fire mission at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center in Grayling, Mich., Aug. 10, 2026. Northern Strike is a multicomponent, multinational exercise designed to build readiness and enhance interoperability among participating forces.

Soldiers assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group conduct nighttime combat dive training during Exercise Northern Strike 26-2 in Tawas City, Mich., Aug. 10, 2026. Northern Strike is a multicomponent, multinational exercise designed to build readiness and enhance interoperability among participating forces.

Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 182nd Field Artillery Regiment, Michigan National Guard, fire an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during a live-fire exercise as part of Northern Strike 26-2 at Camp Grayling, Mich., Aug. 7, 2026. Northern Strike is a multicomponent, multinational exercise designed to build readiness and enhance interoperability among participating forces.

Soldiers assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group cross Lake Huron alongside Air National Guard personnel to begin training at Charity Island, Mich., during Northern Strike, Aug. 7, 2026. Northern Strike is an Army-sponsored, multicomponent, multinational exercise designed to build readiness and enhance interoperability.

Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border place concertina wire on top of barriers at National Defense Area 2 near Fort Hancock, Texas, Aug. 6, 2026. The barrier reinforcement operation enhances detection and observation capabilities along the U.S. southern border.

Two Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft assigned to the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 774 take off during Northern Strike at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Mich., Aug. 5, 2026. Northern Strike is an Army-sponsored, multicomponent, multinational exercise designed to build readiness and enhance interoperability.

Service members conduct helocast training from a Missouri Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter over Lake Margrethe in Michigan during Exercise Northern Strike 26-2, Aug. 3, 2026. The Army sponsored, multicomponent, multinational exercise is designed to build readiness and enhance interoperability with allied forces.

Soldiers assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group exit a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during Northern Strike at Camp Grayling, Mich., Aug. 2, 2026. Northern Strike is an Army-sponsored, multicomponent, multinational exercise designed to build readiness and enhance interoperability.

Soldiers conduct a live-fire exercise during Northern Strike at the All Domain Warfighting Center in Grayling, Mich., Aug. 4, 2026. The exercise was designed to build readiness and enhance interoperability to fight and win.

Marines assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border reinforce concertina wire along the southern barrier in Naco, Ariz., July 31, 2026. Barrier reinforcement operations ensure sustained protection and observation capabilities along the U.S. southern border.

An Army UH-60 Black Hawk flies over Lake Margrethe during Northern Strike at Camp Grayling, Mich., Aug. 3, 2026. The exercise was designed to build readiness and enhance interoperability with allied forces to fight and win.

Army Sgt. Justin Masterson, left, and Spc. Vladimir Alves, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, retrieve a Skydio X10D small unmanned aircraft system after an aerial observation in Rio Grande Valley, Texas, July 23, 2026. The unmanned system helps detect illegal crossings and enhances aerial monitoring capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of the U.S. 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,