DOW Support to the Southern Border

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.

A soldier engages targets during a Salaknib 2026 live-fire exercise at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, May 26, 2026. Exercise Salaknib highlights the U.S.-Philippine alliance and enhances interoperability and readiness in the Indo-Pacific region.

A soldier assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, engages the opposing force during Joint Pacific Readiness Center - Exportable Exercise at Laur, Philippines, May 20, 2026. The exercise integrates U.S., Philippine and partner forces in realistic scenarios to enhance interoperability, refine multidomain tactics and strengthen regional readiness in the Indo-Pacific.

Soldiers conduct infantry situational live-fire training at Vuosanka Training Area, Finland, May 15, 2026. This event was part of the Sword 26 series of linked exercises in Europe aimed at validating NATO's Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative.

Army Sgt. Aaron Nickerson observes his sector fire during the Joint Pacific Readiness Center-Exportable Exercise at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, May 14, 2026. The exercise integrates U.S., Philippine and partner forces in realistic scenarios to enhance interoperability, refine multidomain tactics and strengthen regional readiness in the Indo-Pacific.

The Brazilian navy attack submarine BNS Humaita and frigate Defensora and the U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley steam in formation alongside the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz during a bilateral maritime engagement in the Atlantic Ocean, May 13, 2026. The Nimitz is deployed as part of Southern Seas 2026, which seeks to strengthen maritime partnerships with countries throughout the region.

Soldiers maneuver through mountainous terrain toward their objective during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center-Exportable Exercise at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, May 10, 2026. The exercise integrates U.S., Philippine and partner forces in realistic scenarios to enhance interoperability, refine multidomain tactics and strengthen regional readiness in the Indo-Pacific.

A soldier reacts to contact while participating in an infantry squad situational training exercise during Saber Strike at Vuosanka Training Area, Finland, May 13, 2026. During Saber Strike, soldiers integrate unmanned systems, artificial intelligence-enabled command and control and live data networks to move faster, decide faster and fight more effectively across all domains.

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 Sgt. 1st Class Tyler Harrington engages a simulated enemy during training against paratroopers assigned to the U.K. Parachute Regiment during the Project Flytrap exercise at Pabradė Training Area, Lithuania, May 8, 2026. During Project Flytrap, soldiers integrate counter-unmanned systems, artificial intelligence-enabled command and control, and live data networks to move faster, decide faster and fight more effectively across all domains.

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Maxwell Carlson, assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, prepares to move an Opterra drone during Kaiju Rain on Ie Shima, Japan, May 8, 2026. Kaiju Rain 26 is an exercise focused on supporting stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Soldiers sling-load infantry squad vehicles to a CH-47 Chinook during Exercise Salaknib at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, May 10, 2026. Salaknib integrates U.S., Philippine and partner forces in realistic scenarios to enhance interoperability in the Indo-Pacific.

U.S. service members and Panamanian security institution personnel conduct a waterborne endurance exercise during training at Aeronaval Base Cristóbal Colón, Panama, May 6, 2026.

Soldiers assigned to the 7th Infantry Division shoot artillery during Exercise Balikatan 2026, an annual exercise that represents a commitment to regional peace in the Indo-Pacific, at Cape Bojeador, Philippines, May 6, 2026.