DOW Support to the Southern Border

Marine Corps Cpl. Midley Devariste, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, uses an angle grinder to cut brackets during barrier reinforcement operations in Naco, Ariz., June 1, 2026.

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter conducts sling load operations near El Centro, Calif., March 3, 2026. The sling load operations were required to move materials from the mountainous areas along the southern border after 11,700 miles of concertina wire were built.

An airman performs pullups during the Murph Challenge at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., May 29, 2026. The workout challenged participants to complete a 1-mile run, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 squats and a final 1-mile run.

Soldiers complete the Army Fitness Test during the Maneuver Center of Excellence Drill Sergeant of the Year Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., June 1, 2026. During the competition, drill sergeants face a variety of physical and mental tests.

Soldiers conduct a brigade ruck march at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., May 28, 2026. Soldiers moved 6 miles with full combat gear to build unit cohesion and physical fitness.

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 low-crawls while completing a physical fitness assessment during the Best Squad Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis., May 23, 2026.

Marines prepare to compete in a tug-of-war challenge during the I Marine Expeditionary Force Tomahawk Total Fitness Challenge at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 13, 2026. The challenge is designed to build more resilient Marines and teams by purposefully developing physical, mental and spiritual domains of fitness while strengthening unit cohesion.

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Justin Hubbard counts pullup repetitions as a student from Marine Corps Base Quantico's Department of War Education Activity schools participates in the Presidential Fitness Test at Butler Stadium in Virginia, May 12, 2026. The fitness test consists of three fitness components designed to strengthen health, physical fitness and resilience, and to establish lifelong healthy habits.

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.

An airman participates in a Gruseter run during Wingman Wellness at Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station, May 3, 2026. The event promoted resilience, teamwork and overall readiness through morale-building activities.

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.