DOW Support to the Southern Border

Navy Lt. Danaikiss Betancourt inspects the main rotor of an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter during a preflight check aboard the USS Rafael Peralta in the Philippine Sea, Jan. 8, 2026.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Lizbeth Guadarrama greets family as the USS Fitzgerald returns to its home port at Naval Base San Diego, following operations in the U.S. 3rd, 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation, Jan. 6, 2026.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jarrett Walden signals an F-35C Lightning II as it launches from the USS Abraham Lincoln in the South China Sea, Jan. 4, 2026.

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.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Luis Leon Martinez conducts an intake inspection on an F/A-18F Super Hornet aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the South China Sea, Jan. 3, 2026.

Marines load an AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile onto an F/A-18C aircraft at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 30, 2025.

Sailors fast-rope from an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter during a drill on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the South China Sea, Dec. 30, 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.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class David Aroyo conducts fuel tests aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the South China Sea, Dec. 24, 2025.

Soldiers establish security behind a covered position outside the breach lane during a combined arms live-fire exercise at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, South Korea, Dec. 19, 2025. The exercise incorporated fires from field artillery, aviation and partner-nation armor to enable maneuver forces to advance.

Navy Chief Petty Officer Isaiah King, assigned to the submarine USS Annapolis, greets family upon returning to Naval Base Guam, Dec. 19, 2025, following a routine deployment in the Indo-Pacific.

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.

An MK 38 25 mm machine gun fires during a live-fire exercise aboard the USS Michael Murphy at sea, Dec. 16, 2025.

Navy Ensign Jason Aoyama, left, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Paul Crabtree participate in small boat operations in the Pacific Ocean, Dec. 12, 2025.

A soldier fires an M3 Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle during a combined arms live-fire exercise at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, South Korea, Dec. 13, 2025.

The USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. sails alongside the USS Abraham Lincoln during a refueling in the Pacific Ocean, Dec. 10, 2025.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Xavier Nuñez meets his wife and daughter as the submarine USS Hawaii returns to its home port at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Dec. 8, 2025.

Soldiers assigned to the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, participate in Tropic Lightning Week and face off in multiple competitions at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Dec. 8, 2025. The week celebrates the 84th birthday of the division, builds unit pride and strengthens esprit de corps.

The USS George Washington and the USS Dewey participate in a maneuvering exercise in the Pacific Ocean, Dec. 10, 2025.