DOW Support to the 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,

Army Sgt. Mauri Sanchez, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, demonstrates the capabilities of the C-100 unmanned aircraft system in Del Rio, Texas, July 3, 2026. The system helps detect illegal crossings and enhances aerial monitoring capabilities.

Army Sgt. Maj. William Frazer, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border in support of Operation Ardent Vanguard, observes recovery operations of the Persistent Surveillance System-Tethered aerostat at Site Noria near Santa Teresa, N.M., July 8, 2026. The PSS-T aerostat is an elevated monitoring platform that enhances situational awareness and supports border security operations.

Soldiers run toward the finish line carrying an American flag during the 2026 Dragon Warrior Military Fitness Competition at Tapa Army Base, Estonia, July 8, 2026. The competition tested the physical endurance, teamwork and leadership skills of soldiers assigned to the Army's V Corps, deployed to serve as the senior tactical headquarters for Army forces in Eastern Europe to deter conflict and provide combat-ready forces alongside NATO allies.

An Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border hovers over a telecommunication network system during an Operation Muleskinner Trailblazer III sling-load mission in Big Bend, Texas, July 2, 2026. The operation helped the U.S. Border Patrol replace telecommunications equipment to boost joint-agency communications.

Army Spc. Derrick Obeng, a construction equipment repairer assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, prepares the reach tube during a sling-load operation as part of Operation Muleskinner Trailblazer III in Big Bend, Texas, July 2, 2026. The operation helped the U.S. Border Patrol replace telecommunications equipment to boost joint-agency communications.

Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Wood, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, monitors terrain from the cargo ramp of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during Operation Muleskinner Trailblazer III in Big Bend, Texas, July 2, 2026. The operation helped the U.S. Border Patrol replace telecommunications equipment to boost joint-agency communications.

Army Spc. Cody Doran, a CH-47 Chinook helicopter crew chief assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, assists with the dual-point sling-load hookup during Operation Muleskinner Trailblazer III in Big Bend, Texas, July 2, 2026. The operation helped the U.S. Border Patrol replace telecommunications equipment to boost joint-agency communications.

Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border await the arrival of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter at a pickup zone to prepare for the transport of a telecommunications network system during Operation Trailblazer III in Big Bend, Texas, July 2, 2026. The operation helped the U.S. Border Patrol replace telecommunications equipment to boost joint-agency communications.

A soldier assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border signals a CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned to the 1st Armored Division to pick up a telecommunications network system during Operation Muleskinner Trailblazer III in Big Bend, Texas, July 2, 2026. The operation helped the U.S. Border Patrol replace telecommunications equipment to boost joint-agency communications.

Army 1st Lt. Efren Garcia, a UH-60M Black Hawk pilot assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, performs preflight checks before a routine aerial monitoring mission to maintain situational awareness along the U.S.-Mexico border in California, June 22, 2026.

Two F-35 Lightning II fighter jet aircraft, assigned to the Air Force's 48th Fighter wing, fly in formation over Finland during Ramstein Flag 26, June 12, 2026. U.S. and NATO allied air forces conduct combined air operations in Europe during the large-scale, multidomain exercise.

NATO headquarters in Brussels, March 25, 2024.

NATO headquarters in Brussels, March 25, 2024.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Abraham Guillen, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border, sets up 360-degree light detection and ranging survey equipment to prepare for a topographical scan near Bob Thompson Peak in Sierra Vista, Ariz., June 9, 2026. Service members conducted a site survey using the equipment to gather terrain data for a road improvement project in support of U.S. Border Patrol.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Mendè Lahens performs refueling operations in the boom pod of a KC-135 Stratotanker during Ramstein Flag over Sweden, June 10, 2026. The exercise is designed to demonstrate NATO's commitment to countering modern threats in highly contested environments.

Air Force Col. Joshua Arki conducts preflight checks on an F-35A Lightning II aircraft during Ramstein Flag at Pirkkala Air Base, Finland, June 10, 2026. The exercise is designed to demonstrate NATO's commitment to countering modern threats in highly contested environments.