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News | Nov. 1, 2018

DoD units supporting DHS along Southwest Border

By U.S. Northern Command Public Affairs

The Department of Homeland Security has requested the Department of Defense to provide a range of assistance, including planning, engineering, transportation, logistics and medical support to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

This request for assistance will enhance CBP's ability to impede or deny illegal crossings and maintain situational awareness as it contributes to CBP's overall border security mission.

DOD forces in support of the DHS and CBP are under the command of U.S. Northern Command. The DHS support operations has been designated Operation Faithful Patriot.

The Secretary of Defense approved the following Title 10 (active-duty) forces and support in response to the DHS request.

  • Military planning teams to coordinate operations, engineering, medical, and logistic support
  • Helicopter companies to support the movement of CBP tactical personnel
  • Engineer battalions to erect temporary vehicle barriers and fencing
  • Deployable medical units to triage, treat and prepare for commercial transport of patients
  • Temporary housing to support CBP and military personnel
  • Light towers, barrier material, barbed and concertina wire, as well as cases of meals ready-to-eat

The following locations have been identified to serve as Base Support Installations. BSIs are DOD installations located near the operation area and serve as primary logistics hubs, during a response to a request for Defense Support to Civil Authorities. Bases may be added or subtracted as operational planning continues.

Arizona
  • Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
  • Fort Huachuca
California
  • Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
  • Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
  • Naval Air Facility El Centro
  • Naval Base Coronado
  • Naval Base San Diego
  • Naval Base Point Loma
Texas
  • Fort Bliss
  • Joint Base San Antonio
  • Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
  • Naval Operations Support Center Harlingen
  • Naval Air Station Kingsville

The following military units have been identified to deploy to the southwest border in support of CBP.  The number of troops deployed will change each day as military forces flow into the operating area, but the initial estimate is that the DOD will have more than 7,000 troops supporting DHS across California, Arizona and Texas.

Fort Bragg, North Carolina
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Command, 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command
  • 2nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 16th Military Police Brigade
  • 51st Medical Company, 261st Multi-Functional Medical Battalion
  • 172nd Preventive Medicine
  • 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
  • 329th Movement Control Team
  • 403rd Inland Cargo Transfer Company
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment, 503rd Military Police Battalion
Fort Carson, Colorado
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
Peterson Air Force, Colorado
  • Joint Enabling Capability Team and Aviation Planner from U.S. Northern Command
Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
  • Joint Public Support Element – Public Affairs
Fort Meade, Maryland
  • 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera)
Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
  • 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade Headquarters, 3rd Infantry Division
  • 90th Human Resources Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade
Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas
  • Defense Logistics Agency Contingency Contracting Team
  • 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command Assessment Team
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 505th Military Intelligence Brigade
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
  • 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, I Corps
Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina
  • 1st Combat Camera Squadron
Fort Bliss, Texas
  • 24th Press Camp Headquarters, 1st Armored Division
Fort Hood, Texas
  • 89th Military Police Brigade, III Corps
  • Headquarters, 62nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade
  • 937th Engineer Sapper Company, 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade
  • 87th Engineer Sapper Company, 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade
  • 104th Engineer Construction, 62nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade
  • 289th Quartermaster Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade
Fort Knox, Kentucky
  • Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment, 19th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade
  • 15th Engineer Company (Horizontal), 19th Engineer Battalion
  • 541st Engineer Sapper Company, 19th Engineer Battalion
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
  • 887th Engineer Support Company, 101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade
  • 372nd Inland Cargo Transfer Company, 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade
  • 74th Transportation Company, 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade
Fort Riley, Kansas
  • Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 97th Military Police Battalion, 1st Infantry Division
  • 977th Military Police Company Combat Support
  • 287th Military Police Company Combat Support
  • 41st Engineer Company (Clearance), 4th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade