PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Northern Command activated a new Joint Task Force today at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, to tactically synchronize Department of Defense (DOD) efforts to secure and seal the southern border.
Under the direction of USNORTHCOM, Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) assumed the role of synchronizer of several USNORTHCOM activities and military forces from Joint Task Force-North (JTF-N). The transfer of authority, or TOA, to JTF-SB aligns efforts to seal the southern border and repel illegal activity under a single Joint Task Force responsible for full-scale, agile, and all-domain operations, which will allow for more effective and efficient DoD operations. Joint Task Force-North will continue their core mission of detecting and monitoring transnational criminal organizations’ threats within and along approaches to the continental United States.
“This is an important step in the whole-of-government efforts to seal the southern border and maintain U.S. sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said USNORTHCOM Commander Gen. Gregory M. Guillot. “Joint Task Force-Southern Border will lead as both the synchronizer of all joint capabilities and the land force commander for USNORTHCOM as we conduct operations on the Southern Border, building upon the excellent foundation set by Joint Task Force-North.”
In early February, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) from Fort Drum, New York, deployed to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, to establish the infrastructure necessary for the JTF-SB headquarters. JTF-SB is commanded by Army Maj. Gen. Scott M. Naumann. Additionally, the task force has two deputy commanders: one from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and one from the U.S. Marine Corps.
“The Army has a nearly 250-year history of providing unique military capabilities for our national leaders. This mission is no different. From Imperial Beach, California to McAllen, Texas, we will employ those capabilities and technology to bolster the efforts of our interagency partners, in order to gain operational control of the border, as ordered,” said Maj. Gen. Naumann.
Multiple Army units from around the country have been tasked to deploy as part of a sustainment support apparatus that will align under JTF-SB to enable additional units such as the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division and Marine Corps units to conduct operations at the southern border as part of JTF-SB. As of our last announcement on Mar.11, 2025, there are more than 9,600 service members deployed or approved to deploy who will report to or support this new Joint Task Force.
Several National Guard and Reserve units deployed in support of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) FY25 Request for Assistance. They too will align under JTF-SB.
USNORTHCOM was named the DoD’s operational lead for the employment of U.S. military forces to carry out President Trump’s southern border Executive Orders. The combatant command continues to fill critical capability gaps in support of DHS and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
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