Mission at the Border

Task Force Aviation and South Carolina Army National Guard soldiers provide airborne support to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security during Operation Guardian Support in proximity of the southwest border with Mexico in in McAllen, Texas, along the Rio Grande valley, July 26-30, 2018. Task Force Aviation includes National Guard personnel and equipment from South Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, with a total of 10 LUH-72A Lakota helicopters operating on the Texas-Mexico border, in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection law enforcement and security operations. Specifically, the South Carolina Army National Guard deployed to Texas a command-and-control element and equipment from the 59th Aviation Troop Command.

Task Force Aviation and South Carolina Army National Guard soldiers provide airborne support to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security during Operation Guardian Support in proximity of the southwest border with Mexico in McAllen, Texas, along the Rio Grande valley, July 26-30, 2018. Task Force Aviation includes National Guard personnel and equipment from South Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, with a total of 10 LUH-72A Lakota helicopters operating on the Texas-Mexico border, in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection law enforcement and security operations. Specifically, the South Carolina Army National Guard deployed to Texas a command-and-control element and equipment from the 59th Aviation Troop Command.

Task Force Aviation and South Carolina Army National Guard soldiers provide airborne support to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security during Operation Guardian Support in proximity of the southwest border with Mexico in McAllen, Texas, along the Rio Grande valley, July 26-30, 2018. Task Force Aviation includes National Guard personnel and equipment from South Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, with a total of 10 LUH-72A Lakota helicopters operating on the Texas-Mexico border, in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection law enforcement and security operations. Specifically, the South Carolina Army National Guard deployed to Texas a command-and-control element and equipment from the 59th Aviation Troop Command.

A Texas National Guardsman and a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent discuss the lay of the land on the shores of the Rio Grande River in Starr County, Texas, April 10, 2018. As part of the federal call-up to the Texas-Mexico border, soldiers called to duty support federal partners and primarily serve in observe-and-report roles.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol Agents at the El Paso sector perform nonlethal training with Texas National Guard members from 3rd Battalion, 133rd Field Artillery Regiment who are deployed to the border region as part of the Joint Task Force Guardian Support mission, Sept. 26, 2018. The week of training includes combatives hand-to-hand combat training and shoot-don't shoot scenarios with room and house-clearing skillsl. CBP instructors enjoyed the enthusiasm and high level of participation from the guardsmen. Border Patrol Agent Firma Pena, with 23 years on the force, said, "These guys are really good participators, they don't hesitate at all. I am really enjoying that part of it."