Securing-the-Southern-Border

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U.S. Soldiers with the Arizona Army National Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents inspect a cooler of fish for illegal drugs or other contraband items at the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona, April 30, 2025.

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A U.S. Soldier with the Texas Army National Guard monitors activity along the Rio Grande during a patrol near Roma, Texas, April 25, 2025.

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Maryland Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, celebrated their return home from federal deployment under the direction of U.S. Northern Command at Weide Army Heliport at the Army Aviation Support Facility at Aberdeen Proving Ground-South March 8, 2025.

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Soldiers from the Oregon National Guard's 1249th Engineer Battalion stand in formation during a change of command ceremony at the Anderson Readiness Center in Salem, Oregon, Sept. 8, 2024. The battalion is preparing for a year-long mobilization to support security operations along the southern border beginning October 2025.

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Left to right, Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, the adjutant general for the District of Columbia National Guard; Maj. Gen. John C. Andonie, commanding general (Interim) for the D.C. National Guard; Capt. Corbin Cali, aviation operations officer and Det 1 A Co 1/224th S&S commander; Sgt. 1st Class Richard Molezzo, Det 1 A Co 1/224th S&S NCOIC; Chief Warrant Officer 5 Bernard L. Aguon, command chief warrant officer for the D.C. National Guard, and Lt. Col. Ryan Rooks, state aviation officer for the D.C. Army National Guard. About two dozen D.C. Guard members returned home following a 12-month deployment to the southern border.

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A Texas Army National Guard Soldier looks across the Rio Grande River near Roma, Texas, while taking part in border operations with the Texas Tactical Border Force, Feb. 5, 2025. The TTBF, comprising Texas National Guard members in a state active duty status, works with state and federal law enforcement officials, including U.S. Border Patrol, to deter, detect and stop illegal border crossings and to interdict transnational criminals.

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Video by Tech. Sgt. Lisa Carlson

B-1 achieves 10,000 combat sorties milestone

379th Air Expeditionary Wing

Feb. 26, 2012 | 2:43

B-1 achieves 10,000 combat sorties milestone Date: Feb 27, 2012 Title: SWA’s B1 10K Combat Sortie Subtitle: B-1s 10, 000 Combat Sortie from Southwest Asia Producer: Tech. Sgt. Lisa Carlson, 379th AEW/Public Affairs Name: 120227-SWA’s B1 10K Combat Sortie Keywords: 379 AEW, 379, 379th, AEW, Southwest Asia, SWA, Grand Slam wing, Triangle K, Air Expeditionary Wing, B-1, B1, Bone, Lancer, 10K, 10,000, Combat, Combat Sortie, Sortie, Aircraft, Bomber, milestone, historic moment, bombs, flight, aircrew, Co-pilot, WSO, Weapon Systems Operator, Pilot Runtime: 02:44 Fonts: Tech. Sgt. Lisa Carlson – Producer Capt. Mark Kimball, Aircraft commander 1st Lt Anh-Vu Nguyen, Co-Pilot Capt Laura Hunstock, WSO (Weapon Systems Officer) Lt. Col. Alejandro Gomez, Mission Team Lead A1C Bradley Skelton, B-1 Crew Chief MSgt Christopher Busch, B-1 Production Superintendent ANCHOR LEAD: Imagine making something for a single use and then using it 10-thousand times. Now, imagine it’s an aircraft. Tech. Sgt. Lisa Carlson has the details on a remarkable milestone for the B-1. BODY: Announcer: The B-1, Lancer is a supersonic bomber built in the 1970s. Commonly known as “Bone” for B-dash-one, this uniquely designed aircraft marked its’ historical 10-thousand combat sortie or mission, this past Sunday on Feb. 26, 2012. Capt. Mark Kimball, Aircraft commander explains the difference between a sortie and a combat sortie. Kimball SB: “We fly a sortie at home for training and you’ll go against simulated threats and simulated targets and you’re just out practicing. A combat sortie, you know now, we’re taking all that training and we’re actually applying it.” Announcer: A remarkable achievement for an aircraft not originally built for these continuous missions. Kimball SB: “It’s pretty amazing that an airplane that was designed for low-level strategic attach in a nuclear role back in the 70s and 80s when it was first designed has really evolved into a pretty big combat platform.” Announcer: This 10-thousandth combat mission also has a personal meaning to its crew members: Lt. Anh-Vu Win (Nguyen) Co-pilot, Capt. Laura Hunstock Weapon Systems Officer, and Lt. Col. Alejandro Gomez Mission Team Lead. Nguyen SB: "This is my first deployment with the B-1. I’m actually the youngest aviator, part of the team so, I’m very honored.” Hunstock SB: “My father flew bombers for 23 years and I’m excited to carry on our family tradition and legacy in flying the B-1.” Gomez SB: "I’ve got to watch the very first combat sortie launch on that date Dec. 16, 1998 and it’s pretty surreal watching 2 B-1s take off at 2 o’clock in the morning to go do strikes.” Announcer: Kimball explains what it’s like in the cockpit of a B-1. Kimball Nat SB: "... you spend somewhere like 300 hundred hours cramped into an area the size of a mini-van or something. So, it's like a big road trip with 3 of your closest friends." Announcer: 10-thousand combat missions mean 10-thousand maintenance successes. Airman 1st Class Bradley Skelton B-1 Crew Chief and Master Sgt. Christopher Busch B-1 Production Superintendent explain what that means. Skelton SB: "It’s amazing that we’ve been here this long, uh, to support the friendly forces on the ground. It’s just a good thing to be a part of.” Busch SB: “You know, I was a crew chief on the B-1 for about 14 years. You know, I know what they’re going through. It’s a tough aircraft to work. It’s challenging, some days you want to go home and cry after the day you had. You know when you see the aircraft, I think you mentioned it, when you see the aircraft take off, that’s what it’s all about.” Announcer: The B-1 will continue to be the “backbone” of America’s long-range bomber force and 10-thousand combat sorties is only the beginning. I’m Tech. Sgt. Lisa Carlson, 379th Public Affairs, Southwest Asia.