Photo By Lance Cpl. Nataly Espitia | U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Collin York, an aerial work platform operator, with Task Force...... read more read more
Subscribe
In direct support of U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), Task Force Sapper Marines, assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) completed the emplacement of a two-tier concertina wire (c-wire) obstacle on June 7, 2025, along a key section of the U.S. – Mexico border, enhancing deterrence measures and maintaining the territorial integrity of the United States.
The barrier reinforcement mission, executed by the 500 Marines and Sailors from I Marine Expeditionary Force, includes double and triple strands of a c-wire obstacle laid on barbed wire strung through engineering stakes that are permanently welded onto an existing 18-foot barrier and a secondary 30-foot barrier. Under the direction of the U.S. Northern Command and Joint Task Force – Southern Border, the c-wire obstacle was deliberately designed, in coordination with USBP guidance, to maximize defensive efficiency, ensure safety, and deter illegal crossings.
“According to USBP, the El Paso and San Diego sectors have the highest numbers in illegal crossings along the U.S. – Mexico border,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Tyrone Barrion, commanding officer of Task Force Sapper, “therefore, our mission is to make sure the barrier reinforcement obstacle reduces the probability and possibility of illegal crossings.”
Primary Barrier Engineering:
In the early days of the task force’s arrival to USBP’s San Diego sector, the 18-foot primary barrier, closest towards Mexico, was tested with multiple fitments of non-lethal obstacle designs to disrupt any unauthorized attempt to cross through or over the existing barrier. The design chosen was one that could be replicated by Marines with little to no welding experience.
“Being a relatively new welder in the Marine Corps, I was able to learn quickly,” said U.S Marine Sgt. Henry Meyer, a welding chief with Task Force Sapper. “I had to come up with a design that was able to be adapted by other Marines who might not have that experience and will have to learn on the site. Also, the design was chosen for the accessibility and the readiness of the materials that we had.”
Over the following months, the Marines from several different military occupational specialties installed brackets (made from engineering stakes) on every tenth post, facing westward, with the lowest bracket positioned 2 feet above either the concrete footer or the native soil base.
“Usually as an 1141, an electrician, I’d be fixing generators, getting ready for field operations, rolling cables and everything like that,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Justin Fly, a Marine with Task Force Sapper. “Here it is just completely different. I’m setting up c-wire, pulling up brackets for the welders, securing barbed wire as well – doing the job.”
Utilizing a layered obstacle strategy, Task Force Sapper Marines created an obstacle design refined through past deployments with materials familiar to combat engineers. About 5 feet from the top of the barrier structure, triple strands of c-wire were placed on top of strung barbed wire across the welded brackets with the intent to hinder climbing attempts. Marines applied a tie-in methodology for barbed and concertina wire connections, ensuring both structural cohesion and tamper resistance.
The bottom triple strands of c-wire are secured 2 feet above the soil to hinder any attempts to cross the bottom of existing panels of the barrier. Clean welds and brackets are the foundation to maintain the c-wire strands structural integrity and to prevent any engineering material from encroaching beyond the international boundary line. Of note, the Marines avoided welding brackets onto the barrier on post markings. This allows for authorized personnel in the area to share/identify their location based on the post markings.
Secondary Barrier Design:
About 50 meters beyond the 18-foot primary barrier is a 30-foot secondary barrier with an obstacle designed to reinforce containment – providing a second line of deterrence. On this structure, brackets were installed every 12th post and oriented eastward to direct any unauthorized attempts away from U.S. territory.
Similar to the primary barrier, the lowest brackets were positioned 2 feet above the ground. The difference is that the brackets for the bottom layer are shorter in length as a base to rest a single strand of c-Wire. This design allows border patrol agents to have a wider road to travel when responding to calls.
“In designing the c-wire obstacle plan, Task Force Sapper Marines worked with USBP to analyze historic illegal crossing patterns, methods, and terrain restrictions to create the most significant deterrence and ensure efficient application,” said U.S. Marine Maj. Robert Boyles, Operations Officer with Task Force Sapper. “Ultimately, the obstacle has empowered manpower-constrained USBP with the time necessary to apprehend offenders without limitations on USBP's mobility.”
The top layer of c-wire on the 30-foot secondary barrier remains concurrent with the top layer seen on the 18-foot primary barrier: triple strand c-wire secured onto the permanently welded engineering stakes/brackets 5 feet from the top of the barrier.
Joint Effort and Strategic Impact:
Task Force Sapper’s work is part of a broader joint mission between the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security – securing the southern border. The Marines’ reinforcement of the existing barriers with a tactical, non-lethal obstacle design, reflects a commitment to Joint Task Force – Southern Border mission and interagency cooperation.
“Success is meeting the mission that Joint Task Force Southern Border has assigned to us: barrier reinforcement that leads to and complements 100% operation control of the Southern Border,” said Barrion. “The second, is that we return Marines from this formation back to I MEF better: better in their specialty, better in a new specialty, better as a leader.”
As construction phases advance, the obstacles installed by Task Force Sapper will continue to serve as a visible and effective deterrence to illegal activity—highlighting the role of U.S. Marines in homeland defense operations, specifically enhancing border security.
“We cannot prevent all crossings with our obstacle; it has to be paired with the activities and the mission that the U.S. Army is doing with their monitoring and detection, along with USBP apprehensions,” said Barrion. “But the American people should know that there are young men and women here that are proud to serve their country and are proud to do a mission that makes sure their loved ones are safe.”
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.09.2025 10:48 |
| Story ID: | 499979 |
| Location: | IMPERIAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 146 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Task Force Sapper enhances southern border security with innovative barrier obstacle design, by 1LT Giselle Cancino, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
