Photo By Sgt. Logan Ubaldo Lechuga | U.S. Soldiers with the 168th Military Police Battalion, Tennessee Army National Guard,...... read more read more
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FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. - U.S. Soldiers with 168th Military Police Battalion, Tennessee Army National Guard, and 144th Transportation Company, Florida Army National Guard, both assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB), expand the Rio Grande National Defense Area (NDA) by using buoys to mark the boundaries of the newly established NDA near McAllen, Texas.
The NDA, which is an extension of Joint Base San Antonio, provides additional authorities for JTF-SB operations, including to temporarily detain illegal aliens crossing into the United States using the Rio Grande river, assisting U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) operations to further secure the southern border.
Rio Grande City terrain is known to be challenging for USBP to maneuver due to much of it being privately owned land, covered in dense vegetation, and having no roadways along the border. The Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station reported an influx of illegal aliens in this sector and has requested additional support from the Department of War (DoW). Since the request, many assets from the DoW, such as Stryker armored vehicles, have assisted USBP. The NDA is another way to increase border security in the area.
These buoys mark the National Defense Area, an extension of Joint Base San Antonio, which adds additional repercussions to people who illegally cross the river into the United States. said U.S. Army Capt. Patrick McEntire, with Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 168th Military Police Battalion, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, assigned to JTF-SB.
Prior to employing a buoy USBP conducts a depth test of the river at pre-determined grid coordinates where buoys will be emplaced. Various depths of the river requires JTF-SB Soldiers to adjust the length of a chain used to anchor the buoys. At the end of the chain is a block of concrete and rebarb to secure the buoys in place. In addition to these protocols, USBP riverine units, including agents specialized in patrolling the border on water, have tested the buoys to handle extreme weather conditions so they do not float away.
So far, over 30 buoys have been installed within the NDA that spans over 250 miles of the Rio Grande river in the Texas counties of Cameron and Hidalgo.
This collaborative employment of buoys marked with NDA aims to deter unlawful crossings and enhance the operational reach of USBP. The use of buoys not only reinforces territorial boundaries, but also provides a visible framework of authorized authorities for JTF-SB.
| Date Taken: | 10.02.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 10.16.2025 12:54 |
| Story ID: | 549885 |
| Location: | MCALLEN, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 237 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Army National Guard install buoys to expand Rio Grande National Defense Area, by PFC Sean Hoch, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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