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EAGLE PASS, Texas — From above the Rio Grande, a small unmanned aircraft scans the terrain, giving U.S. Soldiers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents an aerial view of areas that ground personnel cannot easily monitor.
Sgt. Mauri Sanchez, a U.S. Army Reserve combat engineer with the 350th Engineer Company, 315th Engineer Battalion, 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, serves as a small unmanned aircraft systems (S-UAS) master trainer with Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) in support of Operation Ardent Vanguard. He and other S-UAS operators use the systems to locate groups preparing to cross the Rio Grande, identify people who have already crossed, and help CBP agents navigate difficult terrain during apprehension operations.
“The drones have facilitated a lot when it comes to patrolling and actually being able to find people in the most complex of spaces and terrains,” Sanchez detailed. “Anything from detecting groups that are getting ready to cross the Rio Grande river, to groups that are already hiding out on our side of the barrier and basically helping Border Patrol navigate obstacles and head in the right direction so that they may perform apprehensions.”
S-UAS also allows Soldiers to maintain surveillance where agents cannot maintain a constant presence.
“There are occasionally gaps in areas between where the agents are located,” Sanchez said. “They can’t be everywhere at once. Our drones help us to keep eyes in those under-covered sectors without having to expend additional manpower or over-exert our personnel already on the ground.”
Sanchez operates and trains Soldiers on three systems: the C100X, Skydio X10D and Black Hornet 4. The C100X can remain airborne for extended periods and travel several miles from its operator with a range extender. The Skydio X10D provides color and thermal imagery and can launch within minutes, while the smaller Black Hornet 4 gives operators a compact option for close-range reconnaissance in buildings and other confined spaces.
The technology gives Soldiers more than another set of eyes. It also allows them to gather information before ground personnel enter potentially dangerous areas.
“Simply sending Soldiers out to an area without any kind of reconnaissance is dangerous,” said Sanchez. “Being able to recon it with a drone from afar and get an actual proper look at what we’re going to go into; It’s important to do some remote work before we jump in.”
Sanchez also ensures Soldiers can operate the systems effectively. As a master trainer, he maintains pilot readiness, conducts training and gives new operators the flight experience they need to handle the aircraft in demanding conditions.
“It takes time and it takes practice,” Sanchez said. “More than anything, just a lot of practice with the drones will ensure operators have an easier time. The more flight hours you have, the better you can maneuver it and fly during less than favorable weather conditions.”
His training covers more than basic flight controls. Sanchez teaches Soldiers to interpret thermal imagery, maneuver around obstacles and maintain control of their aircraft while responding to changing conditions.
For Sanchez, however, the mission carries a great amount of significance that extends far beyond the technology.
Born in Tijuana, Mexico, Sanchez legally immigrated to the United States in September 2019. Before joining the U.S. Army in 2022, Sanchez developed his technical aptitude by working as an IT manager for a call center. He helped establish the facility’s network and technology infrastructure. That experience now helps him maintain S-UAS equipment and pass technical knowledge to other Soldiers.
His background gives him a unique personal perspective on the people Soldiers encounter along the border, particularly when it comes to more vulnerable individuals such as children.
“A lot of people think that we’re here and that we’re stopping people from crossing,” Sanchez said. “It’s honestly not just that. There are scenarios where rather than catching people, you’re basically saving their lives.”
Sanchez recalled encountering children as young as four years old who smugglers and human traffickers had brought to the southern border and then abandoned.
“We’re thirsty; Do you guys have water?” Sanchez recalled the children asking. “As a father myself, that one kind of hits home. To imagine a child the same age as mine having to go through such an ordeal, it gives me pause sometimes.”
That perspective drives Sanchez to keep training Soldiers and improving their ability to use S-UAS during the mission.
“Knowing that I’m passing down the knowledge that was given to me, knowledge that has a tangible impact on this mission, knowledge that helps both us and the people we encounter as they try to cross the border,” Sanchez laid out. “Seeing all of that definitely makes being on this mission feel worthwhile.”
U.S. Northern Command is working side-by-side with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection within narrowly defined authorities to provide unique military capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of the U.S. southern border.
| Date Taken: | 09.10.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.15.2026 16:10 |
| Story ID: | 574355 |
| Location: | EAGLE PASS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 14 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, JTF-SB personnel further enhance drone capabilities along the Southern Border, by SGT Dominic Atlas, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
