U.S.
1st Armored Division takes over authority of southern border operations
Stars and Stripes
May 30, 2026
Service members assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border present arms in a line formation during the transfer of authority ceremony between the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and the 1st Armored Division at Nicka Hall, Fort Huachuca, Ariz., on May 29, 2026. (Anthony Opromolla/Defense Department)
The 1st Armored Division from Fort Bliss, Texas, took over authority of the Joint Task Force-Southern Border mission on Friday at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., U.S. Northern Command announced.
The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) from Fort Campbell, Ky., had been in charge of the mission since assuming authority from the 10th Mountain Division on Oct. 10, 2025.
Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, the commander of U.S. Northern Command, presided over the ceremony.
“Over the past seven months, through synchronized planning, rapid mobility and persistent presence, we’ve enhanced southern border security with expanded detection and monitoring, improved data sharing, and agile capabilities in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other key partners,” said Army Maj. Gen. David Gardner, the outgoing JTF-SB commander and commander of the 101st Airborne. “We take great pride in what we accomplished over the last eight months as we pass the colors for this vital mission to our 1st Armored Division teammates.”
Roughly 10,000 troops, primarily soldiers and Marines, operate under the leadership of the Joint Task Force-Southern Border and U.S. Northern Command.
Since March 2025, more than 20,000 service members have deployed to support the mission.