On Thursday, U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) released an updated list of the military units who are being sent to the U.S.-Mexico border in response to the migrant caravans that are making their way through Central America.
“There are currently more than 5,600 personnel deployed in support of Customs and Border Protection,” their statement read. “The number will fluctuate as more units and personnel deploy into the operating area. DOD anticipates more than 7,000 active duty troops will be supporting CBP.”
Reinforcing the Department of Defense’s point on the units being sent in support of the Department of Homeland Security, the deployment mostly includes public affairs units, medical staff, engineers, and aviation elements to help transport CBP.
“A revised listing of deploying units is below, with the actual unit deployed listed first and the parent unit from which units deployed from listed second,” the statement explained.
“DOD has a long history of support for DHS and CBP in their mission to secure the U.S. border,” the statement added. “All units supporting USNORTHCOM's mission to support CBP will adhere to authorities, law and policy.”
President Donald Trump caused a stir and many questions on the use of force after he said if rocks are thrown at U.S. service members, they will consider it a firearm.
In terms of who will be armed during the deployment, Col. Robert Manning, Director of the Defense Press Office told reporters on Monday the only military personnel who will be armed are the military police units that are there for force protection as the troops work on reinforcing the border.
“Self-defense is an inherent right of a soldier,” Manning further clarified, saying the soldiers are trained on “weapons control” and use of force.
Manning added there is no plan for DOD personnel to interact with the migrants.
Here is the full list:
Fort Bliss, Texas
o Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment, 93rd Military Police Battalion
o 24th Press Camp Headquarters, 1st Armored Division
o 47th Heavy Composite Truck Company
o 202nd Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion
o 212th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion
o 591st Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion
o Contingency Contracting Teams
o Contracting Support Brigade Commander
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
o 2nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division
o 51st Medical Logistics Company
o 503rd Military Police Battalion (Airborne)
o 172nd Preventive Medicine Unit
o 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
o 329th Movement Control Team
o 403rd Inland Cargo Transfer Company
o 602nd Area Support Medical Company
o Headquarters & Headquarters Command, 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command
o Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 16th Military Police Brigade
o Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment, 503rd Military Police Battalion
o 248th Veterinary Service Support unit
o 690th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
o 74th Light Composite Transportation Company
o 372nd Inland Cargo Transfer Company, 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade
o 227th Quartermaster Composite Supply Company
o 632nd Movement Control Team
o 887th Engineer Support Company, 101st Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade
Fort Carson, Colorado
o Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
o Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
Fort Detrick, Maryland
o 6th Medical Logistics Management Center
Fort Hood, Texas
o 89th Military Police Brigade, III Corps
o Headquarters, 62nd Engineer Battalion
o 937th Engineer Sapper Company, 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade
o 289th Quartermaster Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade
o 104th Engineer Company
Fort Knox, Kentucky
o Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment, 19th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade
o 15th Engineer Company (Horizontal), 19th Engineer Battalion
o 541st Engineer Sapper Company, 19th Engineer Battalion
Fort Meade, Maryland
o 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera)
Fort Riley, Kansas
o Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 97th Military Police Battalion, 1st Infantry Division
o 977th Military Police Company Combat Support
o 287th Military Police Company Combat Support
o 41st Engineer Company (Clearance), 4th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade
Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
o 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade Headquarters, 3rd Infantry Division
o 90th Human Resources Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade
Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina
o 1st Combat Camera Squadron
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
o Headquarters, 864th Engineer Battalion
o 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, I Corps
o 66th Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion
o 547th Area Support Medical Company
o 104th Engineer Construction Company
o 557th Engineer Construction Company
o 570th Engineer Sapper Company
o 571st Engineer Sapper Company
U.S. Transportation Command
o U.S. Transportation Command, strategic airlift using C-17s and C-130s
Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
o Headquarters U.S. Army North
o 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command Assessment Team
o Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 505th Military Intelligence Brigade
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
o Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 7, I Marine Expeditionary Force
Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia
o Joint Planning Support Element, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command
Peterson Air Force, Colorado
o Joint Enabling Capability Team and Aviation Planner from U.S. Northern Command