Troops Supporting Border Security to Receive New Medal

The Department of Defense is set to formally recognize the contributions of thousands of U.S. service members deployed to the nation’s southern border. In a move that underscores the long-term nature of the mission, the Pentagon has established the Mexican Border Defense Medal to honor troops engaged in supporting federal border security operations. The creation of the new award was verified by a defense official after a memorandum detailing the medal began circulating online. This new decoration will serve as a specific acknowledgment for military personnel who have been part of the administration’s heightened security posture along the U.S.-Mexico border since early 2025.

The Criteria for Recognition

According to the official memorandum, the criteria for the Mexican Border Defense Medal are specific and tied directly to the ongoing border support mission. To be eligible, military personnel must have been assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for a minimum of 30 days, which can be consecutive or non-consecutive. The qualifying period of service begins on January 20, 2025, the start date of President Trump’s second term.

The geographic area of eligibility is also clearly defined. Personnel must have operated within 100 nautical miles of the border in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, or California. This includes the city of San Antonio. Service in the adjacent U.S. waters up to 24 nautical miles from the coast also qualifies. The new medal is set to replace the Armed Forces Service Medal, which had previously been awarded for this duty. The memo clarifies that while service members and veterans can apply to have their Armed Forces Service Medal exchanged for the new award, they are not permitted to retain both for the same period of service.

A Mission in Context

The establishment of this medal comes during a significant and sustained military presence at the southern border. The mission’s latest phase was initiated by an executive order signed by President Trump on his first day in office, which declared a national emergency to counter what was termed unlawful mass migration. This directive tasked the Department of Defense with providing direct support to the Department of Homeland Security’s border security efforts.

In the months that followed, the military’s role became more formalized. U.S. Northern Command established Joint Task Force-Southern Border on March 14, 2025, to centralize command and control of the mission. As of early July, approximately 8,500 troops, including about 1,500 National Guard members on federal orders, were deployed as part of this task force. Their duties extend beyond logistical support to include drug interdiction efforts, as seen in the recent interception of 1,296 pounds of cocaine by the USS Sampson and the U.S. Coast Guard. Furthermore, the Pentagon has designated four national defense areas where military personnel can temporarily detain individuals who trespass until they can be transferred to federal law enforcement.

Historical Precedent and Future Details

While the medal is new, the concept is not without historical precedent. Over a century ago, the U.S. military issued the Mexico Service Medal (1917) and the Mexico Border Service Medal (1918) for service during the period of cross-border conflict with the forces of Pancho Villa. The new Mexican Border Defense Medal will find its place in the official order of precedence directly after the Korea Defense Service Medal and before the Armed Forces Service Medal it replaces. At present, no details regarding the medal’s design or ribbon have been released to the public.