Pentagon to award new military medal to personnel deployed to southern border

The Pentagon on Tuesday confirmed that it will award a new military medal to service members stationed on the U.S.-Mexico border, which will be part of the Trump administration's efforts to boost border security.

The new medal, dubbed the Mexican Border Defense Medal, will replace the Armed Forces Service Medal that was previously given to service members who collaborated with Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Service members are not allowed to have both medals, but troops who were given the Armed Forces medal can have it swapped with the new award, sources told the Military Times. 

The medal can only go to service members who were “permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that deployed” in support of a military operation supporting CBP within 100 miles of the Mexico border during the Trump administration.

The new award can also only go to service members who were stationed in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas or adjacent U.S. waters out to 24 nautical miles, according to a Defense memo. 

The new medal comes as the Trump administration bolsters its military presence on the border. U.S. Northern Command established the Joint Task Force-Southern Border in March, which helps with immigration enforcement efforts. Approximately 8,500 military personnel are part of the task force so far.

The Trump administration has also sent the U.S. Navy down to the waters near the border to help stem the flow of illegal drugs.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.