U.S. troops deployed to the southern border can now conduct patrols in Stryker armored vehicles, according to U.S. Northern Command, or NORTHCOM.
The move comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered on March 1 that about 2,400 soldiers with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division deploy to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Then, on March 20, Hegseth authorized U.S. service members assigned to the border region to conduct “enhanced detection and monitoring” to support agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, a recent NORTHCOM news release says. This will allow troops to go from manning stationary positions on the border to using Strykers and other tactical military vehicles for patrols within designated patrol zones and to transport Customs and Border agents on patrol routes.
Strykers are eight-wheeled vehicles that can carry up to 11 people and reach a top speed of 60 miles per hour, according to the Army. Some variants include a remote weapons station for a .50 caliber machine gun or MK19 grenade launcher.
