ASC battalion powers sustainment for southern border mission
JTF–SB was established on March 14, 2025, under the authority of U.S. Northern Command to provide mission-enhancing support to U.S. Border Patrol. Through unique military capabilities JTF-SB helps ensure U.S. territorial integrity and the security of the nation’s southern flanks by enabling USBP personnel to stay focused on their frontline duties.
Since its inception, more than 20,000 service members have deployed and conducted more than 50,000 enhanced detection and monitoring missions. Under the command of the 1st Armored Division since May 29, 2026, the joint task force relies on ASC’s enterprise sustainment to maintain tempo and readiness.
“The biggest change since the mission started has been going from a contingency operation to an enduring mission,” said Col. John Abella, commander of the 1st Armored Division Sustainment Brigade.
While the joint task force is based out of Fort Bliss, Texas, its mission stretches across the entire 1,954-mile U.S.-Mexico border, from San Diego, California, to Brownsville, Texas. Fort Bliss’ location, directly on the southern border, gives it unmatched proximity, infrastructure and capacity to support this high-tempo homeland defense operation.
Army Field Support Battalion–Bliss turns Fort Bliss’ strategic location into sustainment reach. As the primary logistics node for JTF‑SB, the battalion - part of the 407th Army Field Support Brigade within ASC - delivers enterprise sustainment through its supply, maintenance, and transportation divisions.
ASC extends that capability across the force, synchronizing logistics so Soldiers receive the equipment and materiel they need at the right time and place. Across the globe, ASC integrates maintenance, ammunition, and operational support to sustain readiness.
“The AFSBn is fully integrated with JTF-SB, J4 (Logistics) and the DSB (Division Sustainment Brigade) staff, participating in logistics synchronization and maintenance readiness reviews to remain aligned with operational requirements and provide support where needed,” said Maj. H. Joe Bardouille Jr., the executive officer for AFSBn-Bliss.
One of the primary challenges of the southern border mission is addressing the heat, challenging terrain and extreme remoteness of operating locations. While there are large cities like San Diego and El Paso, and decent-sized towns like Brownsville and Eagle Pass, Texas, most of the southern border is sparsely populated and far removed from major highways and supply hubs.
Abella said that getting supplies from the strategic support area to all the sectors across the nearly 2,000-mile border is the operational-level challenge.
“We know we’re going to have this mission for quite some time, and it’s on us right now to continue to improve our area of operation,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Anibaba Olanrewaju, command sergeant major of the 1st Armored Division Sustainment Brigade. “Our job is to create a system and process in place to make the mission enduring.”
More than 20 years of contingency operations in Afghanistan have taught Army units how to conduct line haul missions - organized, long-distance movements of military supplies, equipment and vehicles - to ensure operational readiness. However, operating domestically presents unique hurdles.
“You really kind of flip that on its head in many ways when you’re doing a mission in the homeland at this scope,” said Abella.
To overcome these vast geographical and environmental hurdles, AFSBn-Bliss directly aligns its operations on sustainment areas ASC values: readiness, mobility, and accountability. By providing rapid equipment and ensuring strict property accountability across multiple remote sectors, the battalion guarantees that JTF-SB forces remain agile. Whether it is tracking the movement of repair parts or ensuring vehicles are mission-capable to navigate the punishing desert, AFSBn-Bliss ensures that mobility is never compromised by logistical lag.
“This is a very harsh environment,” said Olanrewaju. “We need to make sure the Soldiers on the border are manned and trained on what they need to do.”
AFSBn-Bliss is instrumental on ensuring the Soldiers are properly equipped by working closely with their mission partners.
“I see Lt. Col. Rashonda Gilmore almost every day,” Abella said, noting that his staff interact with her battalion daily. Gilmore, the AFSBn‑Bliss commander, maintains close coordination with Abella’s team. “They know when we are anticipating a challenge or when we are confronted with a challenge. We are truly a ‘team of teams’ when it comes to how we solve problems.”
Olanrewaju provided a practical example of this seamless support when he urgently needed replacement uniforms for his Soldiers.
“As soon as I made a phone call to the AFSBn team, they reached out to their contacts, and within two to three hours I got feedback from them on how we’re going to move forward,” Olanrewaju said. “For all things sustainment, logistics, enterprise wise, they are the go-to and we’re very grateful we have them in our backyard.”
Ultimately, the success of JTF-SB hinges on the unseen but undeniable force of Army logistics. Through proactive planning, seamless alignment between strategic sustainment and tactical needs, and an uncompromising focus on readiness, AFSBn‑Bliss and ASC ensure the southern border mission never loses momentum. Their work demonstrates that wherever the Army operates, sustainment drives success.
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