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The top U.S. military commander for North America said to expect more American troops to deploy to the southern border. "What I can confirm is there will be additional force over and above the 5,239 (already heading to the border), the magnitude of that difference I don’t have an answer for you," Air Force Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, head of U.S. Northern Command, told reporters Tuesday afternoon in an impromptu news conference in the Pentagon. O'Shaughnessy did not have a cost estimate for the deployment of more than 5,200 troops to the southern border. O'Shaughnessy said each service member deploying...

(CNN) — Defense Secretary James Mattis has authorized the deployment of more troops to the US-Mexico border, the Pentagon announced Friday. The deployment will start with an undetermined number of forces heading to the border by the end of the month, and could eventually grow in size to 800 troops or more, a defense official said. It's a move aimed at sending a message as a migrant caravan makes its way through Mexico, bound for the US border, drawing the ire of President Trump. But it's important to note that even though troops are involved, the military isn't bracing for...

<p>Hundreds of U.S. troops are set to make their way to the southern border to help Homeland Security and the National Guard as a caravan with thousands of migrants moves north, a U.S. official confirmed to Fox News on Thursday. The official said roughly 800 soldiers will be sent to the area to offer “logistical support," including providing tents and vehicles.</p>

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ HIGH-FIVE AT SEA WWE Superstar Alicia Fox high-fives a sailor aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Persian Gulf, Dec. 23, 2017, during the 2017 USO Holiday Tour. DoD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Dominique A. Pineiro Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies' militaryand family members of the above.Honoring those who have served before. AL-DHAFRA DANCE WWE Superstar Alicia Fox and actor Adam Devine dance during a USO Holiday Tour show at al Dhafra Air Base,...

Please join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for President Trump, Vice-President Pence, and for America: Government, Family, Military, Business, Education, Churches, and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (I John 5:14) Religion forum threads labeled “Prayer” are closed to debate of any kind.

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ ESTONIA EXERCISE Estonian and U.S. soldiers train during a combat exercise at the Estonian Central Training Area near Tapa, Estonia, April 6, 2017. The U.S. soldiers, assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, participated to boost the capabilities of the Estonian forces under the NATO-led Operation Atlantic Resolve. Army photo by Jason Johnston Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies' militaryand family members of the above.Honoring those who have served before. TAPPING THE TAB A soldier touches the Ranger...

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ CUTTING STEEL Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Thomas Dahlke cuts a piece of steel in a training pool at the South Korean Naval Education and Training Command during exercise Foal Eagle in Jinhae, South Korea, March 31, 2017. Dahlke is an equipment operator assigned to Underwater Construction Team 2. The annual training exercise enhances the readiness of U.S. and South Korean forces and their ability to work together during a crisis. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Brett Cote Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale...

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ TOP VIEW A Marine climbs to the top of a CH-53E Super Stallion to conduct maintenance during flight operations on the USS America in the Pacific Ocean, March 29, 2017. The America is underway with more than 1,000 sailors and 1,600 embarked Marines conducting Integration operations to prepare for the ship’s maiden deployment later this year. The Marine is assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161. Navy photo taken by Seaman Apprentice Chad Swysgood Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies'...

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ WELL DECK ARRIVAL An air-cushioned landing craft approaches the well deck of the USS Green Bay in Kinbu Bay, Japan, March 28, 2017. The ship is operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to enhance warfighting readiness for any type of contingency. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Kaleb R. Staples Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies' militaryand family members of the above.Honoring those who have served before. UMBRELLA PROTECTION A Navy EA-6B Prowler refuels from an Air Force KC-10 Extender...

The U.S. military has identified the first two American troops from 55 boxes of human remains from the 1950-53 Korean War that North Korea handed over in July, the agency leading the analysis said on Monday. The identities are expected to be officially announced in the coming days after the troops’ relatives are informed. SNIP However, the sets of bones from the two soon-to-be-identified troops are far more complete. “We noticed ... within a few seconds of opening up the box, and pulling him out, that we think this individual is African American and tall and slender,” Byrd said. “And...

Please join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for President Trump, Vice-President Pence, and for America: Government, Family, Military, Business, Education, Churches, and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (I John 5:14) Religion forum threads labeled “Prayer” are closed to debate of any kind.

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ DANGEROUS DARLA Darla, a German shepherd assigned to the Army's 549th Military Working Dog Detachment, conducts aggression training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, March 21, 2017. Air Force photo by Justin Connaher Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies' militaryand family members of the above.Honoring those who have served before. RESPONSE REFLECTION Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Dylan Worrell views the landscape from inside an MV-22 Osprey in Okinawa, Japan, March 21, 2017. Worrell is an incident commander assigned to the 3rd...

Defense Secretary James Mattis has authorized up to 4,000 National Guard troops to remain deployed along the U.S.-Mexico border until next fall, according to the Pentagon. Mattis earlier this week gave a 12-month extension of the current deployment order, set to expire at the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30, said Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Jamie Davis. The guardsmen are authorized to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through Sept. 30, 2019. “Nothing changes. It’s going to be the same amount of people in the same places,” Davis told The Hill. President Trump in April signed an executive...

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ SATELLITE LAUNCH The Air Force launches the ninth Boeing-built Wideband Global SATCOM satellite at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL, March 18, 2017. Such satellites play an integral part in the strategic and tactical coordination of military operations. Courtesy photo by United Launch Alliance Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies' militaryand family members of the above.Honoring those who have served before. MORTAR SHOCK Soldiers brace themselves while firing mortar rounds during a fire mission supporting the Iraqi army's 9th Division...

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ ROPE WEB Army Sgt. Amanda Spear descends a rope ladder on the obstacle course for the Indiana National Guard Best Warrior Competition at Camp Atterbury, IN, March 4, 2017. Spear is assigned to the 638th Aviation Support Battalion. During the event, soldiers needed to demonstrate proficiency in warrior tasks and skills, including marksmanship, emergency first aid and land navigation. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Evan Myers Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies' militaryand family members of the above.Honoring those...

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ SPACECRAFT TRAINING New York Air National Guard pararescuemen and combat rescue officers jump from a Hawaii Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III into the ocean near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, March 7, 2017, as they train to test new techniques and equipment that will be used to recover the crew module of NASA's Orion spacecraft. The airmen are assigned to the 103rd Rescue Squadron. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Muncy Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies'...

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ DETECTOR DUTY Air Force Staff Sgt. Todd Hughes checks the anti-ice detector during an intake inspection on an F-16C at Daytona Beach, FL, Feb. 24, 2017. The Thunderbirds, the Air Force's demonstration squadron, performed the flyover during the opening ceremonies of the Daytona 500 race. Hughes is a dedicated crew chief assigned to the team. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Boitz Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies' militaryand family members of the above.Honoring those who have served before....

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ STALLION OVERHEAD Marines prepare to attach a concrete barrier to a CH-53E Super Stallion during helicopter external load training at Arta Beach, Djibouti, Feb. 16, 2017. The Marines are assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 11, and the Stallion and crew are assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brandon Maldonado Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies' militaryand family members of the above.Honoring those who have served before. RECAPTURE TRAINING...

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ SUNSET WORK Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joseph Benoit tests the weapons rack releasing system on an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft at sunset in Southwest Asia, Feb. 6, 2017. Benoit is a weapons specialist assigned to the Vermont Air National Guard’s 407th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Benjamin Wilson Canteen Mission Statement Showing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies' militaryand family members of the above.Honoring those who have served before. PALADIN SUPPORT Soldiers fire an M109A6 Paladin from a tactical assembly...

NASEEB, Syria — Syrian soldiers fanned out across towns and villages in southern Syria Saturday, celebrating the recapture of the main border crossing with Jordan by raising portraits of President Bashar Assad and tearing down rebel flags. Troops captured the Naseeb border crossing a day earlier following a crushing two-week military offensive, after rebels announced they had reached an agreement with Russian mediators to end the violence in the southern province of Daraa and surrender the crossing.Some flashed victory signs and pumped fists in the air as they chanted pro-Assad slogans. A soldier could be seen hoisting the Syrian flag...