Navy sailors assigned to duty at the U.S.-Mexico border are now eligible for the Mexican Border Defense Medal. This move puts them on the same footing as thousands of soldiers and Marines who are also eligible for the award.
To be eligible, sailors must be assigned to a unit in support of Customs and Border Protection for at least 30 days within 100 miles of the Mexican border.
The new rules come after thousands of troops have deployed to the border since January 2025, including sailors who have been patrolling coast waters and conducting patrols with Marines on land. The medal was announced in August to replace the Armed Forces Service Medal, and sailors who have already received that medal can request to exchange it for the new one.
