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New Mexican Border Defense Medal replaces AFSM for border support service

MARADMIN 233/26·May 21, 2026·2 min read·Official source
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The Secretary of War established the Mexican Border Defense Medal (MBDM), and this MARADMIN is the Marine Corps' implementation guidance for awarding it. If you deployed to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on the southern border on or after 20 January 2025, this award applies to you. The Armed Forces Service Medal is no longer authorized for that service going forward.

Bottom line: If you served 30 days supporting CBP on or after 20 January 2025, you're eligible for the MBDM. If you already received the AFSM for that same period, you can swap it out, but you can't keep both.

Who it affects

Any Marine, Total Force, who was permanently assigned, attached, or detailed to a unit that deployed in support of CBP within the area of eligibility (AOE) during the qualifying period. The AOE covers U.S. land within 100 nautical miles of the Mexican border in Texas (including San Antonio), New Mexico, Arizona, and California, plus adjacent waters north of the border out to 24 nautical miles.

The minimum qualifying threshold is 30 days, consecutive or cumulative, during a designated Department of War military operation in that AOE.

What you need to do

If you think you qualify:

  1. Gather your supporting documentation: deployment orders, TAD/PCS orders, muster rosters, or a command certification showing your qualifying dates and location.
  2. Talk to your unit commander. Commanding Officers with authority to award the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal can approve the MBDM.
  3. If you were previously awarded the AFSM for CBP support between 20 January 2025 and 13 August 2025, you can request the MBDM in lieu of the AFSM. You cannot keep both for the same period.
  4. The election to swap will be documented with a Page 11 entry. Your local Reporting Unit will process the award using entry code BD.

A few things to know about the medal itself: only one MBDM is authorized per person, no matter how many qualifying deployments you have. There are no devices for subsequent awards. No certificate or citation is issued. It is worn immediately after the Korea Defense Service Medal.

AFSM awards for CBP support earned before 20 January 2025 are not affected and cannot be exchanged.

Key dates

  • 20 January 2025: Qualifying period opens (retroactive start date)
  • 13 August 2025: AFSM no longer authorized for CBP border support service (from this date forward, MBDM is the applicable award)
  • No announced end date for the qualifying period

The official version

See MARADMIN 233/26 for the full text. The foundational references are ALNAV 023/26 and SECNAVINST 1650.1J (Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual). For questions on processing, contact the HQMC POC: Zenon J. Kelly, MMPB-30, at 703-784-9206 or ZENON.J.KELLY.CIV@USMC.MIL.

This is written by a reservist, for reservists. It is not an official publication of HQMC or MARFORRES. Always verify guidance with your command or unit S-1 before acting on any article or summary.

Resources & references

The documents this bulletin points to, with a plain-English note on why each matters. Links marked CAC required need a government login.

  • ALNAV 023/26 - Implementation of the Mexican Border Defense MedalMARADMIN

    This is the Navy-wide message from SECNAV that directed implementation of the Mexican Border Defense Medal. It is the top-level authority this MARADMIN flows from.

  • Secretary of War Memorandum - Establishment of the Mexican Border Defense Medal (13 Aug 25)Reference

    This is the founding document that formally established the MBDM and set its effective date of 13 August 2025. It is the basis for eligibility, the replacement of the AFSM for CBP border support, and all award criteria described in this MARADMIN.

  • OUSW P&R Memorandum - Award of the Armed Forces Service Medal for CBP Support (1 Jul 19)Reference

    This memorandum previously governed use of the Armed Forces Service Medal for Department of War support to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is relevant background because the MBDM now supersedes the AFSM for qualifying border service on or after 20 January 2025.

  • Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (SECNAVINST 1650.1J)Reference

    This is the authoritative awards manual for Navy and Marine Corps personnel. It governs the broader awards framework within which the MBDM approval authority and administrative procedures described in this MARADMIN operate.

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New Mexican Border Defense Medal replaces AFSM for border support service — Reservable