WASHINGTON — The Pentagon made headlines over the weekend with the deployment of the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Gravely (DDG-107) to the southern border—a move characterized by military officials as “unusual” yet strategic, aimed at bolstering national security. The USS Gravely departed from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown on March 15, 2025, to engage in maritime operations alongside the Coast Guard, assisting primarily with drug interdictions and mitigating illegal immigration.
According to Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), this deployment is not just about showing naval strength; it is pivotal to managing border control challenges. “USS Gravely’s deployment will contribute to the U.S. Northern Command southern border mission as part of the DOD’s coordinated effort in response to the Presidential Executive Order,” Guillot stated. His emphasis on the ship’s sea-going capacity reflects the Navy's commitment to enhancing U.S. territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Adm. Daryl Caudle, who oversees both U.S. Fleet Forces and serves as the naval forces component commander for NORTHCOM, also weighed in. He described the deployment of such advanced naval assets for this mission set as “unusual,” noting, “This is putting our toe in the water a bit to understand it, to make sure we know how to employ this force.” While the Gravely’s capabilities may seem excessive for the tasks it is about to undertake, the Navy’s commitment to supporting the southern border enforcement is evident.
The decision to leverage the USS Gravely—a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer—is notable. Typically, destroyers of this caliber are tasked with high-intensity naval combat; their capabilities span anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare, boasting advanced systems like the Aegis Weapon System and the SPY-1D radar. These specifications underline the ship's readiness for effective maritime occupations, making the deployment to border security efforts intriguing.
This deployment reflects broader changes within U.S. border security strategy, with the Coast Guard having more than tripled its assets along the southern maritime boundary since January 21, 2025. By integrating the USS Gravely, the Coast Guard aims to conduct enhanced law enforcement operations, including not just drug interdictions but also tackling illegal immigration.
The USS Gravely isn't new to heavy-duty missions. The destroyer previously served prominently aboard the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, engaging actively for nine months with Houthi forces to secure maritime commercial routes. Returning to Norfolk, Virginia, last July, it had established itself as adaptable and reliable under high-threat environments. Its recent return now leads to this unique transition from combat missions to homeland security initiative.
The Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) teams will be onboard the Gravely, trained explicitly for maritime security, counter-terrorism, and alien migration interdiction missions. Adm. Caudle articulated this component’s importance, noting, “...Gravely strengthens our maritime presence and exemplifies the Navy’s commitment to national security,” highlighting how collaboration between various agencies has become structured to improve security outcomes.
While the USS Gravely is set to primarily operate around the Gulf Coast, it is expected to carry out missions covering both U.S. and international waters. The naval strategy will extend across the southern border, engaging with water traffic around Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana, reaffirming its operational flexibility based on real-time security needs. This adaptability speaks to the broader military strategy, fostering collaboration between NORTHCOM and SOUTHCOM, ensuring effective maritime operations without bureaucratic delays.
Operationally speaking, the Navy has displayed readiness to shift forces when necessary. For example, USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) was also deployed to bolster efforts at Guantanamo Bay. Such shifts are part of the Navy’s larger tactical framework to respond dynamically to prevailing challenges at the southern border.
This deployment coincides with recent executive orders from President Donald Trump, which aim to tighten border controls and combat issues surrounding illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Addressing these multifaceted challenges has led to the Pentagon exploring cooperative maritime solutions between the Navy and Coast Guard, as demonstrated by the Gravely’s mission.
With advancements in sensor technologies, data analytics, and machine learning being folded urgently and efficiently to tackle border security elements, the deployment of USS Gravely serves not only as military protocol but as strategic operational innovation. This ambition suggests future operations may see even more naval resources mobilized for domestic missions, supplementing traditional Coast Guard activities.
Overall, the deployment of USS Gravely reinforces the military’s readiness to navigate complex security challenges domestically. It highlights the nuanced relationship between military capability and civil enforcement roles, paving new paths for how the U.S. security framework can respond to threats at its southern maritime border. This cooperation marks not only willingness but significant strategic commitment toward enhancing national security, viewing the southern maritime region as integral to U.S. defense posture.
