The Defense Department has established the Mexican Border Defense Medal for U.S. troops who have deployed to the southern border since Jan. 20 to support agents with U.S. Border and Customs Protection, or CBP, according to a Pentagon memo shared on social media.

A defense official confirmed to Task & Purpose that the Aug. 13 Defense Department memo is authentic but had no further information on the medal.

To qualify for the Mexican Border Defense Medal, troops must have been “permanently assigned, attached, or detailed” to a unit that deployed as part of a designated Defense Department operation supporting CBP for 30 consecutive or nonconsecutive days, the memo says.

Troops must also have deployed within 100 nautical miles of the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas (including San Antonio), New

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