Ut Prosim on the Southern Border: Hokies Lead the Way

By Capt. Joel Baer ’18, 1st Lt. Grace Kim ’22, 1st Lt. Elizabeth Gaskill ’23, Lt. Col. Daniel Harrison 

There is no operating environment more joint, interagency, and related to defense of the homeland than the area of responsibility for Joint Task Force Southern Border where Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumni are serving and succeeding with professionalism and excellence. Corps graduates and U.S. Army officers Capt. Joel Baer ’18 (India Company, infantry), 1st Lt. Grace Kim ’22 (Highty-Tighties, armor), and 1st Lt. Elizabeth Gaskill (Highty-Tighties, military intelligence) all converged in West Texas as their three different battalions conduct a transition between Task Force Mountain Warrior (from 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division), and Task Force Strike (from 2nd Armored Brigade, 1st Armored Division). These units are transitioning from their normal brigade combat team mission to a different kind of mission: supporting civil authorities in achieving operational control of the border. Their area of responsibility stretches from the West Coast and San Diego all the way through Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas to the easternmost edge of the southern U.S. border and the Gulf Coast. Task Force Mountain Warrior is currently responsible for half of that area and is transitioning control to Task Force Strike.

Baer, commander of Brave Company within Task Force Mountain Warrior, arrived in the Big Bend Sector back in March as part of the first-ever Stryker brigade to support southern U.S. border operations during the initial establishment of this new border mission. He led his company in building partnerships across three different U. S. Border Patrol stations that enhanced their mission to uphold the law and prevent illicit activity within the United States. These partnerships were built on a foundation of mutual respect and trust, a common mission, a common oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, amidst constantly evolving policy and legal framework for authorities and permissions to achieve mission objectives. The stakeholders in this environment came from a myriad of organizations, including members of the U.S. military, law enforcement agencies at all levels from local to federal, the U.S. intelligence community, local and state governments and their agencies, and multiple federal departments and agencies. Corps graduates that develop in a joint and interagency environment during their formative years as cadets are uniquely positioned to excel in this situation through early exposure to other services and civilian organizational cultures.  

“I found my education as a cadet translated directly into success with interagency partners because I approached that relationship with respect for differences in perspective but an inherent belief that we could find common cause and common ground,” said Baer. “It has been an incredible experience to learn with our partners, especially the Border Patrol, and see how the border is defended. I am confident we’ve made significant improvements over the course of this operation, especially in helping improve adjacent station and unit coordination and in planning proactively.”  

Kim currently serves as the executive officer of Demon Troop within Task Force Strike. She and her unit found their deliberate training plan from the previous year invalidated upon activation for the southern border mission. Instead of their typical tactics, they had to prepare for dismounted and wheeled reconnaissance and security operations. In the midst of these unforeseen changes, Kim recognized an opportunity to focus a portion of their formation on deep maintenance on their fleet to balance the recent years of extremely high operational tempo and gradually improve the health of their fleet while still building readiness for the mission.  

"I've always been told to grow where I'm planted and during this preparation, this mindset has absolutely helped me to keep leaning into the unknown and learn from it," said Kim.

Gaskill, assistant intelligence officer for 1st Battalion, 37th Armor Battalion in Task Force Strike, is transitioning into the Big Bend Sector as her battalion takes over. She was surprised in September to learn that the battalion her unit would be replacing (1st Battalion, 12th Infantry) was commanded by one of her former Army ROTC instructors at Virginia Tech, Lt. Col. Daniel Harrison. Gaskill served as the acting officer-in-charge for two months, leading intelligence preparation and helping educate leaders and soldiers to ensure a smooth transition without creating opportunities for illicit activity. Her ongoing role focuses on building shared understanding among joint and interagency partners—a responsibility that demands diligence and clear communication.

“My primary responsibility as an intelligence officer is to gain an understanding of the current situation and clearly communicate what we can project. Timely and accurate intelligence enables commanders to make decisions and directly support operations through effective planning and execution,” said Gaskill.  

“After a year of honing my skills during division and brigade-level training exercises, I’m excited to test my team and myself with a real-world mission with national security implications. Interagency collaboration will be critical to our success, as will be leveraging technology at all echelons. With our partners, we will build a comprehensive intelligence picture that will empower decision-making down to the lowest level of soldiers and agents,” she said.

Hokies far and wide should be proud to see the spirit of Ut Prosim alive and well in Corps alumni around the world, including at the boundaries of our sovereign territory. No matter the mission, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets produces leaders that answer the call to serve!