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Feature: DEFENDER 25 - SWIFT RESPONSE

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This is USAREUR-AF May 2025

May 22, 2025 | 1:00

This month's "This is USAREUR-AF" edition highlights the 1st Armored Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, at Combined Resolve, and their efforts for Army's Transforming in Contact initiative; and Swift Response, an exercise part of Defender 25, in which the 173rd Airborne Brigade, along with multinational medics and the 68th Theater Medical Command, use drones to deliver blood to forward care locations.

Testing FPV Drones Against Moving Targets During Swift Response

May 21, 2025 | 0:37

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Francesco La Torre, director of effects for the Bayonet Innovation Team, discusses first-person view (FPV) drone training during Swift Response 2025 at Pabrade Training Area, Lithuania, May 18, 2025. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is testing purpose-built, retrievable FPV drones against autonomous moving targets to improve battlefield readiness and integration with armored units.

Panther Brigade Soldiers seize the objective from NATO Allies and partners during Swift Response

May 19, 2025 | 0:55

U.S. Army Paratroopers with 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, conduct combined force-on-force combat training in Setermoen, Norway May 15, 2025. The battalion, alongside U.K. paratroopers from 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, Norwegian soldiers from Cavalry Company, Armoured Battalion, Brigade Nord, and Hungarian Rangers, conducted the training as part of Swift Response 25, a supporting exercise of DEFENDER 25, to enhance joint interoperability, combat lethality, and operational readiness. Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025.

INTERVIEW: Swift Response 25 HOSPEX Col. Paula Young

May 19, 2025 | 5:33

Col. Paula Young, the deputy commander for clinical services with the 519th Hospital Center, discusses the Hospital Exercise (HOSPEX) conducted during Swift Response 2025 at Vepriai Rocket Base, Lithuania, May 17, 2025.

Related:
Defender 25 page

173rd Airborne Brigade Trains Drone Operators at Grafenwoehr

May 14, 2025 | 0:41

In a world where paratroopers fall from the sky, one platoon is flipping the script. Forget parachutes. This time, they're learning to fly a little differently.
Led by Chief Andrew Topits, a UAS instructor with 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment (Airborne) , who’s leading the charge—one rotor at a time—throughout the year at Grafenwoehr Training Area. His mission? To make sure Sky Soldiers across every rank know how to operate Unmanned Aerial Systems, or UAS. Yes, that’s Army-speak for “drones.”

APS-2 issue at Eygelshoven for DEFENDER 25

May 15, 2025 | 1:00

The 405th Army Field Support Brigade's Battalion Benelux issued over 200 Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 tactical vehicles and major end items to the 59th Chemical Company (Hazardous Response) at the Eygelshoven APS-2 worksite in the Netherlands at the start of DEFENDER 25.

Related:
DEFENDER 25 page

Swift Response 25 - SGT Nolan Svoboda

May 14, 2025 | 0:54

Sgt. Nolan Svoboda, an infantry squad leader assigned to 82nd Airborne Division, discusses his participation in Swift Response 25 - part of DEFENDER 25.

Related:
Visit the DEFENDER 25 page
More about Swift Response

Swift Response 25 - CPT Hannah Hogan

May 14, 2025 | 0:59

Capt. Hannah Hogan, a Paratrooper assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, discusses her participation in Swift Response 25 - part of DEFENDER 25.

Related:
Visit the DEFENDER 25 page

Swift Response 25 - Joint Forcible Entry

May 13, 2025 | 2:09

82nd Airborne Division paratroopers jump from a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft during a Joint Forcible Entry mission supporting Swift Response 2025 on the Liberty Drop Zone, Norway, May 12, 2025.

Related:
Visit the DEFENDER 25 page

DEFENDER 25 kicked off in Norway

May 6, 2025 | 3:19

Sgt. Alejandro Rivas, a combat medic assigned to 82nd Airborne Division, talking about his role during DEFENDER 25, Swift Response training exercise in Norway, May 3, 2025.

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Read about Defender 25

DEFENDER 2025 - First Time Port Operations in Kavala

May 9, 2025 | 4:14

Andre Cameron, the Transportation Corps Detachment Eastern Mediterranean - Greece of the 839th Transportation Battalion, addresses several topics pertaining to the first-ever port operation at the port of Kavala, Greece in support of DEFENDER 25, April 2025. Cameron highlights the safety aspects of conducting port operations and talks about the three pillars jointly bonds the U.S. and host nation: relationships, partnerships, and friendships.

Using innovation to save equipment costs

May 1, 2025 | 0:50

U.S Army Sgt. Jacob Fritz, lead manufacturer, 2nd Multi-Domain Effects Battalion, explains his tasks and leadership position in 2MEB's innovation lab, Apr. 2, 2024, on Mainz Kastel TMP Station in Wiesbaden, Germany. The innovation lab was created to find cost-effective and beneficial ways to revolutionize warfighting with techniques such as 3-D printing and soldering.

U.S. Marine conduct an EOD range during NATO exercise

May 12, 2025 | 0:30

U.S. Marine Corps Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technicians with Combat Logistics Battalion 22, Combat Logistic Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, conduct standoff munitions disruption training during Swift Response 25 at D2 Range, Setermoen, Norway, April 28, 2025. The Marine Corps is providing direct combat service support to the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division to enable sustainment of multi-domain operations. Swift Response 25 is part of the DEFENDER 25 series and allows the rehearsal, deployment, employment, and integration of U.S. forces to focus on the expansion of critical capabilities on the battlefield in the High North and Baltics.

Victory in Europe ending WWII

May 7, 2020 | 0:55

President Harry S. Truman addresses the nation on V-E Day, May 8, 1945.

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More information on WWII
WWII 80 in Europe Commemorations

3ID Drone Validation: CW3 Mesa on Eyes Above the Fight

May 6, 2025 | 1:00

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 David Mesa, 3rd Infantry Division, discusses unmanned aerial systems drone validation during Combined Resolve at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center on Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, May 5, 2025. Combined Resolve is part of the Army’s “Transforming in Contact” initiative, which assesses the effectiveness of electronic warfare and counter-unmanned aerial systems, as well as how force structure changes and current tactics align with emerging technologies.

Related:
More about Combined Resolve

Army Specialist Samantha Zaldivar operates a homemade simulator during Chimera Sunrise

CHIMERA SUNRISE PUTS INNOVATION LAB AT THE CENTER OF NEXT-GEN SENSOR-TO-SHOOTER TRAINING

A homemade simulator, a high-altitude balloon, and a new task organization came together last week in Chimera Sunrise, a virtual sensor-to-shooter exercise that pushed the boundaries of multi-domain operations inside the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force (2MDTF), 56th Artillery Command’s Innovation Lab.

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Wiesbaden Drone Pilot Learns to Fly

May 1, 2025 | 0:52

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Aaron Ritzema, commander, 2nd Multi-Domain Effects Battalion, 2n Multi-Domain Taskforce, and Spc. Samantha Zaldivar, an unmanned aerial vehicle operator with the Extended Range Sensing and Effects Company of the 2nd MDEB, begin preparations and training for Arcane Thunder 25 on Mainz Kastel Station, Germany, April 15, 2025. The battalion innovation lab added a virtual drone flight simulation to the established mission command software to streamline the reconnaissance process.

This is USAREUR-AF April 2025

May 2, 2025 | 1:00

The "This is USAREUR-AF" video series highlights U.S. Army Europe and Africa's activities across Europe, Africa, and beyond.

80th Anniversary of Dachau Liberation

Eighty years to the day after the liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp, a memorial plaque was unveiled in honor of the 45th “Thunderbird” Infantry Division of the U.S. Seventh Army, April 29, 2025.

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Full story
More information about the 80th Anniversary of WWII events

Army Drone Innovation Lab represents new model for battlefield adaptation

April 14, 2025 | 3:00

U.S. Army Capt. Ronan Sefton, an intelligence officer assigned to 2nd Cavalry Regiment, explaining the creation of 2CR's drone innovation lab and its transformative capabilities and implications for the future of U.S. Army warfare during an interview at Balli Airfield UAS Facility, Vilseck, Germany, April 7, 2025. 2CR's Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Program involves the design, 3D printing, assembling, and testing of custom-built drones, all done exclusively by 2CR Soldiers. This enables the regiment to rapidly respond to changing battlefield conditions and quickly overcome environmental challenges.

Wiesbaden Soldiers create solutions in Innovation Lab

April 22, 2025 | 1:00

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christian Lehr and Sgt. 1st Class Tyler Baumgartner, the officer and noncommissioned officer in charge of the Innovation Lab of the 2nd Multi-Domain Effects Battalion, 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force, spearhead technological advancement on Mainz Kastel Station, Germany, April 7, 2025. The innovation lab creates quick solutions to fill gaps in support during military operations. The innovation lab provides real-time, cost-saving solutions to the Army to increase its capabilities.

Drone Training

March 13, 2025 | 1:27

Ssg. Gary E. Bowers, assigned to the 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, describes the multiple uses of the Flying Basket drone at Gasinci training area, Croatia, Mar. 11, 2025.

Soldiers live fire FPV drones in Germany

Soldiers conducted a live fire of first-person view drones for the first time at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Feb. 17-20, 2025. Although drones have been incorporated into training for years, this event combined FPV drones with live munitions in a series of live fire flights, all within range safety standards. The success is a result of collaboration between U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, 7th Army Training Command, Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine and the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

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Soldiers demonstrate counter-drone tech in Germany

The U.S. Army showcased several sophisticated systems Soldiers operate to detect and respond to unknown, potentially hostile drones during a demonstration at Joint Multinational Training Center in Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, March 25, 2025.

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173rd Airborne Brigade hosts inaugural Innovation Symposium

April 1, 2025 | 1:00

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Francesco La Torre and U.S. Army Warrant Officer Justin Love discuss the 173rd Airborne Brigade's inaugural Innovation Symposium, held March 26-27, 2025 in Vicenza, Italy. The symposium showcased how the 173rd Airborne Brigade supports innovation by enabling bottom-up problem-solving improving warfighter readiness and deploy technology to increase warfighting lethality.

Next Generation Tactical Vehicle-Hybrid during Combined Resolve

Jan. 22, 2025 | 1:08

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nicholas Chavez, an air traffic control specialist assigned to 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, describes the features and capabilities of the Amy's new Next Generation Tactical Vehicle-Hybrid prototype during Combined Resolve 25-01 at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels Training Area, Hohenfels, Germany, Jan. 14, 2025. The Next Generation Tactical Vehicle-Hybrid (NGTV-H) is a diesel-electric light reconnaissance vehicle. During Combined Resolve 25-1, the U.S. Army is implementing its Transforming in Contact initiative, utilizing new technologies and systems designed to enhance its warfighting readiness and ability to respond to crisis or conflict.

Transforming in Contact during Exercise Combined Resolve

Feb. 7, 2025 | 2:43

Col. Joshua Glonek, 3rd Brigade 10th Mountain Division Brigade commander discusses how the U.S. Army's Transforming in Contact initiative is shaping how his unit trains and may influence the future of army training during Combined Resolve 25-1, at Hohenfels Training Area, Feb. 1, 2025. During CbR 25-1, TiC utilizes new technologies and systems designed to enhance its warfighting readiness and ability to respond to crisis or conflict.

U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command Video

Feb. 5, 2025 | 2:53

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