DEFENDER is the Army’s largest annual opportunity to exercise moving personnel and equipment into theater across modes for initial and follow-on operations critical to Large Scale Combat Operations. Led by U.S. Army Europe and Africa, the exercise focuses on the strategic deployment of CONUS-based forces, employment of Army Prepositioned Stock and follow-on exercises demonstrating lethality and interoperability with Allies and partners

DEFENDER 25 Outreach tour
DEFENDER 25 Infographic

Videos
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Video by Greg Mason
435th Training Squadron training at Fort McCoy
Fort McCoy Multimedia Visual Information Branch
April 28, 2025 | 5:12
435th Training Squadron training at Fort McCoy
Students training with the 435th Training Squadron guide in C-130 aircraft from the 934th Operations Support Squadron out of Minneapolis MN. into the dirt Young Air Assault Strip (YAAS) at Fort McCoy WI.
The 435th Training Squadron (TRS) is under the USAF Expeditionary Operations School (EOS) charged with training and educating all-domain command and control (C2) Mobility Warfighters.
The Eagles develop a wide range of mobility professionals from a variety of AFSCs while modifying courses to meet current evolving worldwide operations. Combined, the squadron delivers 32 C2 courses including Functional and Geographic Air Operations Center training, AMC Command Post, Air Mobility Liaison Officer, Director of Mobility Forces, and Landing Zone Operations.
The 435th graduates approximately 1,200 students annually who then integrate back with their respective Wings, MAJCOMs, Air Operations Center or Joint Force Commander directly impacting the global environment and operations.
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Fort McCoyAviation Training934th Air Wing435th training squadron
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Up Next

435th Air Ground Operations Wing Change of Command (1080p w/graphics)
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435th Air Ground Operations Wing Change of Command (1080p w/graphics)
435 SFS conducts European Combat Leaders course B-Roll package
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4:37
435 SFS conducts European Combat Leaders course B-Roll package
No runway, no problem; Agile Bison 25-1 tests rapid deployment tactics at Chièvres AB
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No runway, no problem; Agile Bison 25-1 tests rapid deployment tactics at Chièvres AB
Stolen Cerberus XII; Guardians of the gate, masters of the sky B-Roll
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Stolen Cerberus XII; Guardians of the gate, masters of the sky B-Roll
Exercise Agile Bison puts Airmen’s skill to the test and strengthens interoperability across Europe
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Exercise Agile Bison puts Airmen’s skill to the test and strengthens interoperability across Europe
No runway, no problem; Agile Bison 25-1 tests rapid deployment tactics at Chièvres AB B-Roll
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No runway, no problem; Agile Bison 25-1 tests rapid deployment tactics at Chièvres AB B-Roll
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435th Training Squadron training at Fort McCoy
435th Training Squadron training at Fort McCoy
Air and ground forces sling-load 435th AGOW assets at Hohenfels B-Roll
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3:35
Air and ground forces sling-load 435th AGOW assets at Hohenfels B-Roll
Air Force and Army move as one at Hohenfels B-Roll
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5:19
Air Force and Army move as one at Hohenfels B-Roll
No runway, no problem; Agile Bison 25-1 tests rapid deployment tactics at Chièvres AB
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1:02
No runway, no problem; Agile Bison 25-1 tests rapid deployment tactics at Chièvres AB
435th AGOW secures camp, engages opposing forces in simulated firefight B-Roll
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3:50
435th AGOW secures camp, engages opposing forces in simulated firefight B-Roll
435th AGOW Airmen drop in mission ready at Hohenfels B-Roll
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435th AGOW Airmen drop in mission ready at Hohenfels B-Roll
Exercise Agile Bison puts Airmen’s skill to the test and strengthens interoperability across Europe
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Exercise Agile Bison puts Airmen’s skill to the test and strengthens interoperability across Europe
2025 Silver Flag Civil Engineer Training Class room B-Roll
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2025 Silver Flag Civil Engineer Training Class room B-Roll
435th AGOW TACPs support BTF 25-2
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435th AGOW TACPs support BTF 25-2
435th AGOW: decisively employing airpower at the forward edge of battle
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435th AGOW: decisively employing airpower at the forward edge of battle
1st CBCS employs Mobile Digital Infrastructure vehicle
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1st CBCS employs Mobile Digital Infrastructure vehicle
435th CRSS hosts Lithuanian de-icing training
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1:59
435th CRSS hosts Lithuanian de-icing training
Ramstein C-130J Super Hercules aircraft drop Bulgarian and American paratroopers
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Ramstein C-130J Super Hercules aircraft drop Bulgarian and American paratroopers
86th MXS, 435th CRSS host Senegal air force
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86th MXS, 435th CRSS host Senegal air force
LZ, DZ operations and LZSO certification
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2:14
LZ, DZ operations and LZSO certification
1st CBCS hosts USAFE’s first ever safety landing zone certification course teaser
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1st CBCS hosts USAFE’s first ever safety landing zone certification course teaser
High Frequency communications not a lost art
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High Frequency communications not a lost art
Contingency 435 No Graphics
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2:20
Contingency 435 No Graphics
Contingency 435
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Contingency 435
435th CRS Hot Pit Training
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435th CRS Hot Pit Training
435th SFS hosts robodog training, implements AI technology
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435th SFS hosts robodog training, implements AI technology
U.S., Serbian military forces conduct first flight formation in history: Rotary Wing Search and Rescue Operations
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U.S., Serbian military forces conduct first flight formation in history: Rotary Wing Search and Rescue Operations
U.S., Serbian military forces conduct first flight formation in history: Rotary Wing Search and Rescue Operations B-Roll
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U.S., Serbian military forces conduct first flight formation in history: Rotary Wing Search and Rescue Operations B-Roll
435th CTS hosts first full AFFORGEN Silver Flag exercise B-Roll
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435th CTS hosts first full AFFORGEN Silver Flag exercise B-Roll
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