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
Video by Lance Cpl. Anita Ramos
B-Roll: Steel Knight 23.2: CLB-5 prepares chow
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Dec. 5, 2023 | 1:45
U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 5, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, and 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, prepare food for force sustainment operations during Exercise Steel Knight 23.2, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 5, 2023. Steel Knight is a three-phase exercise designed to train I Marine Expeditionary Force in the planning, deployment and command and control of a joint force against a peer or near-peer adversary combat force and enhance existing live-fire and maneuver capabilities of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. B-Roll provided has no audio. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Anita Ramos)
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What is happening where?

Redirecting...
  • Swift Response

    FinlandItalyLatviaLithuaniaNorwaySwedenSlovenia

  • Immediate Response

    AlbaniaBulgariaCroatiaGreeceKosovoMontenegroNorth MacedoniaSlovakia

  • Saber Guardian

    CzechiaGermanyHungaryRomaniaSlovakia

Press Information

enlightenedTo find information about filing a claim related to exercise DEFENDER activities, visit Claims Information and select your country.