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 Sgt. Anthony Ackah-Mensah
81st Anniversary of D-Day: 8th Air Force Memorial Unveiling
U.S. Special Operations Command Europe
June 25, 2025 | 1:12
A ceremony takes place in Saint-Mere-Eglise to memorialize four U.S. Air Force Airmen, Staff Sgt. Maynard “Snuffy” Smith, Gen. James Doolittle, Col. Donald J.M. Blakeslee and Lt. Col. Robert Rosenthal, with the 8th Air Force during D-Day 81 celebrations, June 5, 2025. During WWII, the “Mighty Eighth” flew more than 2,300 sorties on D-Day and suffered more than 47,000 casualties, including some 26,000 deaths. U.S. military personnel are in France to mark the 81st anniversary of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. More than 80 commemorative events take place from June 3 to 8 across approximately 40 communities in the Normandy region, including a bilateral ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery on June 6 and an airborne operation on June 8. (U.S. Army video by Sgt. Anthony Ackah-Mensah)
More

Up Next

More Videos

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.