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 Brannen Parrish
Waterway Debris Removal Chimney Rock, NC 50 FPS
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District
Feb. 14, 2025 | 2:07
Workers use heavy equipment to move boulders and remove vegetative debris from the Rocky Broad River in Chimney Rock, North Carolina, Feb. 6, 2025. The Wilmington District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is executing disaster recovery operations in Western North Carolina under a FEMA mission assignment in response to Hurricane Helene, which struck the state in September 2024. The district has removed more than 2 million cubic yards of right-of-way and waterway debris since October 2024. USACE brings unique capabilities to emergency responses but is just one piece of a much larger Army and DOD team working to support federal, state, and local partners.
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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.