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 Staff Sgt. Aaliyah Craven
Interview: Marine Maj. Jimmy Richter discusses joint, combined academics at African Lion 2025 in Morocco
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa
May 9, 2025 | 2:21
U.S. Marine Maj. Jimmy Richter, an African Lion 2025 (AL25) academics coordinator, assigned to the Marine Corps Advisor Company Alpha, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve, discusses his role at the exercise, as well as the value of joint, combined academics and planning with Moroccan, European and African partners in Agadir, Morocco, May 5, 2025. African Lion 25 (AL25), the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Army video by Staff Sgt. Aaliyah Craven)
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enlightenedTo find information about filing a claim related to exercise DEFENDER activities, visit Claims Information and select your country.