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. Jon Cortez
Interview: U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Travis Huff speaks about conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance training during African Lion 2025
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa
May 25, 2025 | 2:04
U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Travis Huff, intelligence officer, 119th Wing, North Dakota Air National Guard, speaks about conducting the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance training with the Ghana Armed Forces and other partner nations during African Lion 2025 (AL25), May 15, 2025, in Tamale, Ghana. 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 Reserve video by Staff Sgt. Jon Cortez)
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Press Information

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