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 Cpl. Emeline Schirmer
Faces of the Blue Diamond: Maj. Ahmed Khalil
1st Marine Division
April 15, 2024 | 2:22
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Ahmed Khalil, the headquarters company commander with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, shares his journey to becoming a Marine at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, March 28, 2024. Khalil’s first duty station was at the Blue Diamond as an enlisted administrative clerk with 11th Marine Regiment. After commissioning and spending time in other units, he returned to the Blue Diamond to serve as a company commander. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Emeline Swyers) (This video contains music from a USMC enterprise licensed asset from Adobe Stock: Emotional Trailer composed by Bamboo Corporate/stock.adobe.com) (The historical footage in this video was pulled from the National Archives Catalog)
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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.