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

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Video by Steven Stover
Vanguard Army 250 Exhibit Interview with Retired CW2 Robbins Jr 01
780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber)
May 23, 2025 | 1:31
Retired Chief Warrant Officer 2 Frederick (Fred) Robbins is an Army Civilian assigned to the 781st MI Battalion and traces his family’s lineage of service back to the Civil War. According to Robbins, his Family has answered the call and fought for the ideas that the flag represents from Hamilton, North Carolina; Berlin, Maryland; New Haven, Connecticut; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and while scores of his Family has served, he wanted to take this opportunity to honor a few specific members of his family. Robbins’ father, Spec. 5 (SPC5) Frederick A. Robbins Sr., served during the Vietnam conflict; Robbins senior’s older brother, Cpl. Albert Robbins, served as a combat medic during the Korean conflict; three of his great-uncles, left home to serve during WWII; Technical Sgt. (TSgt) Eugene Outterbridge, served as a tank commander, fighting under General George S. Patton’s 761st and 619th Tank Destroyer Battalions; Outterbridge brother, 2nd Lt. Kempton Outterbridge, served as a Tuskegee Airman; their younger brother, Spc. 4 (SPC4) Tamlin Outterbridge played with the U.S. Army Band in Europe; while their cousin, 1st Lt. Edith Outerbridge, served as a nurse in the Women’s Army Corps; and Fred Robbins’ grandfather, Pfc. William Robbins, served as an infantryman in the 367th Infantry Regiment, 92d Division during WWI.
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enlightenedTo find information about filing a claim related to exercise DEFENDER activities, visit Claims Information and select your country.