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 Scott Sturkol
Fort McCoy Garrison commander gives opening comments for 2024 Fort McCoy 9-11 Memorial Run/Stair Climb
Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office
Sept. 11, 2024 | 4:24
Fort McCoy Garrison Commander Col. Sheyla Baez-Ramirez gives opening comments Sept. 11, 2024, at daybreak during the start of the 2024 Fort McCoy 9-11 Memorial Run/Stair Climb at Fort McCoy, Wis. Dozens of people participated in the event that remembers the victims of the terrorist attacks on the United States of Sept. 11, 2001. On Sept. 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States, history shows. Two of the planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon, and a fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Penn. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9-11 terrorist attacks. (U.S. Army Video by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.)
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  • Immediate Response

    AlbaniaBulgariaCroatiaGreeceKosovoMontenegroNorth MacedoniaSlovakia

  • Saber Guardian

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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.