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 Lance Cpl. Benjamin Catindig
MASS-2 Marines train with M240B machine guns during live fire range
1st Marine Aircraft Wing
May 22, 2025 | 1:56
U.S. Marines with Marine Air Support Squadron 2, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing fire M240B machine guns in the Central Training Area, Okinawa, Japan, May 13, 2025. MASS-2 conducted live-fire training, improving their proficiency with crew-served weapon systems and enhanced force protection capabilities in an expeditionary advanced base operations environment. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Benjamin Catindig)
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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.