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 Sgt. Griffin Payne
642nd Engineer Support Company emplaces signs for NMNDA along the southern border
DoD Southern Border 2025
May 29, 2025 | 1:09
U.S. Soldiers, assigned to 642nd Engineer Support Company, 41st Engineer Battalion, Joint Task Force–Southern Border, install New Mexico National Defense Area (NMNDA) signs near Cloverdale, N.M., May 23, 2025. The emplacement is part of a broader mission to enhance border security infrastructure along the U.S.–Mexico border. Under the direction of U.S. Northern Command, Joint Task Force–Southern Border aligns efforts to seal the southern border and repel illegal activity and is responsible for full-scale, agile, and all-domain operations, which will allow for more effective and efficient DoD operations. (U.S. Army video by Sgt. Griffin Payne)
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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.