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 Tyler Prince, Staff Sgt. Elijah Dority
Preparing Airmen for War: The Air Force Wargaming Institute
Airman Magazine
Aug. 28, 2025 | 2:09
As the Air Force kicks off its department-level exercise series, the professionals at the Air Force Wargaming Institute are preparing Airmen and Guardians before they ever step foot out the door through wargames and tabletop exercises. "Wargames allow Airmen to learn the good decisions from the bad in a 0-G environment," said Lisle Babcock, Air Force Wargaming Institute Director. "If we can't get it done in a safe environment, how are we ever going to go out there and do it in a war?" The DLE series is designed to train Airmen and Guardians to work together as one force, rather than as individual commands or units. (U.S. Air Force video by Tyler Prince.)
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enlightenedTo find information about filing a claim related to exercise DEFENDER activities, visit Claims Information and select your country.