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 Marshall Mason
Civilian-led CBRNE unit help theater commanders make informed decisions
20th CBRNE Command
March 21, 2024 | 1:37
Rick A. Trombly, the laboratory manager for the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Analytical and Remediation Activity (CARA), provides a brief overview of the organization’s capabilities and personnel, Jan 24.

As a civilian-led subordinate unit of the 20th CBRNE Command, CARA can deploy and provide mobile laboratory support to unified land operations for theater validation analysis of chemical, biological and explosive agents, or materials.

CARA also provides world-wide emergency response to Recovered Chemical Warfare Material (RCWM), technical escort of surety and non-surety material, and remediation support to combatant commanders.

Headquartered on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the 20th CBRNE Command is the U.S. Department of Defense’s premier CBRNE formation. The multifunctional and deployable command has approximately 3,600 Soldiers and 250 Army civilians stationed on 19 bases in 16 states.

In addition to CARA, the 20th CBRNE Command is home to 75 percent of the active-duty U.S. Army’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) specialists and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians, as well as the 1st Area Medical Laboratory, five Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Coordination Teams, three Nuclear Disablement Teams (Infrastructure).
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Press Information

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