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
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Video by Cpl. Iyer Ramakrishna
KAMANDAG 9: 1st Reconnaissance Battalion conducts close quarters battle drills with Allies and Partners (BRoll)
3d Marine Division
June 18, 2025 | 4:30
U.S. Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion attached to 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, conduct close quarters battle drills during a bilateral Special Operations Forces Strike training event as a part of Exercise KAMANDAG 9 near Tadao, Philippines, June 2 2025. The bilateral SOF strike training events included jungle survival skills, combat casualty care lessons, and close quarters battle drills, and involved elements of 1st Recon Battalion, Philippine Marines with 63rd Force Reconnaissance Company, Japanese Soldiers with 2nd Force Reconnaissance Battalion, Korean Marines with Special Action Force, as well as Philippine National Police and Philippine Coast Guardsmen. KAMANDAG 9 is an annual Philippine Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps-led exercise aimed at enhancing the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ defense and humanitarian capabilities by providing valuable training in combined operations with foreign militaries in the advancement of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Iyer Ramakrishna)
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enlightenedTo find information about filing a claim related to exercise DEFENDER activities, visit Claims Information and select your country.