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 Cpl. Iyer Ramakrishna
Balikatan 25: 3d MLR conducts Close Air Support Exercise (B-Roll)
3d Marine Division
May 14, 2025 | 2:42
U.S. Marines with 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division conduct the Close Air Support Exercise event as a part of Exercise Balikatan 25 at Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base, Philippines, May 8, 2025. The CAS Exercise included participation from U.S. Marines with 3d MLR and F/A-18C Hornets with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons with 14th Fighter Squadron, Philippine Air Force A-29B Super Tucanos with 15th Strike Wing and Combat Air Controllers with 710th Special Operations Wing, and U.S. Navy MH-60 Seahawks and F/A-18E/Fs with Carrier Air Wing 17. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen our ironclad alliance, improve our capable combined force, and demonstrate our commitment to regional security and stability. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Iyer P. Ramakrishna)
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enlightenedTo find information about filing a claim related to exercise DEFENDER activities, visit Claims Information and select your country.