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. 1st Class Christy Sherman
Texas Guard, Czech firefighters, civilian responders conduct joint search operations near Kerrville, TX
National Guard Bureau
July 21, 2025 | 5:42
Czech firefighters assigned to the Czech Republic’s urban search-and-rescue team conduct coordinated search operations with Soldiers from the Texas Army National Guard’s 454th Engineer Company, the 640th Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Detachment, Delta Flight, and responders from Missouri Task Force 1 near the Guadalupe River near Kerrville, Texas, July 15, 2025. The international and interagency teams patrolled flood-affected areas on foot, using drones, search dogs, and engineers support to locate missing persons and provide critical updates to local emergency managers. The Czech team deployed under the Texas–Czechia State Partnership Program, a 30-year bilateral relationship between the Texas National Guard and the Czech Armed Forces. (U.S. Army video by Sgt. 1st Class Christy L. Sherman)
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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.