DefenderEurope

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. Therese Prats

US, Moroccans team up for Machine Gun University

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

June 11, 2024 | 4:02

2nd Battalion 108th Infantry, New York Army National Guard, Companies A, B, and C, and Moroccan Royal Armed Forces Soldiers received field training on machine guns and a Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle at the Aurora Range in Tantan, Morocco, 25 May 2024. Soldiers participated in machine gun crew drills where they learned about swapping barrels, handling a malfunction, and removing a Soldier off the weapon if they were killed in action. They also learned of employment of a weapons squad and took part in shooting blanks from their weapons and then moving on to live fire. A few Soldiers also partook in training for a Carl Gustaf and fired it with an instructor’s assistance.

African Lion 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army video by Staff Sgt. Christy Parker)

SHOT LIST: (SEGMENT START) [ALL CAPS - SHOT TYPE]:
(00:00) MEDIUM: Instructor explaining the process of shooting the Carl Gustaf
(12:19) WIDE: Instructor loading the Carl Gustaf and Soldier firing Carl Gustaf
(1:06:10) MEDIUM: Machine gun crew drills
(1:13:09) MEDIUM: Machine gun crew drills (barrel change) with FAR
(1:24:05) MEDIUM: Machine gun crew drills (dead gunner removal)
(1:34:10) MEDIUM: Instructor discussing the machine gun before shooting blanks
(1:53:08) MEDIUM: FAR and American Soldier shooting blanks with machine gun
(2:16:19) WIDE: Instructor getting Soldiers in attack formation with machine gun
(2:28:10) WIDE: Soldiers going uphill to firing positions
(2:34:07) MEDIUM: Group of Soldiers conducting live fire
(2:46:18) CLOSE-UP: Soldier shooting a burst on a machine gun
(2:53:23) CLOSE-UP: Scout gives Soldiers guidance where to shoot
(3:03:13) CLOSE-UP: Soldier shooting with machine gun
(3:16:13) MEDIUM: Soldier loads bullets into machine gun of his fellow Soldier
(3:34:06) CLOSE UP: Soldier hits target then close-up of Soldier
(3:45:21) CLOSE-UP: Soldier puts rounds into machine gun belt
(3:57:15) CLOSE-UP: Soldiers cheering as Soldier shoots

Up Next

Now Playing

US, Moroccans team up for Machine Gun University