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 Spc. Matthew Williams
2025 MTARNG Helicopter Aerial Gunnery Hooah Short
103rd Public Affairs Detachment
May 18, 2025 | 0:24
Listen for the sound of one our aviators favorite weapon systems, the M240H. Soldiers of the 1-189th General Support Aviation Battalion took to the skies this April for Helicopter Aerial Gunnery (HAG) at the Orchard Combat Training Center outside Boise, Id. HAG is an annual requirement for aviators and involves gunnery, aircraft maintenance, and teamwork to accomplish. Weapons qualification for all soldiers is a necessary skill, but firing a machine gun from a helicopter is a unique experience that many do not get. Well done to our aviators.
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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.