DefenderEurope

DEFENDER 25 Outreach tour

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

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Video by Sgt. Devyn Adams

82nd ABN DIV combat medic conducts interview, DEFENDER 25

82nd Airborne Division

May 6, 2025 | 3:19

Sgt. Alejandro Rivas, a combat medic assigned to 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, is interviewed during the DEFENDER 25 Swift Response training exercise in Norway, May 3, 2025. The interview was part of the I’m a Defender campaign which highlights soldiers and their roles during the DEFENDER 25 training exercise. Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.- based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (U.S. Army video by Sgt. Devyn Adams)

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82nd ABN DIV combat medic conducts interview, DEFENDER 25