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. Anita Ramos
MRF-D 25.3: 2nd Bn, 1st Marines and PMC conclude ACD 25.3
Marine Rotational Force - Darwin
July 22, 2025 | 0:43
U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, and Philippine Marines with 3rd Brigade conclude Archipelagic Coastal Defense 25.3 at Palawan, Philippines, from June 23 to July 11, 2025. ACD is a series of bilateral exchanges and training opportunities between U.S. and Philippine Marines aimed at bolstering the Philippine Marine Corps’ Archipelagic Coastal Defense Concept while supporting the modernization efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. MRF-D is an annual six-month rotational deployment to enhance interoperability with the Australian Defence Force and allies and partners and provide a forward postured crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Anita Ramos) (This video contains music from a USMC enterprise licensed asset from Universal Music Production: Running with Wolves published by Sketch Music Limited / universalproductionmusic.com)
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enlightenedTo find information about filing a claim related to exercise DEFENDER activities, visit Claims Information and select your country.