Immediate Response 25 is a U.S. Army large-scale exercise enhancing cyber and CBRNE defense capabilities, NATO integration through state partnership readiness programs and multinational exercises to equip NATO’s regional plans and uphold U.S. commitments to the Alliance. Immediate Response 25 demonstrates multinational live fires conducted with NATO networks, a cyber exercise, water crossing, and CBRNE exercises from May 26 - June 9 with over 12,000 participants and hosted in eight countries to include Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Slovakia. 

Videos
Playlist:
Video by Staff Sgt. Jacob Wongwai
Broll: US, Morocco conduct air-to-air refueling night operations at African Lion 2025
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa
May 23, 2025 | 2:59
U.S. Airmen assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing, Ohio Air National Guard, based in Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, conduct a simulated air-to-air refueling night operation in a U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker with Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons during African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Marrakesh, Morocco, May 21, 2025. The training operation tested U.S. and Moroccan forces in a way that enhanced their mission readiness and refined their ability to operate together in any environment—day or night. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Air Force video by Staff Sgt. Jacob Wongwai)

Shot List:

1. (00:00:00) CLOSE UP SHOT: U.S. Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, a boom operator assigned to the 166th Air Refueling Squadron, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Ohio National Guard, checks the refueling system before conducting air-to-air refueling.
2. (00:06:00) CLOSE UP SHOT: Simmons checks the refueling system before conducting air-to-air refueling.
3. (00:13:00) MEDIUM SHOT: Simmons checks the refueling system before conducting air-to-air refueling.
4. (00:20:00) CLOSE UP SHOT: Simmons is using the joystick to check the refueling system before conducting air-to-air refueling.
5. (00:26:00) MEDIUM TRACKING SHOT: U.S. Master Sgt. James Hayhurst, an instructor boom operator assigned to the 166th ARS, 121st ARW, Ohio National Guard, helps Simmons on checking the refueling system before conducting air-to-air refueling.
6. (00:41:00) CLOSE UP SHOT: Hayhurst helps Simmons check the refueling system before conducting air-to-air refueling.
7. (00:49:00) CLOSE UP SHOT: Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon flies next to a U.S. Air Force KC-135R during air-to-air refueling.
8. (00:59:00) MEDIUM SHOT: Two Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16s fly next to a KC-135
9. (01:10:00) CLOSE UP TO MEDIUM SHOT: Simmons conducts air-to-air refueling with a Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16
10. (01:17:00) MEDIUM SHOT: Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 simulates receiving fuel during air-to-air refueling.
11. (01:33:00) EXTREME CLOSE UP SHOT: A reflection from the glasses of Simmons who's conducting air-to-air refueling for a Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16.
12. (01:48:00) MEDIUM SHOT: Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 flies up to a KC-135 for air-to-air refueling.
13. (01:53:00) CLOSE UP SHOT: Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 simulates receiving fuel during air-to-air refueling.
14. (01:58:00) CLOSE UP SHOT: Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 flies up to a KC-135 for air-to-air refueling.
15. (02:26:00) MEDIUM SHOT: Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 simulates receiving fuel during air-to-air refueling at sunset.
16. (02:39:00) CLOSE UP SHOT: Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 flies up to a KC-135 for air-to-air refueling at sunset.
17. (02:47:00) MEDIUM SHOT: Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 simulates receiving fuel during air-to-air refueling at night.
18. (02:55:00) MEDIUM SHOT: Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 flies up to a KC-135 for air-to-air refueling at night.
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Tags

multinational exercisein-flight refuelingAfricanLionStrongerTogetherjoint-service exerciseUSAFE
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What is happening where?

  • Albania

    AlbaniaIn Albania, the New Jersey Army National Guard will conduct live-fire activities with Albanian Armed Forces, as part of the State Partnership Program.

  • Bulgaria

    BulgariaThe USAREUR-AF Band & Chorus, along with other U.S. Army units, will conduct a series of dynamic performances and community engagements across Bulgaria ahead of DEFENDER 25.

    In Bulgaria, the 31st Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Brigade, Alabama Army National Guard, will have personnel provide protection support to NATO’s 1st German Netherlands Corps and command and control of all CBRNE units and training in Immediate Response 25. A CBRN headquarters will be established at a satellite location to execute a division-level CBRN mission command center.

    Additionally, the Bulgarian national exercise, Bulgarian Sentinel, will be linked to Immediate Response 25 and consists of a battalion from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, one Forward Land Forces (FLF) multinational battlegroup and Bulgarian Land Force Command conducting a battalion-level live-fire exercise at two separate training areas. (The FLF is one of eight battlegroups contributing to NATO’s forward presence and hosted by Bulgaria, with Italy being the framework nation.)

  • Croatia

    Croatia

    In Croatia, troops from the U.S. Army 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st TSC, will establish a Theater Detention Facility and a Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center (JIDC) to increase detention operations, expeditionary deployment operations and command and control capabilities with Allies and partners. Role 2 ancillary medical support will be supported by the Croatian Armed Forces.

    Soldiers from the Maryland Army National Guard will conduct a live fire exercise with their state partner, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    Additionally, a mechanized brigade attack training event will take place with soldiers from the U.S., Albania, Croatia, Germany, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Slovenia.

    Two Croatian national exercises, named Lift and Laufer, will be linked to exercise Immediate Response 25.

  • Greece

    Greece

    Immediate Response kicks off in Greece - The Hellenic Army will host an opening ceremony with multinational participation marking the commencement of Immediate Response 25. Equipment and weaponry being used during the exercise will also be on display.
    In Greece, a water crossing and battalion air assault will occur with personnel from the 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Vermont Army National Guard, and Greek 20th Armored Division.
    Combined arms live-fire training will take place near Petrochori. A chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive training event will take place at a Hellenic port to demonstrate a chemical attack, disrupting port operations, and exercise decontamination scenarios with French, Greek and U.S. forces including the U.S. Army 21st TSC and 184th Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Explosive Ordnance Device Group, 20th CBRNE Command.
  • Kosovo

    KosovoIn Kosovo, personnel from 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard will participate in Immediate Response 25 as a division headquarters overseeing four multinational brigades. 

  • Montenegro

    Montenegro

    In Montenegro, Maine Army National Guard, Montenegro Armed Forces, and host nation government agencies will conduct a cyber range enhancing host nation cyber defense and communications security to deter and defend in crisis and conflict.
    U.S. Navy Maritime Expeditionary Security Group 2, and Montenegrin and Albania Naval Forces will conduct port security sustainment training in Montenegro and transfer to Albania to improve force projection and integration in the Adriatic.
  • North Macedonia

    North Macedonia

    A public event will be held in the city of Kavadarci, where NATO Allies and partners will showcase military equipment and vehicles being used during Immediate Response 25.
    The 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Vermont Army National Guard will conduct a multinational live fire exercise alongside their state partner, North Macedonia.
    In North Macedonia, the 86th IBCT will conduct training activities alongside the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia, Austrian Armed Forces, Albanian Armed Forces, Hellenic Army, Kosovo Security Forces, and Armed Forces of Montenegro. Activities at Krivolak Training Area include mountain training, field training exercise, combined arms live-fire and small arms live-fires.  
  • Slovakia
    SlovakiaIn Slovakia, U.S. Army 1st Global Field Medical Laboratory, 20th CBRNE Command, will conduct defensive CBRNE tasks to mitigate threats while being integrated with a multinational CBRNE task force at the CBRN Training and Testing Center.