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. 

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Video by Capt. Jennifer French
173rd Airborne Brigade trains Somali troops to support the fight against al-Shabaab
173rd Airborne Brigade
March 26, 2025 | 0:52
On the front lines of Somalia’s battle against al-Shabaab, soldiers like Somali infantry Sgt. Mubarak and Sgt. Hussein Dahir Muhammad refuse to back down. They are fighting for their country’s future—and they are not alone.

Alongside them stand the U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, paratroopers committed to strengthening Somali forces through Justified Accord 2025, U.S. Africa Command’s premier multinational training exercise in East Africa.

Stationed in Vicenza, Italy, the 173rd Airborne Brigade is in Kenya to train, mentor, and support Somali troops in their fight against the terrorist group that has plagued their homeland for over a decade. Through intensive battlefield drills, leadership development, and joint operations training, the brigade is helping to forge a stronger, more capable Somali military.

For Somali Sgt. Mubarak, who has served in the military for six years, the mission is deeply personal.

“I came to work for my country and to help my people,” he said. “I feel bad for al-Shabaab. They are a terrorist group. I’m ready to make [Somalia] secure again.”

Sgt. Hussein Dahir Muhammad has witnessed firsthand the devastation al-Shabaab has inflicted on Somali communities.

“Al-Shabaab is terrorism,” he said. “They don’t know neighborly brotherhood, and they’re always killing civilians. Terrorism has destroyed our country. That’s why I’m here—to divide the enemy of my country.”

Somalia is not fighting alone. With the support of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, British army soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, 11th Infantry Brigade, 1st (United Kingdom) Division, Kenya Defense Forces and the Tanzania People's Defense Force, troops to keep Eastern Africa secure are growing stronger.

“They always give us their precious time,” Hussein Dahir said. “It is nice.”

Running from Feb. 10–21, Justified Accord 2025 unites troops from across the world to sharpen crisis response capabilities and bolster regional security. The 173rd Airborne Brigade’s role underscores the United States’ enduring commitment to helping Somali forces secure their nation’s future—one battle, one mission, and one soldier at a time.

(U.S. Army Video by Capt. Jennifer French)
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173rd Airborne Brigade trains Somali troops to support the fight against al-Shabaab
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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.