SWIFT RESPONSE

Swift Response
 
 
 
Swift Response 25 demonstrates multinational power projection and the expansion of critical capabilities on the battlefield in the High North and Baltics through airborne jumps and integration of technology in support of the Army Modernization Strategy and DoD Arctic Strategy. Swift Response 25 involves five near-simultaneous airborne insertions, HIRAIN training, a field hospital exercise and live fires conducted with NATO networks in Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Finland from May 11 – 31, 2025.
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Video by Marshall Mason
2024 Defender of Liberty_Retired Col. Raymond Van Pelt
20th CBRNE Command
Feb. 19, 2025 | 12:06
The 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command selected Retired Col. Raymond Van Pelt, a U.S. Army Chemical Corps officer, as the 2024 Defender of Liberty.

The Defender of Liberty award, established in 2019, is given annually to leaders who have made a significant impact on the command.

Retired Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Richard Cody was the first recipient of the award in 2019 for authoring the memo that led to the creation of the 20th CBRNE Command while serving as the deputy chief of staff of the Army for operations and plans.

Retired Maj. Gen. John C. Doesburg was the 2020 Defender of Liberty and the 2021 Defender of Liberty was retired Maj. Gen. Keith R. Wendel. Retired Lt. Gen. Leslie C. Smith was the 2022 Defender of Liberty. Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Graham, the command’s fifth senior enlisted leader, was the 2023 Defender of Liberty.

Brig. Gen. W Bochat, the commanding general of the 20th CBRNE Command, presented the award to Van Pelt at a ceremony in Belcamp, Maryland, Feb. 12.

Van Pelt was one of the principal architects behind the establishment of the 20th CBRNE Command and Joint Task Force Weapons of Mass Destruction-Elimination.

Van Pelt served in the Army for 30 years before spending another eight years as an Army civilian at the 20th CBRNE Command.

Van Pelt currently serves as a deacon at the Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Aberdeen, Maryland.
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What is happening where?

  • Italy
    ItalyParatroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade will depart from Italy to conduct an airborne drop into Lithuania.
  • Finland

    FinlandThe Finnish Army will conduct a live fire exercise with the Polish Armed Forces and U.S. Forces will fire HIMARS also known as HIRAIN training.

    Polish paratroopers will conduct an airborne jump into Finland, where they will join the Finnish Army to conduct force on force training.

  • Latvia

    Latvia

    In Latvia, paratroopers from Spanish Airborne Brigade and 173rd Airborne Brigade will conduct an airborne jump into Latvia and a live-fire exercises will follow .
    Also, the Latvian national exercise, Crystal Arrow, will be conducted simultaneously with Swift Response 25.  
  • Lithuania

    Lithuania

    In Lithuania, there will be a Field hospital exercise and medical operations. A U.S.-based blood support detachment will deploy to Europe, where they will be issued Army Prepositioned Stock and join the 512th Field Hospital in Lithuania. The exercise will demonstrate theater medical support operations while working under chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear conditions. The field hospital exercise will also include a simulated blood draw and resupply to forward positioned medical teams using drones.
    Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade will conduct an airborne assault into Lithuania alongside NATO Allies from France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.
    The Lithuanian national exercise Iron Wolf will be linked with Swift Response 25 events with participants from the Netherlands, Lithuania and Germany.
  • Norway
    NorwayAs part of Swift Response 25, paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division will deploy from the U.S. and conduct
    a direct airborne jump into Norway in the first major event commencing DEFENDER 25. This event is one of five,
    near-simultaneous airborne operations that will be taking place in Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden.
     

    Also U.S. and Host Nation will conduct Live-fires in Norway.

  • Sweden

    Sweden

    NATO Allies will conduct an airborne jump into Gotland Island, setting the stage for U.S. Marines to conduct a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Rapid Insertion (HIRAIN) training on the island.

  • United Kingdom

    United KingdomTroops moving from United Kingdom to Norway and Sweden.