Polish Armed Forces run security during a wet-gap crossing exercise in the Danube River, located near Bordusani, Romania, as a part of Saber Guardian 23, June 6, 2023. DEFENDER 23 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa led exercise focused on the strategic deployment of continental United States-based forces, employment of Army Prepositioned Stocks, and interoperability with Allies and partners. Taking place from 22 April to 23 June, DEFENDER 23 demonstrates USAREUR-AF’s ability to aggregate U.S.-based combat power quickly in Eastern Europe, increase lethality of the NATO Alliance through long-distance fires, build unit readiness in a complex joint, multi-national environment, and leverage host nation capabilities to increase USAREUR-AF’s operational reach. DEFENDER 23 includes more than 7,000 U.S. and 17,000 multi-national service members from more than 20 nations who will participate including, but not limited to: Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Kyler Hembree/ 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

A small group of 173rd Airborne Brigade paratroopers or “Sky Soldiers” traveled to Croatia take part in a multinational air defense and electronic warfare exercise from April 19 through 21, 2023 called Exercise Shield 23.

More than 1,000 Virginia and Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers will provide security in support of Combined Joint Task Force — Horn of Africa in the largest VNG single-unit mobilization since World War II.

Romanian Soldiers assigned to Bulldog Company, 812 Infantry Battalion, discuss target acquisition during Saber Junction 21 Sept. 19, 2021, in Hohenfels Training Area, Germany. Saber Junction is a 7th Army Training Command-conducted, U.S. Army Europe Africa-directed combat training rotation designed to assess the readiness and execution of unified land operations in a joint, combined environment and to promote interoperability with participating allied and partner nations.

Army Capt. Kevin Krupp receives an award from Polish Col. Sławomir Kojło during Exercise Saber Strike in Poland, Feb. 26, 2022. The exercise runs through March with approximately 13,000 participants from 13 countries.

A float ribbon bridge system from the Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 worksite in Zutendaal, Belgium, is used by U.S., Polish, French and Swedish military forces to cross the Vistula River between Ryki and Kozienice, Poland, during DEFENDER-Europe 22, May 13. The float bridge is part of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade’s APS-2 program. This was the first time a float bridge system from the Zutendaal APS-2 site was transported to Poland and used during a DEFENDER-Europe exercise. (Photo by Michał Czornij)

U.S. Army Soldiers with Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard, perform a live-fire training lane, Ethan Allen Firing Range, Jericho, Vermont, July 16, 2020. The live-fire range was conducted as part of their annual training.

U.S. Army Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, and 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery, 173rd Airborne Brigade load onto a U.S. Air Force C-17 in Aviano, Italy for a flight to Agadir, Morocco in support of U.S. Africa Command’s Exercise African Lion 22, Wednesday, June 21, 2022. African Lion 22, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, is U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual exercise focused on increasing training and interoperability between the U.S. and partners and allies in Africa.

U.S. Soldiers assigned to V Corps team prepare to load a manikin into a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Aug. 9, 2022. Teams from across U.S. Army Europe and Africa test their tactical proficiency, communication, and overall cohesion as they compete for the title of Best Squad. Winners of this competition will advance to represent U.S. Army Europe and Africa at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Bragg, North Carolina later this year. (U.S. Army photo by Markus Rauchenberger)

U.S. Soldiers assigned to V Corps team provide first aid to a manikin during the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Aug. 9, 2022. Teams from across U.S. Army Europe and Africa test their tactical proficiency, communication, and overall cohesion as they compete for the title of Best Squad. Winners of this competition will advance to represent U.S. Army Europe and Africa at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Bragg, North Carolina later this year. (U.S. Army photo by Markus Rauchenberger)

U.S. Army Sgt. Alexis OrtizRivera, left, and Staff Sgt. William Powell, both assigned to 7th Army Training Command team, tactically move through the terrain during the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Best Squad Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Aug. 9, 2022. Teams from across U.S. Army Europe and Africa test their tactical proficiency, communication, and overall cohesion as they compete for the title of Best Squad. Winners of this competition will advance to represent U.S. Army Europe and Africa at the U.S. Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Bragg, North Carolina later this year. (U.S. Army photo by Markus Rauchenberger)

Soldiers watch two Polish Mi-24 helicopters fly overhead during the Bull Run live-fire exercise in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, Nov. 17, 2022. The troops are working alongside NATO allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, America's forward deployed corps in Europe.

A U.S. Soldier with 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division (3-1 ABCT), operationally assigned to the 1st Infantry Division (1 ID), fires blank rounds through an M240 machine gun during Hammer 22, an annual combined forces exercise conducted by and alongside Finland’s Army Headquarters, Armored Brigade, Pori Brigade, Karelia Brigade, Uti Jaeger Regiment and Logistics Department of the Defense Forces, in Niinisalo, Finland, Nov. 9, 2022. The 3-1 ABCT is among other units under the 1 ID proudly working alongside allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, America’s forward deployed corps in Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Charles Leitner)

A soldier throws a hand grenade during a qualification course in Poland, Nov. 10, 2022.

Estonian and U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 10th Army Air & Missile Defense Command, pose with the U.S. Army’s new Maneuver Short Range Air Defense Stryker under both the Estonian and U.S. flags after a successful live fire training event on the Gulf of Finland during Exercise Saber Strike 22 on March 10, 2022. The exercise runs through March with approximately 13,000 participants from 13 countries and has been held every 2 years since 2010. The training event is scheduled during winter to demonstrate the ability to operate in austere conditions. During Saber Strike, the 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment is conducted a series of air & missile defense drills with NATO Allies Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia as well as partners Finland and Sweden. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham)

Staff Sgt. Jason Wilkerson, a team leader for Charlie Troop, 3-71 Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, participates in the ice break exercise that simulates what to do if you fall through ice into freezing water during Exercise Arctic Forge in Sodankyla Garrison, Finland on Feb. 23, 2023. Exercise Arctic Forge 23 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa led umbrella exercise that leverages the host-nation exercises Defense Exercise North in Finland, and exercise Joint Viking in Norway, taking place Feb. 16 through March 17, 2023, focused on building capabilities and cooperation in support of the U.S. Army's Arctic Strategy. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Kaylan Joseph)

Soldiers conduct an airborne operation during training in Pordenone, Italy, Jan. 11, 2023.

Soldiers and Turkish forces exchange salutes after a joint readiness demonstration as part of Exercise Agile Spirit 23 in Kayseri, Turkey, Aug. 22, 2023. Exercise Agile Spirit 23 is designed to support theater security cooperation and interoperability among NATO Allies and partners to improve joint and multinational readiness.

Soldiers conduct a wet gap crossing exercise during Defender, which is the largest U.S. Army exercise in Europe and is part of NATO's Steadfast Defender 24 exercise, at Drawsko Combat Training Center, Poland, May 11, 2024. A wet gap crossing is a tactical operation allows the transport of equipment and troops over a variety of wet terrain environments, which can save crucial time in wartime scenarios.

BJERKVIK, Norway (April 23, 2024) Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 assemble a medium girder bridge during the Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness (DEFENDER) 2024 exercise in Bjerkvik, Nordland County, Norway, April 23, 2024. DEFENDER 2024 is a U.S. European Command scheduled, U.S. Army Europe and Africa conducted exercise that consists of Saber Strike, Immediate Response, and Swift Response. DEFENDER 24 is linked to NATO’s Steadfast Defender exercise, and DoD’s Large Scale Global Exercise, taking place from 28 March to 31 May. DEFENDER 24 is the largest U.S. Army exercise in Europe and includes more than 17,000 U.S. and 23,000 multinational service members from more than 20 Allied and partner nations, including Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. (U.S. Navy photo by Builder Constructionman Laqdrick Bouldin)

Tankers from Denmark, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland and the United States participate in the opening ceremony on Feb. 11, 2025 as a part of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa International Tank Challenge at 7th Army Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany. The USAREUR-AF International Tank Challenge builds tactical skills and enhances esprit de corps across the 11 crews from five participating Allied and Partner for Peace nations. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Adrian Greenwood)

Approximately 5200 soldiers from 15 nations concluded exercise Allied Spirit 22, led by the Latvian Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade as the at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center at Hohenfels, Germany from Jan. 11-Feb. 5., 2022.

These are the first of 2,000 Soldiers to arrive in Europe following the Pentagon’s announcement of additional forces moving from the United States to Europe in support of our NATO allies. The XVIII Airborne Corps, which serves as America's Contingency Corps, will provide a Joint Task Force-capable headquarters in Germany, as 1,700 Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division deploy to Poland. These moves are designed to respond to the current security environment and reinforce NATO’s eastern flank. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Stephen P. Perez)

Army Capt. Kevin Krupp receives an award from Polish Col. Sławomir Kojło during Exercise Saber Strike in Poland, Feb. 26, 2022. The exercise runs through March with approximately 13,000 participants from 13 countries.