U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. James Seifert Jr., Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Commander of 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, puts on face paint during Exercise Swift Response 25 at Riga International Airport, Latvia, May 17, 2025. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army Contingency Response Force in Europe, capable of projecting ready forces anywhere in the U.S. European, Africa or Central Commands' areas of responsibility. Demonstrating global deterrence and the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly deploy U.S.-based combat power in Europe and the Arctic region alongside Allies and partners, DEFENDER 25 brings U.S. troops together with forces from 29 Allied and partner nations to build readiness through large-scale combat training from May 11-June 24, 2025.