DEFENDER is the Army’s largest annual opportunity to exercise moving personnel and equipment into theater across modes for initial and follow-on operations critical to Large Scale Combat Operations. Led by U.S. Army Europe and Africa, the exercise focuses on the strategic deployment of CONUS-based forces, employment of Army Prepositioned Stock and follow-on exercises demonstrating lethality and interoperability with Allies and partners

DEFENDER 25 Outreach tour
DEFENDER 25 Infographic

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Video by Staff Sgt. Karla Parra
B-roll: Immediate Response 25 with Balkan Sentinel conclude live-fire exercise
5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
June 10, 2025 | 0:53
U.S. Army Soldiers executed a live-fire event alongside Bulgarian, Romanian and Italian soldiers to showcase interoperability among the nations to conclude Immediate Response 25 at Koren Training Area, Bulgaria, June 9, 2025. As a direct link to Immediate Response, Balkan Sentinel consists of a battalion from U.S. Army 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, one Forward Land Forces (FLF) multinational battlegroup and the Bulgarian Land Force Command conducting a battalion-level live-fire exercise at Novo Selo TA and Koren TA. The FLF is one of eight battlegroups contributing to NATO’s forward presence and is hosted by Bulgaria, with Italy being the framework nation. (U.S. Air Force video by Staff Sgt. Karla Parra )
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    FinlandItalyLatviaLithuaniaNorwaySwedenSlovenia

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Press Information

enlightenedTo find information about filing a claim related to exercise DEFENDER activities, visit Claims Information and select your country.