State Partnership Program

Video by Sgt. Theodosius Santalov

1-102nd Infantry Regiment trains for defensive operations during exercise Immediate Response 25

U.S. Army Europe and Africa

May 30, 2025 | 2:51

Soldiers with the 1-102nd Infantry Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Connecticut Army National Guard, establish fortified defenses while participating in a field exercise with the Hellenic Army during Immediate Response 25 in Greece, May 31, 2025. The field exercise allowed soldiers from both nations to share best practices for tactical engagement with an opposing force. 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. DEFENDER 25 increases the lethality of the NATO alliance through large-scale tactical training maneuvers and long-range fires, builds unit readiness in a complex joint, multinational environment and leverages host nation capabilities to increase the U.S. Army’s operational reach. During three large-scale combat training exercises—Swift Response, Immediate Response, and Saber Guardian—Ally and partner forces integrate and expand multi-domain operations capability, demonstrating combined command and control structures and readiness to respond to crisis and conflict. (U.S. Army video by Sgt. Theodosius Santalov)