DEFENDER 24:Shaping Combat Credible Forces for Deterrence and Defence

On 4 April 2024,ships departed the US for Europe carrying U.S. Army equipment for the Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness 2024 (DEFENDER 24),the largest U.S. Army exercise in Europe,according to U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAEA).The equipment transport marks the start of drills involving more than 17,000 US and 23,000 multinational service members from more than 20 Allied and Partner nations.Linked to NATO's Steadfast Defender 24 exercise,DEFENDER 24 is comprised of three sub-exercises:Saber Guardian,Immediate Response and Swift Response,which has already concluded.Said GEN Darryl Williams,commanding general for USAEA and NATO Allied Land Command:DEFENDER 24 complements NATO's Steadfast Defender 24,the Alliance's largest exercise since the Cold War,and demonstrates the United States' ability to rapidly deploy forces to Europe to defend every square inch of NATO territory.*DEFENDER 24 is focused on the strategic deployment of continental,U.S.-based forces;employment of U.S. Army prepositioned stocks;and interoperability with Allies and Partners at exercise locations across 13 European countries.DEFENDER 24 seeks to deter adversaries;transform operational mission command;build readiness;and strengthen the NATO Alliance,USAEA noted.DEFENDER 24 runs from 4 April to 31 May 2024.*In Exercise Swift Response,U.S. Army Europe's ability to rapidly deploy beside European multinational airborne forces with little to no warning across the globe is tested.The purpose of the drills is to present combat credible Army forces in Europe and enhance readiness.The latest iteration of the exercise was profiled by this blog last week.Its purpose is to build Military Strategic Readiness (MSR) in support of NATO defence strategy/deterrence objectives.*Exercise Saber Guardian is led by USAEA's V Corps and a Romanian multinational division.It includes Army prepositioned stocks drawdowns;river crossings;a tactical road march;response to simulated chemical,biological,radiological or nuclear threat;and medical evacuation operations throughout Europe.Said LTGEN John S. Kolasecki,commanding general U.S. Army V Corps:This is important as it provides US and NATO leadership options for employing combat credible forces across the conflict continuum.Saber Guardian is the largest Black Sea Region exercise.Those participating include:Albania,Belgium,Bulgaria,France,Greece,Germany.the Netherlands,Romania,Slovenia and the US.*In Exercise Immediate Response,the U.S. Army is tested to increase scale,capability and interoperability of rapidly deployed forces.The National Guard forces involved will join participating nations and individuals to work through the complexities of building combat power arriving from the U.S. and utilising vehicles and equipment from Army prepositioned stocks throughout Europe.Combined arms training and live-fire drills will take place across the Balkans.The operational readiness of US forces across all domains is criitical to building partnerships;responding to crises;providing deterrence;and supporting our Allies and Partners.