U.S. Army 1st Lt. Justin Thomas, a pilot from 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, discusses his experience working with his Greek counterparts during Swift Response 23 at the Stefanovikeio Airport in Greece, May 9, 2023. Swift Response 23 features the Spanish Airborne Brigade “Brigada Paracaidista (BRIPAC)” replicating a division leading three separate Joint Forcible Entry airborne operations in the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean regions as part of linked exercises to DEFENDER 23.
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 7,800 U.S. and 15,000 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.
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