DEFENDER-Europe 20: 20,000 service members, 20,000 Pieces of Equipment Descend on Europe

Exercise DEFENDER-Europe 20 is the deployment of a division-size combat-credible force from the United States to Europe, the drawing of equipment and the movement of personnel and equipment across the theater to various training areas. 

U.S.-based equipment will leave from ports in four states and arrive in six European countries. This will require the support of tens of thousands of service members and civilians in multiple nations. 

U.S. service members will then spread out across the region to establish intermediate staging bases with multinational forces and participate in various annual exercises. 

These U.S. and European exercises are regularly conducted and not part of DEFENDER-Europe 20, but rather “linked” through a shared exercise scenario, coordinated mission command, mutual sustainment and common communication environment. 

DEFENDER-Europe 20 is the largest deployment of U.S.-based forces to Europe for an exercise in the more than 25 years.

• The largest deployment of troops from the United States to Europe in more than 25 years.
• Once in Europe, 20,000 U.S. service members – with the support of and in conjunction with NATO allies and partners – will draw Army Prepositioned Stock.
• U.S. service members will then spread out across the region and participate in various annual exercises to build readiness and interoperability with our allies and partners.
• DEFENDER-Europe 20 will conclude with the redeployment of U. S.-based forces and equipment. U.S. service members will clear the training areas, return prepositioned stocks, move to ports and return to home stations – fulfilling the U.S. military’s commitment to the NATO agreements.Why DEFENDER-Europe 20

• Shows that NATO allies and partners stand stronger together
• Supports U.S. National Defense Strategy and NATO deterrence objectives
• Demonstrates the ability of the U.S. military to project power globally
• Enhances the strategic readiness of the U.S. militaryExercises linked to DEFENDER-Europe 20

• Allied Spirit XI – regularly occurring 7th Army Training Command exercise. This year Allied Spirit will include a river crossing tied to the Command Post Exercise portion.
• Dynamic Front 20 – regularly occurring 7th Army Training Command coordinated fires exercise. This year Dynamic Front will conduct simulated fires activities integrated into the Joint Warfighting Assessment Command Post Exercise.
• Joint Warfighting Assessment 20 – Is the U.S. Army Chief of Staff’s capstone event that provides the Army a venue to achieve training readiness, future force development, and interoperability with multinational partners. JWA will evaluate and assess about 38 future army concepts and capabilities set in a 2028 operational environment.
• Saber Strike 20 – Is a training event occurring every two years that prepares allies and partners to respond to regional crises and meet their own security needs by improving the security of borders and countering threats.
• Swift Response 20 – regularly occurring exercise that demonstrates the strategic employment of the Global Response Force and validates U.S. European Command’s ability to send high readiness forces into a designated area.

DEFENDER-Europe 20 Fact Sheet

As of: Jan. 23, 2019

DEFENDER-Europe 20 Fact Sheet

• Trojan Footprint – annual U.S. Special Operations Command Europe-led exercise that brings together U.S., allied and partnered special operations units.

Quick facts about DEFENDER-Europe 20

• 20,000 service members deploying from the continental U.S.
• 20,000 pieces of equipment shipping from the continental U.S.
• 13,000 pieces of equipment drawn from Army Prepositioned Stock
• 9,000 U.S. service members based in Europe participating
• 6,000 Army National Guard Soldiers from 15 states participating:1. Arizona
  2. Connecticut
  3. Delaware
  4. Florida
  5. Idaho
  6. Maryland
  7. Michigan
  8. Montana
  9. Nevada
  10. Oregon
  11. New York
  12. Pennsylvania 13. South Carolina 14. Tennessee
  15. Virginia
• 4,000 kilometers of convoy routes
• 900 U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers participating
• 4 Army Prepositioned Stock draw sites in Belgium, Germany and Netherlands