NORTH MACEDONIA, May 23, 2023 – Pfc. Joseph Birdsong, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, trains on tactically loading and unloading into a UH-60 Black Hawk in support of Defender Europe ’23.
The Minnesota Army National Guard Soldier, who joined eight months prior, is learning what it’s like to integrate into a large-scale, multi-national military overseas exercise. Here in support of Defender 23’s Immediate Response exercise, the Soldiers support Allies and partner nations in contingencies throughout Europe while building readiness, enhancing interoperability and strengthening relationships in North Macedonia.
“I’m pretty new, so I’m picking up every bit of information that I can get,” said Birdsong. “This is the first time I’ve seen a Chinook or a Black Hawk this close up in person and on the ground.
DEFENDER 23 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) joint exercise designed to enable combat-ready, multi-national forces. DEFENDER 23 demonstrates USAREUR-AF’s ability to aggregate U.S.-based combat power quickly in Eastern Europe, increase lethality of the NATO alliance, build unit readiness in a complex joint, multi-national environment, and leverage host nation capabilities to increase USAREUR-AF’s operational reach. DEFENDER 23 takes place April 22 to June 23 and includes more than 7,000 U.S. and 17,000 multi-national service members from more than 20 nations.
| Date Taken: | 03.16.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 06.08.2023 10:42 |
| Photo ID: | 7845824 |
| VIRIN: | 230531-A-KJ355-001 |
| Resolution: | 1080x780 |
| Size: | 301.75 KB |
| Location: | MK |
| Web Views: | 67 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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