Soldiers and family members gathered June 12, 2025 at Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, Italy, for the U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Change of Command Ceremony, of incoming Lt. Col. Travis H. Young and outgoing Lt. Col. Joseph R. Branch. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance. (U.S. Army Video by Graigg Faggionato)
U.S. Soldiers assigned to 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, prepare 120mm mortar shells during final preparations prior to the combined arms live fire exercise they will conduct with NATO and partner forces during Saber Guardian 25 at the Joint Force Training Center Hajmasker, Hungary, June 15, 2025. The 2nd Cavalry Regiment, assigned to V Corps, America's forward deployed corps in Europe, works alongside NATO allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces capable of rapid deployment throughout the European theater to defend the NATO alliance. 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 photo by Pfc. Francisco Torres)
