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Video by Staff Sgt. Barbara Pendl

86th IBCT (MTN) Soldiers Conduct Air Assault Training in Greece

U.S. Army Europe and Africa

May 30, 2025 | 3:40

U.S. Army Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Connecticut Army National Guard, participate in air assault training with UH-60 and CH-47 Chinook helicopters during Immediate Response 25 on May 30, 2025 at Petrochori Army Base, Greece. Air assault is the movement of ground-based military forces by vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The transportation tactic may used to support the seizure of key terrain that is not fully secured. As part of DEFENDER 25, these U.S. troops join NATO allied and partner nations to build readiness, strengthen deterrence, and demonstrate the ability to rapidly deploy combat power across Europe.

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 nati2ns 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 b-roll by Staff Sgt. Barbara Pendl)