File:Public affairs flexes strategic communication capabilities during DEFENDER 23 (7870120).jpg

English: Kirk Frady, public affairs director for Medical Readiness Command, Europe, preps German and American journalists invited to the Hospital Exercise 23 media day at Ramstein Air Force Base, Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany, June 6, 2023. U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army public affairs specialists coordinated the media day to showcase joint force and Ally interoperability. Joint force and Ally public affairs collaboration during DEFENDER 23 covered diverse and geographically dispersed exercises under tight deadlines. HOSPEX 23 was a joint, multinational hospital exercise that took place May 22 to June 9, 2023 led by the 30th Medical Brigade to evaluate and train deployed medical capabilities. It was part of the DEFENDER 23-linked exercise, Saber Guardian 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 7,000 U.S. and 17,000 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.