U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard participated in a combined arms live-fire exercise (CALFEX), May 29-31, 2025, during Immediate Response 25, a large-scale, joint exercise with NATO Allies and partners at the Krivolak Training Area in Krivolak, North Macedonia, May 26 to June 9, as part of DEFENDER 25, the U.S. Army’s premier large-scale deployment exercise in Europe.
The culminating live-fire event featured coordinated fires and movement across multiple domains. Two Hellenic AH-64 Apache helicopters, controlled by Hellenic Army pilots from the 1st Army Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, First Army, supported by U.S. Marines from the 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, launched the assault exercise with precision missile strikes. This was followed by mortar fire from U.S. M252 and Soltam K6 systems. Hellenic Army Leopard 2A6 HEL tanks then advanced under the command of a combined U.S.-Hellenic team, supporting U.S. Humvees armed with M240 and M2A1 machine guns.
Together, coalition mounted infantry forces advanced to clear and hold the objective, paving the way for the 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 86th IBCT (MTN), to breach the area using an M58 Mine-Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC) transported by an M1083 Light Medium Tactical Vehicle. The MICLIC detonated 1,750 pounds of C4 to create a safe path for follow-on forces, producing a powerful shockwave and dense plume of smoke across the battlefield.
As the sun set on the final day, U.S. and Hellenic troops executed a second live-fire exercise, using U.S. Humvees and Hellenic tanks under the cover of total darkness. Working together in nighttime conditions added a new level of challenge and helped soldiers improve their coordination, communication, and trust.
![U.S. Army Vermont National Guard Infantry Battalion Proves Lethal Readiness with NATO Allies during Immediate Response 25 as a part of DEFENDER 25]()
