The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command's USNS Bob Hope lowers its ramp after arriving at the Port of Jacksonville on March 24, 2021. This is the first ship to load in support of DEFENDER-Europe 21. The Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command are moving 750 pieces of cargo through this port with the support of its Total Force team of Reserve, National Guard and commercial partners. The equipment is bound for DEFENDER-Europe 21 linked exercise, Immediate Response. DEFENDER-Europe is an annual large-scale U.S. Army-led, multinational, joint exercise designed to build readiness and interoperability between U.S., NATO, and partner militaries. This year’s exercise utilizes key ground and maritime routes bridging Europe, Asia, and Africa. (U.S. Army video by Kimberly Spinner)
