DEFENDER-Europe 2020: U.S. Army scales down exercise because of coronavirus.

The U.S. Army announced Monday, March 16, it is scaling down its upcoming large-scale combat exercise in Europe this summer due to the coronavirus outbreak, while outright canceling several planned linked exercises.

U.S. Army soldier assigned to 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade guides one of the first vehicles off the Sea-Vessel (Integrity) in Antwerp, Belgium on Feb 25, 2020. The equipment that is coming off the Integrity will be part of DEFENDER-Europe 20 (Picture source: U.S. Army/Sgt. Jesse Pilgrim)

The U.S. Army is significantly reducing the size and scope of the long-awaited DEFENDER-Europe 2020 exercise intended to test the Army’s ability to move a division-sized force from U.S. seaports to European training grounds this spring. The exercise was foreseen to include 20,000 soldiers who were meant to conduct training across 10 European countries. Several linked exercises — Dynamic Front, Joint Warfighting Assessment, Saber Strike and Swift Response — will no longer be conducted, U.S. Army Europe officials announced Monday.

Approximately 6,000 soldiers had already deployed from the United States to Europe since January, including a division headquarters and an armored brigade combat team. “We anticipate the armored brigade combat team already deployed to Europe will conduct gunnery and other combined training events with Allies as part of a modified Allied Spirit exercise," Army officials said in a statement. "Forces already deployed to Europe for other linked exercises will return to the United States.”

On their side, the U.S. Marine reserves will no longer conduct monthly drills for non-essential personnel in an effort to reduce the spread of coronavirus and keep the force healthy, according to Marine officials. “For more than 100 years Reserve Marines have gone in harm’s way against our nation’s threats,” Lt. Gen. David Bellon, commander of Marine Forces Reserve, said in a statement released to the Marine Forces Reserve Facebook page. “We overcome obstacles and we win battles,” he said, “Our latest challenge with COVID-19 will be no different.” The statement announced that all travel not considered “mission-essential” will be canceled along with any drills, training and community relations events that expose sailors and Marines in the reserves to public gatherings.