Category: MIL-OSI

Source: United States Army

WIESBADEN, Germany – Many U.S. service members and civilians consider staying in Germany after their time with the military is over. Whether you are retiring or finishing a contract, the rules for living in Germany change the moment your job ends.

U.S. civilians and contractors who retire, resign or are terminated from a U.S. government job with Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) status, lose their SOFA status and their right to tax and customs privileges on the date their employment ends.

Understanding these changes is the best way to make sure you are in Germany legally.

Before your special military status in Germany ends, you must finish your paperwork correctly and return all your official documents. You are required to give back items like your ID card, ration card, SOFA certificates, vehicle registration and fuel cards. You must also return any unused value-added tax (VAT) forms. Once your status is gone, you cannot use these cards to shop on base or buy gas.

Status in Germany also ends for dependent children when they turn 21 years old. If they are in college, they can keep their status until they turn 23. Spouses lose their status if they get a divorce unless they have their own job with the U.S. military. The 90-day “grace period” allows families to stay in Germany after a service member or civilian sponsor moves. However, contractors are not eligible for this extra time.

If you travel back to the U.S. or out of Europe, you should keep your retirement papers or old status cards with you. This helps you show the German border guards why you were in the country and prevents any travel problems.

If you want to live in Germany as a permanent resident, you and your family must follow German residency laws. You need to visit the local city hall and the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde)to sign up before your military job ends. You must also show furniture, cars and any weapons to German customs around the time your status changes.

If you want to move your car from the military vehicle registration system to the German system, you will need a “certificate of non-objection” from German customs to show that your vehicle is cleared for the German registration process. Also, if you plan to stay and live in Germany permanently, you are required to get a standard German driver’s license.

For more information on how to stay in Germany after your SOFA agreement ends, visit USAG Rheinland-Pfalz’ Customs Office on Kleber Kaserne, building 3245, Room 111 or call +49 (0)631 411 7383 or DSN 483-7383.

Source: United States Army

MEHLINGEN, Germany – A team from U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz took part in the German-American Spring Cup on April 25, a soccer tournament and festival featuring 10 German and American teams battling it out on the soccer pitch for the top spot. More than 500 people took part in the event, aimed at fostering strong friendships and a sense of community between U.S. and German citizens.

While the USAG Rheinland-Pfalz team came in seventh overall, its players helped lead the U.S. Army team to victory over the U.S. Air Force team during the All-Stars Game, taking back the title of best in the Kaiserslautern Military Community for 2026. The Army’s 519th Hospital Center team took second place overall, with the top spot going to Germany’s Spielvereinigung Neukirchen-Mehlingen-Baalborn e.V.

Aside from the soccer tournament, the Spring Cup was an opportunity for various civic clubs to present collaborative displays. USAG Rheinland-Pfalz’ Sembach Fire Department and the Enkenbach-Alsenborn youth fire department displayed and demonstrated their equipment and offered water activities for children, and students from the Kaiserslautern BurgGymnasium operated food stands selling American-style baked goods.

The tournament was organized jointly by the Municipality of Mehlingen, the Welcome to Rheinland-Pfalz program, the Neukirchen-Mehlingen-Baalborn Soccer Club, Kaiserslautern BurgGymnasium, and the U.S. Army’s Sergeant Morales Club.

U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz sets, serves, and secures the total force community, enabling power projection for the European Theater.

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/usag_rp

Source: United States Army

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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

TUNIS, Tunisia — As part of U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual exercise, African Lion 2026, approximately 550 service members in Tunisia participated in a multinational training event that included significant focus on strengthening cyber defense capabilities in North Africa.

The cyber portion of AL26 aimed to build its participants’ capacity by teaching the standards and mechanisms adopted in cyber defense through academic instruction. Training coordinators designed the content to improve the skills of cyber incident response teams by using simulations to practice countering cyberattacks. The training also focused on the mechanisms for investigating and conducting forensic analysis of cyber incidents.

“This cyber training means a great deal,” said U.S. Army Maj. Joseph Augustin of the U.S. Army Reserve Cyber Protection Brigade. “It means we are broadening our partnership and learning from each other now so when there is a real war in the cyber domain, we have some familiarity with one another.”

This year’s exercise marked a significant milestone as the first time U.S. Soldiers have trained alongside the Agence des Renseignements et de la Sécurité pour la Défense, the Tunisian Armed Forces’ intelligence arm. This inaugural collaboration was a key step in strengthening the security partnership between the two nations.

“The importance of the cyber training we are conducting with the Tunisian Armed Forces is twofold,” Augustin said. “One, it allows our U.S. cyber Soldiers to train collectively. As a reserve unit, most of our time together is spent on completing administrative tasks. Exercises like this allow us to pause the admin work and focus on our primary duties. It helps us identify our strengths and weaknesses so we can address them. Secondly, it allows us to learn from a partner who may do things differently — a sharing of knowledge.”

African Lion 2026 is a multinational exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) to build readiness, interoperability and regional stability. The exercise brings together U.S., African and allied forces, not only in Tunisia, but also in Morocco, Ghana and Senegal.

According to exercise planners, the objectives for AL26 included building combined joint readiness with allies and partners and integrating the Multidomain Training and Experimentation Center — Morocco into training activities. The exercise also incorporated a wide range of scenarios, from large-scale combat operations to crisis response, while integrating U.S. and partner initiatives to expand operational capability and training capacity.

The exercise provided a platform to prove a high return on investment with tangible benefits from the U.S. security model that showcased how innovation, the State Partnership Program and burden-sharing combine to counter competitor influence and build a more secure, stable and partner-led region. Training events spanned a variety of missions, including crisis response, counterterrorism, peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

About African Lion

African Lion 2026 is U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual joint exercise, designed to strengthen collective security capabilities of the U.S., African nations and global allies. Co-led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) from April 20 to May 8, 2026, and hosted in Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, AL26 involves over 5,600 personnel from more than 40 nations, using innovation to drive partner-led regional security.

African Lion content can be found on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS).

About SETAF-AF

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

Follow SETAF-AF on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn & DVIDS

Source: United States Army

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kansas — Volunteers were recognized for their contributions to the community during a ceremony April 23, 2026, at the Frontier Conference Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

“Today we gather to celebrate something truly special — the people who bring heart, kindness and sweetness into everything they do,” Army Volunteer Corps Coordinator

April Rogers said as she welcomed volunteers and supporters. “This year’s theme, “Our Volunteers Are Sweet,” couldn’t be more fitting, because each of you adds something unique and delightful to our community.”

Rogers shaped her remarks around the “sweet” theme, describing volunteers as the chocolate, caramel, peppermint and sprinkles that add their own distinctive gifts to the work they do.

“Individually you’re wonderful. Together, you’re the recipe that makes Fort Leavenworth extraordinary,” she said.

Rogers said the volunteers’ dedication makes a marked difference.

“You’ve shown up early, stayed late, stepped in when things got tough, and lifted others when they needed support. You’ve given your time, your talents, and your hearts — not because you had to, but because you wanted to,” she said. “That generosity is the sweetest gift of all.”

Volunteers who registered for the ceremony received certificates of appreciation. All volunteers were recognized equally, without designations determined by the number of hours logged in VMIS or selected volunteers of the year as was the tradition at recognition ceremonies in years past.

“Today we want to give you something back. We want you to feel seen. We want you to feel appreciated. And we want you to know that everything you do matters — more than you may ever realize,” Rogers told the volunteers, who were grouped mainly by organization at tables that continued the sweet theme with labels like Lollipop Lagoon, Bubble Gum Burst, Strawberry Swirl, Gumdrop Garden, Blue Raspberry Blast and Cotton Candy Cloud. “Thank you for being the sweetness that makes Fort Leavenworth’s mission possible. … Our volunteers truly are sweet, and we are grateful for every moment, every hour and every act of service you’ve shared with us.”

The volunteers recognized during the ceremony represented the nearly 300 registered volunteers who contributed time that could be valued at about $600,000 in service.

“But today isn’t just about numbers — it’s about what those numbers represent,” Fort Leavenworth Garrison Commander Col. Todd Sunday said. “Every hour you give helps build something that cannot be measured on a spreadsheet. You create a sense of belonging. You make this installation feel like home, especially for families who may be far from their own.”

Sunday said the volunteers fill gaps that policies and programs cannot, and they reflect the best of the Army values.

“You mentor our youth, support our soldiers and families, uplift our spouses and provide comfort when it matters most,” he said. “You remind us that readiness isn’t just about training or equipment — it’s about resilience, connection and the strength of our people… You make a difference every single day, and we are stronger because of you.”

Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Director Paul Martocci said the dollar amount volunteers provide to the installation in cost avoidance is easily more than a million dollars, not just the equation used to convert hours into the dollar amount written on the big check on display. He said the real value is the volunteers’ time in service to others that makes the community stronger.

“It’s not that you have the most time as a volunteer — it’s how you make your choices with your discretionary time. It’s not that you have the most time available — it’s that you have the biggest hearts, and that’s why you’re here. That’s why you’re giving back to this community,” he said. “Thank you so much for your generosity. Thank you so much for the gift of your time. And thank you so much for making us the best hometown in the Army.”

Source: United States Army

FORT HOOD, Texas – The U.S. Army Reserve celebrated its 118th birthday on April 23, 2026.

U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to the 1-347th Training Support Battalion, the 2-381st TSBN, 1-340th TSBN, 1-363rd TSBN, 2-360th TSBN, and the 2-382nd Logistic Support Battalion, all mobilized to Fort Hood, Texas, coordinated a day-long celebration honoring more than a century of service.

The Soldiers began the birthday celebration with a 1.18-mile run, followed by a tug-of-war, to promote esprit de corps, for the mobilized units there ensuring the readiness of deploying forces.

As part of the celebration, Lt. Col. Kemetta G. Burdette, 1-347th TSBN commander; Command Sgt. Maj. Eduardo Amesquita, 1-347th TSBN command sergeant major; Maj. Heath Scott, 120th Infantry Brigade executive officer; and Command Sgt. Maj. Nicolas Valade, 2-381st TSBN command sergeant major, put on their Army Green Service Uniform and served lunch to Soldiers at the North Fort Hood Dining Facility.

“We have many events today to celebrate the Army Reserve’s 118th birthday,” said Burdette. “The Army Reserve is vital to our nation’s security, and our intent today is to celebrate it and honor those who have served in it.”

Since 1908, more than 1.3 million Warrior Citizens have answered the call. They have deployed to every major conflict, responded to disasters on the home front, and assisted wherever the Army needed them.

U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers are a core part of the Total Army. They train alongside active-duty Soldiers, deploy when the nation calls, and provide capabilities that the U.S. Army relies on every day.

Whether providing medical, logistics, or engineering support, U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers maintain the capabilities required for major combat operations while training an average of 39 days each year.The Army Reserve delivers combat-ready Soldiers, as needed, to support the Army, the joint force, and the Nation.

“The Army Reserve is probably one of the best things going on,” said Burdette. “Being able to serve the nation while still having a career in the civilian sector is one of the benefits I get from being in the Army Reserve.”

Burdette added that she began her career in the regular Army and did not know much about the U.S. Army Reserve, the sacrifices Citizen-Soldiers make every day, or the effort they put into balancing their civilian and military roles.

The Soldiers concluded the celebration with a cake-cutting ceremony that was held at the North Fort Hood chapel. During this portion of the celebratory day, Col. Pedro Tajalle, Director, U.S. Army Reserve Affairs, III Armored Corps, led a leader professional development session. There, he reiterated the U.S. Army Reserve’s role in supporting the active-duty Army, the importance of building partnerships among the Army’s three components and the need to maximize government resources to build a U.S. Army Reserve that is trained, integrated, and always ready.

First Sgt. Dan O’Rourke, retired; Staff Sgt. Willie Robinson, retired; and Sgt. Paul Buckley, retired; were honored for their exemplary service to the U.S. Army Reserve. Additionally, seven recruits were sworn into the U.S. Army Reserve before the cake was cut.

Warrior Citizens stand ready to answer the Nation’s call to duty. They are teachers, nurses, engineers, and cybersecurity professionals, among other professions, but most importantly, they are U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers. And on this day, they stood to recognize the past 118 years and continued service to the Nation.

Source: United States Army

FRUITLAND, Ga. – U.S. Army Soldiers with the Augusta-based 877th Engineer Company, 878th Engineer Battalion, 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Georgia Army National Guard, joined the multiagency wildfire response in South Georgia.

The team arrived in Echols County on April 28 with two D6 dozers to help stop the fire’s spread by clearing firebreaks.

“What they’re currently doing is widening the fire breaks out so that the fire tankers and the water engines can get back there [in the woods],” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Williams, a platoon sergeant with the 877th Engineer Company. Williams said the work gives partner agencies greater access to wooded areas to help prevent flare-ups.

The Georgia National Guard was initially called to provide aerial support April 22 after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency and authorized up to 150 Georgia National Guardsmen to state active duty. The additional ground support continues the Georgia Department of Defense’s support to Georgians as part of a whole-of-government response, with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency serving as the lead agency.

U.S. Army Capt. Bryton Wenzel, commander of the 877th Engineer Company, said local agencies and partners have been instrumental in providing logistical and operational support for the unit.

After returning in December from a one-year deployment as part of U.S. Northern Command and Joint Task Force North in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Soldiers with the 877th Engineer Company were excited for the opportunity to conduct a mission closer to home.

“It feels amazing…it feels great to do something to serve the community and your country,” said U.S. Army Spc. LaQuinten Brown, a horizontal construction engineer with the 877th Engineer Company.

“The Soldiers are stoked to get the experience on the equipment,” said Wenzel. “Soldiers are really motivated to get behind the wheel to make a difference.”

The 877th Engineer Company has supported Defense Support of Civil Authorities operations in the past, most recently providing route clearance during the Hurricane Helene response in 2024. Williams said the mission continues the unit’s historical support for the state of Georgia.

“This mission is another operation that we normally get called up for and provide heavy engineer equipment support,” said Williams.

Related Links

The Official Website of the National Guard | NationalGuard.mil

State Partnership Program | NationalGuard.mil

The National Guard on Facebook | Facebook.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on Flickr | Flickr.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on Instagram | Instagram.com/us.nationalguard

The National Guard on X | X.com/USNationalGuard

The National Guard on YouTube | YouTube.com/TheNationalGuard

Source: United States Army

PANAMA CITY, Panama – Air advisors with the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron and the Puerto Rico National Guard’s 156th Tactical Advisory Squadron conducted a mobile training team mission with the Servicio Nacional Aeronaval of Panama March 14-21.

The engagement advanced the partner nation’s aircraft structural maintenance capabilities, reinforcing stability and security in the Western Hemisphere.

The weeklong training provided five Aeronaval personnel with advanced skills in aircraft structural repair. The curriculum was designed to build on foundational knowledge Aeronaval personnel gain through their organic maintenance training, covering sheet metal fabrication, damage assessment, repair techniques and corrosion control — a topic of particular importance in Panama’s humid climate. The instruction is crucial to ensuring the long-term airworthiness and safety of Aeronaval’s diverse air fleet.

“The expertise we bring to our partners is about more than just fixing parts; it’s about building a sustainable and self-sufficient maintenance culture,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nestor Rivera, the lead aircraft structural maintenance instructor, 156th Tactical Advisory Squadron. “We saw tremendous dedication from our Panamanian partners. Their ability to perform in-depth structural repairs in-house means their aircraft can stay on mission, protecting their borders and countering illicit trafficking, which makes the entire region safer.”

The classroom portion of the training culminated in an on-site visit to Aeronaval’s structural maintenance shop, serving as a practical bridge between theory and real-world application. During the tour, Aeronaval technicians guided the instructor through their operational workflow, showcasing procedures on aircraft actively undergoing maintenance. The interactive session allowed the instructor to connect the academic curriculum directly to the partners’ environment, pointing out real-time examples of the principles taught in class and illustrating how the techniques could be integrated into existing depot practices.

“This partnership is foundational to our shared security interests,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. William Bohlke, commander of the 156th Tactical Advisory Squadron. “A capable and self-reliant Aeronaval is a stronger partner for the United States. By investing in their skills, we are investing in regional stability and strengthening the alliance.”

The engagement is an example of security cooperation in action. It strengthened the long-standing alliance between the U.S. and Panama and demonstrated a shared commitment to a peaceful and prosperous hemisphere built on mutual trust and shared capabilities.

Related Links

The Official Website of the National Guard | NationalGuard.mil

State Partnership Program | NationalGuard.mil

The National Guard on Facebook | Facebook.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on Flickr | Flickr.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on Instagram | Instagram.com/us.nationalguard

The National Guard on X | X.com/USNationalGuard

The National Guard on YouTube | YouTube.com/TheNationalGuard