Category: MIL-OSI

Source: United States Army

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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

BIZERTE, Tunisia — Low crawling through the woods for long periods of time is nothing new to U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Joshua Trutna. Splinters, fatigue and heat are all part of the job as a tactical remote sensor system maintainer with Ground Sensor Platoon, 2nd Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group.

What is new for Trutna, is doing it alongside Tunisian Special Forces soldiers in the forests of northern Tunisia.

Trutna gained a deeper understanding of what it means to defend a homeland during African Lion 2026, as Tunisian Special Forces soldiers told him about their experiences conducting real-world missions to protect their country from terrorist threats.

“As tough as the training can be, there’s a reason behind it,” Trutna said. “They [Tunisian Special Forces] are actually doing the mission.”

This interaction with Tunisian forces is part of 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, and hosted in Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, the exercise involves over 5,600 personnel from more than 40 nations, using innovation to drive partner-led regional security.

Marines assigned to Ground Sensor Platoon trained with Tunisian forces on remote sensor systems used to detect movement and provide early warning in complex terrain.

Throughout the exercise, Marines shared techniques on how to emplace, monitor and recover ground sensors in daylight and low-light conditions. They also conducted infiltration and observation of named areas of interest with partner forces to build multinational readiness.

Trutna connected with his counterparts as they sweat their way through the dense terrain of northern Tunisian forests. The shared experience gave Trutna a new perspective on the purpose behind the training and the common hardships endured by warfighters everywhere.

“We all deal with the same things,” Trutna said. “Being tired, sitting in the field, waiting for something to happen.”

Tunisia’s position in North Africa creates distinct security challenges as its vast and often remote terrain is difficult to monitor with traditional tools alone, which made the Marines’ employment of ground sensors all the more essential. This training paved the way for Tunisian forces to receive faster, more reliable notification of terrorist threats.

“These sensors give us another tool to understand what’s happening in the battlespace,” said U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Joseph Kennedy, platoon commander of the Ground Sensor Platoon.

The Marines demonstrated how these systems can support border security efforts in complex environments.

“Even covering a small area can provide information that helps us determine where movement is happening and how to respond,” Kennedy said.

This training event also represented a significant milestone for the unit. According to Kennedy, AL26 marked the first deployment of the newest generation of ground sensor systems outside of the United States. Earlier this year, his platoon became the first U.S. Marine unit to receive the equipment, and they have continued to refine its employment in real-world environments.

“It’s a great opportunity to expose these sensors, not just to our partner forces, but also to other U.S. services that may not have this capability,” Kennedy said.

Trutna, Kennedy and the rest of Ground Sensor Platoon now carry a clearer sense of why their expertise matters. In Tunisia’s forests, they saw how their sensors and skills give partners the ability to spot threats before they strike.

In that shared mission, they found a deeper understanding of what it means to help defend a homeland. For the U.S., that means addressing threats before they can arrive on American soil.

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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

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz firefighters joined forces with German emergency responders April 26 to contain a large brush fire that threatened the A6/A63 autobahn interchange.

When the fire broke out in north Kaiserslautern, flames and heavy smoke forced the closure of the major traffic route. German firefighters at the Kaiserslautern Main Dispatch Center issued a request for support, and the garrison’s Directorate of Emergency Services (DES) responded without delay.

DES Deputy Fire Chief Robert Womble led the response, deploying Engine-12 from Fire Station1 Kaiserslautern East alongside Hook-37, a 7,000-liter water tender from Miesau Army Depot.

“Our crews were ready to move,” said Womble. “We train for these situations and working with our German partners, we were able to get the fire under control and keep it from spreading further.”

Garrison fire crews were initially staged at the nearby ZAK industrial complex before being integrated into the host nation’s incident command. Working side by side, American and German firefighters carried out water shuttle operations and attacked the fire from the hillside and along the autobahn.

The scale of the fire and dense smoke kept the A6/A63 interchange closed until late Sunday night.

Personnel on scene included Womble; Engine-12 Crew Chief Markus Roughton, Driver Operator Rafael Kuhnert and Firefighter Manuel Schwoerer; and Hook-37 firefighters Martin Sauer and Michael Laufer.

The response reflects ongoing cooperation between USAG Rheinland-Pfalz and local German emergency services. In 2024, the garrison’s DES formalized a mutual aid agreement with several surrounding communities including Bruchmühlbach-Miesau, to better prepare coordinated response efforts during emergencies such as fires and floods.

Editor’s note: Cameron Hochheim, Kaiserslautern High School student and public affairs intern, contributed to this story.

Source: United States Army

No Refrigeration Needed

Army Medics Learn Walking Blood Bank Transfusion Techniques during Combined Resolve

Story and Photos by U.S. Army 1st Sergeant Lisa Rodriguez-Presley

HOHENFELS, Germany – Combined Resolve 26-07 is increasing more than battlefield lethality, as U.S. Army combat medics from the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division train to provide lifesaving care and return wounded Soldiers to the fight.

“Walking blood banks are something you only see in combat situations,” said Master Sgt. Daniel Tumey, an Observer Coach/Trainer with Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Team Adler. “In cases where blood supplies are running critically low, soldiers have the opportunity to save lives by giving whole blood for immediate use.”

According to Tumey, medics rarely have the opportunity to practice giving blood transfusions, which is a highly perishable skill. Even rarer is the opportunity to set up a “walking blood bank,” where whole blood is taken from soldiers and immediately transfused to casualties who can’t wait for traditional blood supplies to be replenished.

“I have some soldiers say to me that they’ve done this training in Advanced Individual Training, but I haven’t seen a lot of providers doing training like this at home station,” said Tumey. “Blood kits are very expensive, and a lot of the soldiers coming through here say that they’ve never done transfusions before, but as a combat medic, you’re expected to know how to do it.”

For the exercise, patients served as both donors and recipients of their own blood. Combat medics took blood from the patient, checked the blood type using a blood kit, and then transfused the soldier’s own blood back into their body, giving the medics real-world experience that can’t be replicated any other way.

“The only time I’ve done a blood transfusion in the Army was during AIT,” said Pfc. Fantashia Carroll, a combat medic with 3rd Brig. 1st Cav. Div. “This training is really helping me with my skills since I’m doing so many repetitions, and for future patients, I’m able to perform better.”

The risk during the procedure is low, but not zero, according to Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Pischieri, an Observer Coach/Trainer with JMRC, Team Adler. Infection, adverse reactions to medication, and other complications are always a possibility.

“This is as much an art as it is a skill,” said Pischieri. “The more you practice, the more you develop techniques that work better for you. Everyone has little differences in how they teach these skills, so you take what you’re taught, and you work to improve on it.”

According to Tumey and Pischieri, the exercise allows them to mentor and instill confidence in young medics, increasing the proficiency of those who care for wounded soldiers. These efforts help ensure that casualties receive the best possible care, even under the worst conditions.

Source: United States Army

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – More than 50 servicemembers, civilians and veterans from across U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz crossed the stage to celebrate their academic achievements during the garrison’s Army Continuing Education System (ACES) Graduation Recognition Ceremony, held April 24 at the Tiger Theater on Sembach Kaserne.

The ACES graduation ceremony serves as an opportunity for graduates who are far from their institutions of higher learning to participate in a graduation ceremony, complete with pomp and circumstance, walking the stage and ceremonial “turning of the tassel” from right to left to signify the transition from a candidate to a graduate.

Each graduate arrived at this moment through long hours of study balanced with the demands of their day-to-day responsibilities.

Command Sgt. Maj. Randy Rivera, the garrison’s senior enlisted advisor, pointed to the daily choices behind their success.

“You chose to log in when you were tired,” he said. “You chose to study when others were resting. You chose to grow when others took it easy, and that matters. Today, you’re winners.”

Rivera encouraged the graduates to carry that same drive forward as they move beyond their academic goals.

“There’s going to be a gap in your schedule,” said Rivera. “Fill it with that same excellence — helping others and striving to be your best.”

Throughout the ceremony, graduates exchanged smiles across the room while speakers recognized the effort it took to reach this milestone.

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Edwards, internal control manager for the 45th Finance Center, said the moment felt surreal as he celebrated the completion of his Master of Business Administration degree in Project Management from Columbia Southern University.

“Walking across that stage symbolizes the dedication and perseverance that brought me to this point,” he said.

In the audience, his children watched. They were part of the reason Edwards kept going even as the workload grew.

“As a dad, having my children here to witness this day fills me with pride and reminds me why I never give up,” he said. “I’m grateful for the support system that helped me reach this achievement.”

The ceremony recognized graduates across a range of academic programs and disciplines, including:

Associate Degree Graduates:

• Staff Sgt. Jermel Bell – Associate of Arts, General Studies, University of Maryland Global Campus
• Sgt. Christian Eric Billote – Associate of Arts, Business Administration and Management, University of Arkansas – Grantham
• Sgt. Austin Cardon – Associate of Science, Fire Science, American Military University
• Sgt. Malaika Craig – Associate of Arts, General Studies, University of Maryland Global Campus
• Sgt. Jamilla Harris – Associate of Arts, General Studies, University of Maryland Global Campus
• Sgt. Lydia Lafferty – Associate of Arts, General Studies, University of Maryland Global Campus. Dean’s List
• Sgt. Vaelua Misiaita – Associate of Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies, American Military University
• Sgt. Monique Moraga – Associate of Arts, General Studies, University of Maryland Global Campus
• Sgt. Christopher Rodriguez Lopez – Associate of Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies, American Military University. Dean’s List
• Sgt. 1st Class Carmen Sinkfield – Associate of Arts, General Studies, University of Maryland Global Campus
• Mrs. Ashley Zubia (U.S. Army-Veteran) – Associate of Arts, General Studies, University of Maryland Global Campus. Dean’s List. USAG-RP UMGC Representative
• CW2 Waldemar Maldonado – Master of Science, Cloud Computing Systems, University of Maryland Global Campus. Phi Kappa Phi, Upsilon Pi Epsilon
• Staff Sgt. Semere Mekonen – Master of Science, Cyber Security Technology, University of Maryland Global Campus
• Staff Sgt. Ruth Oloyede – Master of Science, Health Information Management, American Military University. High Academic Achievement
• 1st Lt. Chris Palaguachi – Master of Business Administration, American Intercontinental University Online
• Staff Sgt. Sara Plant – Master of Arts, Public History, Southern New Hampshire University. National Society of Leadership
• Mrs. Jessica Richardson – Master of Arts, Management, Concentration in Organizational Leadership, American Public University System. Golden Key International Honour Society, Delta Mu Delta
• Sgt. 1st Class Michael Riffey – Master of Science, International Relations, Troy University
• Jane Robles – Master of Science, Acquisition and Contract Management, University of Maryland Global Campus. USAG-RP UMGC Representative
• Itzia Rubio – Master of Science, Clinical and Mental Health Counseling, Bellevue University. USAG-RP ACES Army Education Counselor
• Sgt. 1st Class Jack Schneiderman – Master of Science, Business Analytics, Mercer University. AACSB Honor Roll. Beta Gamma Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi

Baccalaureate Degree Graduates:

• Staff Sgt. Mae Asis – Bachelor of Arts, Supply Chain Management, Transportation and Logistics Management, American Military University
• Master Sgt. DeMar Bowman – Bachelor of Arts, Human Resources Management, American Military University. Magna Cum Laude
• Sgt. 1st Class Athena Conway – Bachelor of Science, Human Resources Management, Columbia College. Cum Laude
• Staff Sgt. Ana Fajardo – Bachelor of Science, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Grand Canyon University. National Society of Collegiate Scholars
• Sgt. 1st Class Eric Foryah – Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science, American Military University
• Staff Sgt. Katlin Gillespie – Bachelor of Science, Social Science, Excelsior University
• Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Griffith – Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, University of Maryland Global Campus
• Sgt. Thijsa Innocent-Niles – Bachelor of Science, Information Technology Management, American Military University
• Staff Sgt. Jesse Lawson – Bachelor of Science, Sports and Health Sciences, American Military University
• Staff Sgt. Omar Lozada Rodriguez – Bachelor of Arts, Transportation and Logistics Management, American Military University
• Master Sgt. Jermaine Marcus – Bachelor of Science, Business Administration and Management, Management Studies, University of Maryland Global Campus
• Sgt. 1st Class Alyssa Mirea – Bachelor of Science, Cybersecurity Technology, University of Maryland Global Campus
• CW2 Jeremiah Murray – Bachelor of Science, National Security, Intelligence and Security Analysis, Excelsior University
• Sgt. 1st Class Héctor Negron Reyes – Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies, University of Maryland Global Campus
• Staff Sgt. David Nuñez – Bachelor of Science, Psychology, University of Maryland Global Campus. Dean’s List
• Staff Sgt. Manuel Rebolledo – Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, American Military University
• Staff Sgt. Stevonna Reyes – Bachelor of Arts, Transportation and Logistics Management, American Military University
• Staff Sgt. Jerry Rudolph – Bachelor of Science, Finance, Minor in Accounting, University of Maryland Global Campus
• Sgt. Lucner Similien – Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Columbia Southern University. Summa Cum Laude
• Spc. Joshua Smith – Bachelor of Arts, Management, American Military University
• Sgt. Weijing Zhang – Bachelor of Science, Psychology, University of Maryland Global Campus. Magna Cum Laude, Dean’s List

Master Degree Graduates:

• Mrs. Latoya Bell – Master of Arts, Psychology, The University of Arizona Global Campus
• Mrs. Lucy Brown – Master of Arts, Human Resources Management, American Public University
• Sgt. Maria Victoria Carrascal – Master of Business Administration, University of Maryland Global Campus
• Mr. Collin Cash (U.S. Army-Retired) – Master of Business Administration, Washington State University
• Staff Sgt. Jaime Davila Lara – Master of Arts in Emergency and Disaster Management and Homeland Security, American Military University. Summa Cum Laude.
• Sgt. 1st Class Michael Edwards – Master of Business Administration, Project Management, Columbia Southern University
• Sgt. Terry-Lee Harrison – Master of Arts, Management – Human Resource Management, American Military University
• Mrs. Jessica Hill (U.S. Air Force-Retired) – Master of Science, Leadership, Trident University. With honors. Order of the Eastern Stars and Daughters
• Sgt. 1st Class LaTrice Lewis-Turner – Master of Science, Acquisition and Contract Management, Florida Institute of Technology. Sergeant Audie Murphy Club (SAMC), Noncommissioned Officer Association (NCOA)
• Mr. Glen Smith – Master of Business Administration, Grand Canyon University
• Capt. Keisha Smithers – Master of Science, Public Health Nursing, Grand Canyon University. Magna Cum Laude
• Mrs. Kasey Markita Wade – Master of Arts, Human Services Administration, The University of Arizona Global Campus. Alpha Lambda Chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society, Golden Key International Honour Society

Doctoral Graduates:

• Dr. Alexis Grant-Panting – PhD, Sociology, Texas Woman’s University. With honors. American Sociological Association, Association of Black Sociologists, and Rural Sociological Society
• Dr. Ruthan Monrose – Doctorate in Education (Curriculum and Instruction), Liberty University. Graduate with highest honors. USAG-RP ACES BSEP Instructor
• Dr. Dawn Proctor (US Air Force-Retired) – PhD, Management, Walden University. Honor and Distinction. Delta Mu Delta International Academic Honor Society in Business

USAG Rheinland-Pfalz’ Army Continuing Education System serves as a symbol of lifelong learning, readiness and resilience, providing flexible and high-quality education programs to support the entire Army. Through initiatives like the graduation recognition ceremony, ACES empowers military personnel, civilians and veterans to achieve their academic goals while maintaining their dedication to serving their country.

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