Category: MIL-OSI

Source: United States Army

HOHENFELS, Germany – In the muddy, wooded terrain of Hohenfels, Germany, at the Joint Multinational Readiness Command (JMRC), U.S. Army Soldiers perform simulated life-saving care to the casualties of the exercise during Combined Resolve 26-05 (CbR 26-05). During this training exercise, Combat Medics do whatever is necessary to save lives while in the cold, wet, and mucky terrain.

Whether it is transporting casualties in an M113 armored personnel carrier, administering blood transfusions in the rain, or providing basic life-saving care in an unfavorable environment, combat medics are an integral part of the fight.

The intent of CbR 26-05 is to provide a unique environment in Europe to develop leaders and formations who are prepared for large-scale combat operations. When a unit takes a casualty, it is the job of the medics to maneuver to the area with urgency, conduct any care needed, and transport them to the nearby facility where they can receive higher-level care.

Spc. Logan Hutchins, a combat medic with 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, explains the process of his medical team receiving the call notifying them of a casualty in the field. He describes the process from receiving the notification, alerting his team, and meeting with the unit that made the initial alert, all the way through transporting the patient back to Role 2, which provides a higher level of care than what can be given in the field.

Sfc. Ernestine Koroma, a medical observer coach and trainer with the JMRC, provides oversight and mentors Soldiers during this exercise. “We’re making sure that the unit is out here training in doctrinal knowledge and direction, making sure that they are staying safe and that they survive the battle period.” says Koroma. “We’re also highly focused on safety, due to weather, making sure that Soldiers have the proper equipment and we are minimizing any cold weather injuries.”

Despite the severe snow, rain, and mud, combat medics are still out in the field trudging through the elements to reach a comrade in need. “Have a positive outlook,” says Koroma. “If you’re coming in the winter, the winters are terrible but it is manageable. As long as you have the right equipment, clothing, a positive attitude and you stay focused on your objectives, you’ll make it.”

Source: United States Army

Hohenfels, Germany is no stranger to the U.S. Army in wintertime. What’s more surprising are the 70-ton Abrams Tanks trudging through miles of snow and muck like it’s nothing.

The global battlefield is changing, and the U.S. Army is innovating and adapting to respond to its challenges. Capt. Maxwell McVicar, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, is in the thick of what that looks like in the field.

“We’re executing missions against a simulated force that combines light infantry tactics, mechanized infantry, heavy use of field artillery that knows the terrain that we’re fighting through right now in a force-on-force exercise, to simulate how a potential conflict with a near peer enemy to the United States might progress in European terrain.”

Maneuvering all that steel and munitions through ice and mud is a significant challenge for cavalry units like McVicar’s. Not being aware of the terrain can cause vehicles to get stuck, which diverts valuable time and resources to recover them. When asked why terrain awareness was important, he said:

“For a million reasons, knowing the terrain allows you to know exactly how you can fight on that terrain…knowing the terrain allows you to know where the enemy is going to go, where you think you can go to counter that, and how you actually fight and win that battle on the ground that you’re staring at.”

Sgt. 1st Class Ashanti Darity of 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment detailed what he and his soldiers are learning about the environment they’re training in.

“We are learning a lot about how to maneuver tanks through heavily wooded brush and trees…I’m learning that tanks do not like mud.”

Darity outlined that the greatest challenge outside of the terrain is communication. The battlefield is constantly changing, therefore orders are changing to adapt. Darity attributes his unit’s success to his section sergeants. Communication is key, and plans change on a dime. “My Section Sergeants are really squared away. When we hit them with different challenges, they’re quick to change their mindset, get their crew all together, attack and engage.”

When asked for any further comment, Darity had this to say: “I definitely think that this is important training. I’ve been in the Army for 12 years, and I’ve never been in terrain like this, the cold, the snow, the wet terrain, if this is where our next fight is going to be, then I definitely want my platoon to be able to survive in this kind of environment.”

Capt. McVicars closed by saying: “It’s a changing battlefield. The trainers here, the OCs (observer/controllers) at Hohenfels Training Area have designed a scarily realistic experience of what it would be like in conflict with a modern enemy, with modern UAS (Unmanned Aircraft) systems, modern artillery systems, modern tank and IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) platforms, so being able to train that has been an incredible opportunity. It’s something that I really do recommend for any leader, from the most junior corporal, all the way up to troop commanders. It teaches you a lot about yourself, your formation, and what you can and can’t do with the elements at your disposal.”

Source: United States Army

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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

VICENZA, Italy — Senior leaders from across U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) gathered for the SETAF-AF Senior Leader Forum, reinforcing the command’s commitment to readiness, regional partnerships and operational excellence at Caserma Ederle, Feb. 19.

Commanders, command sergeants major and key staff assembled at the semiannual forum to discuss current challenges, align strategic priorities and enhance coordination across the theater. Through a series of briefings, collaborative sessions and leadership discussions, participants examined ways to improve force posture while maintaining the agility required to support missions throughout Europe and Africa.

Ray Shisler, strategy integration planner for SETAF-AF’s G-5 directorate, said the forum serves as a critical touchpoint for leadership across the formation.

“This is a key opportunity for the [SETAF-AF] commanding general [U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Andrew C. Gainey] and command sergeant major [U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Chad B. Harness] to provide priorities, guidance and open dialogue with leaders across the force,” Shisler said. “It ensures everyone is moving in the same direction and clearly understands the commander’s intent.”

Shisler, who has served with SETAF-AF for a year and a half, said this session emphasized communication down to the lowest levels.

“This time, an unclassified portion was included so company commanders and first sergeants could hear directly from senior leaders,” he said. “It strengthens transparency and helps leaders at every echelon understand what is expected of them.”

During the forum, the SETAF-AF command team recognized excellence across the formation, presenting coins to 15 Soldiers and Department of the Army Civilians. They also highlighted a military intelligence analyst recently recognized as one of the Army’s top military intelligence analysts of 2025.

The theme of this year’s forum, “Irreversible Momentum,” focused on sustaining progress during a period of transition and change within the command.

“We’re entering a season of leadership transitions and evolving mission requirements,” Shisler said. “The forum allows us to reflect on recent operations, anticipate future challenges and ensure we remain adaptable in a constantly changing environment.”

Command leaders emphasized operational readiness, leader development and the integration of multinational capabilities. Discussions underscored the importance of disciplined training, adaptable formations and clear communication to maintain a credible, capable force.

U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Shanett Robinson, chief medical noncommissioned officer enlisted advisor assigned to the SETAF-AF surgeon’s directorate, said the forum fosters unity of effort across organizations.

“It brings our organizations together from brigade elements to directorates, so we understand the same messaging and can synchronize our efforts,” Robinson said. “That unity of effort creates a one-team approach to mission command and execution.”

Robinson added that hearing directly from senior leadership clarifies priorities and strengthens cohesion across the formation.

“The senior leader forum levels the messaging,” she said. “Receiving guidance directly from the commanding general ensures we understand why we’re doing what we’re doing and how we move forward together as an organization.”

The SETAF-AF Senior Leader Forum demonstrates the command’s dedication to building strong leadership networks and ensuring forces remain ready, responsive and capable of executing missions whenever called upon.

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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.

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