Category: Security

Source: United States Army

AGADIR, Morocco – After weeks of synchronized operations across land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains, African Lion 26 concluded with a series of complex, technology-driven culminating events that underscored the exercise’s evolution into the premier joint, all-domain multinational training event on the continent, May 8, 2026.

Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), executed alongside Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and a coalition of more than 40 partner nations, AL26 demonstrated the scale, speed, and adaptability required to meet modern security challenges. The exercise brought together multinational forces, academic institutions, and more than 30 U.S.-based industry partners to test emerging capabilities in realistic, high-pressure scenarios.

“The capstone combined field exercise showcased the future of warfare through multi-domain vignettes, including defense in depth, deep strike operations, and a coordinated counterattack,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Patrick Jeffrey, G7 Directorate sergeant major, SETAF-AF. “By integrating artificial intelligence-enabled command and control, autonomous systems, advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and unmanned aerial systems, we modernize and employ combat power.”

Those capabilities were put into practice across each phase of the exercise, demonstrating their impact in real-world scenarios.

“During the defense phase, layered networks of sensors, drone interceptors, and counter-UAS created a forward, tech-enabled bulwark that blunted enemy maneuver and preserved friendly forces,” Jeffrey said. “In the deep fight, special operations forces synchronized ISR, loitering munitions, and air-launch effects to dismantle adversary command nodes and air defense systems, opening corridors for precision fires. The exercise culminated in a combined counterattack, where remotely operated breaching systems and autonomous fire support platforms enabled maneuver forces to seize the initiative with reduced risk to personnel.”

Jeffrey emphasized that the exercise delivered effects beyond the battlefield it replicated, building on those tactical gains.

“What we accomplished during AL26 is readiness in action: realistic, joint, and multinational training that translated innovation into mission-ready capability,” Jeffrey said. “By combining rigorous academics, complex live fire events, and humanitarian outreach, we reinforced trust with our partners and proved we can operate together across every domain.”

Beyond tactical execution, AL26 served as a proving ground for integrating cutting-edge technologies directly into operational environments. Industry partners worked alongside service members to test AI-enabled systems, autonomous platforms, and advanced communications tools, accelerating the transition from concept to capability.

“AL26 gave us an unprecedented opportunity to close the gap between emerging technology and the warfighter,” Jeffrey added. “Testing these capabilities alongside our partners accelerated decision making and shortened the kill chain, delivering tangible, battlefield-relevant effects to the combined joint force.”

The exercise also highlighted the enduring strength of the U.S.-Morocco partnership, rooted in more than two centuries of cooperation. U.S. Air Force Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson, commanding general of U.S. Africa Command, emphasized that the relationships built through exercises like AL26 remain the cornerstone of collective security.

“As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, we are reminded that true strength is built not only on independence, but on the enduring partnerships we cultivate,” Anderson said. “The U.S.-Morocco relationship stands as a testament to that principle, a friendship that began in 1777 and continues to thrive today.”

Anderson underscored that shared security challenges require unified action among partners.

“The threats we face today do not recognize borders, and neither can our response,” Anderson said. “From terrorism to transnational instability, these challenges demand a unified, multinational approach, one built on trust, shared responsibility, and the collective will to act decisively.”

Anderson noted that AL26 reflects the changing character of warfare, where success depends on innovation across multiple domains.

“No longer confined to land, sea, and air, the character of war is evolving rapidly,” he said. “African Lion serves as a laboratory for innovation, where we test, learn, and adapt in real time so we are prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.”

While the exercise demonstrated high-end warfighting capabilities, it also underscored the human dimension of partnership. During the event, multinational forces supported real-world search efforts, reinforcing the importance of trust and solidarity among allies.

“Though poignant, it is a tangible example of the partnership and friendship that this exercise represents,” Anderson said. “When tragedy strikes, our partners are there.”

Exercise leaders emphasized that readiness is not measured solely in capability, but in the strength of relationships built over time.

“We are grateful for the continued solidarity and tireless support of our Moroccan hosts as we work together through the most complex moments of this exercise,” Jeffrey said.

With participation from 28 African nations and 20 global allies, AL26 sent a clear message: multinational cooperation remains essential to addressing shared security challenges.

“African Lion is more than a training event, it is a demonstration of global partnership,” Anderson said. “Our shared commitment to a secure and prosperous Africa depends on our ability to work together, adapt to change, and act decisively to meet the challenges of the future.”

As AL26 concludes, the lessons learned from integrating advanced technology and strengthening multinational coordination will inform future operations and ensure that participating forces remain ready, resilient, and prepared to operate together in an increasingly complex security environment.

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

MAUTHAUSEN, Austria – For the third year, Soldiers from 7th Army Training Command’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center represented the U.S. Army liberators during a ceremony commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Mauthausen Concentration Camp liberation, May 10, 2026.

“Each of us here, every country represented, must use courage and clear vision to defend and transmit the truth of what happened here,” said Ellen Germain, U.S. Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues. “Together, we remember those who died here, we thank the American Soldiers who liberated the camps, and we promise to do our best to ensure that it never happens again.”

Soldiers from JMRC’s 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment served as the color guard in two ceremonies honoring both the American victims and U.S. liberators, carried the U.S. delegation wreath, and marched and stood in formation alongside U.S. Marines from U.S. Embassy Vienna during the International Liberation and Commemoration Ceremony’s main procession through the former “roll call square” at the Mauthausen Memorial.

“Remember and honor the lives of those who perished here, but also the lives of those who survived here,” said Ambassador Art Fisher, U.S. Embassy Austria. “Although many atrocities happened here – things that we’ll never be able to make sense of; things we’ll never be able to put right – it’s so important that we remember.”

Fisher shared the story of the Mauthausen Survivors’ Flag. In the final days before liberation, some of the prisoners began to sew the American flag in hopes they would be rescued.

“It’s sometimes at the darkest point in life – and at night – that we see the light,” he said. “It’s important that as a society, we remember that light. That light is so important to continue to shed on what happened here, so that darkness can never return.”

U.S. troops liberated almost 40,000 people in the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camps, May 5-6, 1945. At least 90,000 people had died there over seven years, with thousands more gravely injured, unable to recover even after the liberators arrived.

A survivor was quoted as saying, “Mauthausen was unlike anywhere else, a place of physical and mental torture, and abuse beyond our imaginations. Mauthausen prisoners were forced to climb the 186-infamous steps with granite blocks on their backs.”

Germain said, “the horrors of Mauthausen remind us of the need for vigilance in combating antisemitism and protecting fundamental freedoms, because when we don’t, unthinkable terror ensues.”

Special visitors walked alongside this year’s U.S. delegation, including Paul Blackstone and Robert Pettit, the grandsons of Capt. Jack Blackstone, 26th Infantry; the son of Robert Esterley II, Robert III who donated his father’s WWII uniform to the Mauthausen Memorial; David Greenfield, son of a survivor; and Helen Ayer Patton, granddaughter of Gen. George S. Patton Jr.

Col. Jonathan Drake, Defense Attache at U.S. Embassy Vienna, shared recollections of U.S. Army liberators from the 71st Infantry Division and 11th Armored Division, just two of the 36 U.S. Army divisions who are credited as being WWII concentration camp liberators, meaning they were on site within 48 hours of the discovery of a camp.

“The Soldiers of these divisions were battle-hardened,” Drake said. “They had been through an incredible amount of things. They had seen all sorts of untold hardship. Nothing they saw, prepared them for what they would see here. They thought the worst of the war was behind them, but the scenes of cruelty, starvation and systematic torture and death would horrify them and stay with them the rest of their lives.”

“Today, we remember that the struggle against the harshest of pressure, the worst injustice and against the cruelest violence – is never in vain,” he said. “We honor the sacrifice.”

One wreath ribbon inscription read: “In Remembrance of the Liberators of the Oppressed.”

Representing that ideal, fourteen Soldiers from JMRC supported the 2026 “Never Forget” ceremony, including 1st Lt. Camden Skinner, Sgt. Joshua Parks, Sgt. Evan Rouse, Spc. Aiden Burke, Pfc. Joseph Brennan, Pfc. Nathan Wagenius, Pfc. Cody Case, Spc. Tristan Grace, Spc. Daniel Lester, Pfc. Aiden Nipp, Spc. Joaquin Andrade, Spc. Tyler Mcearchern, Sgt. Tai Ormsbee, and Sgt. Matthew Dillon.

Source: United States Army

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – USAG Rheinland-Pfalz chaplains opened a new chapter of spiritual well-being May 7 by dedicating the Sembach Resiliency Center as an official U.S. Army Chapel on Sembach Kaserne.

The garrison’s Religious Support Office gathered leaders, Soldiers and families to formally dedicate the chapel. They chose to hold the ceremony on May 7 to correspond with the 2026 National Day of Prayer.

The event featured chaplains from across the garrison’s tenant units and Unit Ministry Teams (UMTs) and offered perspectives on the importance of a dedicated sanctuary within the Sembach community.

Chaplain (Col.) Eric Dean, command chaplain for the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, opened the ceremony by sharing a vision for the chapel as an inclusive place of worship for the entire community.

“The vision includes space for Catholic, Jewish, Protestant and other traditions, unified in seeking truth, hope and love,” Dean said.

Dean also said the dedication marks the beginning of the chapel’s next chapter and that its future depends on continued support from the community.

“The community must ensure no one feels like an outsider and that the chapel remains alive with prayer, song and diverse worship,” he said.

Chaplain Peter Bahng, the garrison’s family life chaplain, echoed Dean’s thoughts on holistic readiness and community connection.

“The chapel honors the legacy of service and strengthens unity across Soldiers, families and our partners,” Bahng said. “It reflects the Army’s commitment to caring for the whole person and building a connected, mission-ready community.”

The Religious Support Office (RSO) performs and provides religious support services to the U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz military community to assist the commander in his obligation to facilitate the free exercise of religion. For more information on the RSO, visit https://home.army.mil/rheinland-pfalz/about/directorates-support-offices/religious-support-rso

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

TAN-TAN, Morocco – U.S. military medical personnel are leveraging a digital application to improve patient care and documentation during African Lion 26 at Cap Draa, Tan-Tan, Morocco, April 29, 2026.

The Battlefield Assisted Trauma Distribution Observation Kit–Joint, also known as BATDOK-J, is a mobile application designed to streamline medical documentation in deployed environments. The system is being utilized by medical teams, including support from the 946th Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment, to enhance continuity of care across multiple levels of treatment.

The 946th FRSD personnel are providing critical medical support throughout the exercise while integrating emerging technologies like BATDOK-J into their workflow.

According to Sabrina Hatchett, an augmentee with U.S. Air Force Medical Command’s Surgeon General 6, the application allows providers to document patient care efficiently in both online and offline environments.

“BATDOK is an application that works as patient documentation,” Hatchett said. “It’s a mobile tool that helps providers and technicians document quickly so that paper records don’t get lost, and we try to eliminate the human element of error.”

The application syncs with the operational medical data store, a cloud based system that stores patient information and integrates with Military Health System GENESIS, the Department of War’s electronic health record system. This capability enables seamless information sharing as patients move through different levels of care.

“If someone is documented at the point of injury and then moved to another level of care, the incoming provider can already see what documentation has been done,” Hatchett said. “That should help save time and, hopefully, save lives.”

U.S. Army Capt. Ashwin Venkataraman, a medical officer in charge assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Mobile Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), said the application also improves continuity of care in resource limited environments.

“This information is centralized and can be pulled from anywhere there’s an internet connection,” Venkatraman said. “The patient record will follow the patient electronically instead of relying on paper forms that can get lost or misfiled.”

Hatchett emphasized the importance of accurate documentation in both immediate care and long-term outcomes.

“If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen,” she said. “This helps ensure patients get the care they deserve, both in the moment and later on.”

AL26 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. 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 5,600civilian and military personnel from more than 40 nations, using innovation to drive partner-led regional security.

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

KENITRA, Morocco — The sun presses down hard on the flightline, heat rising in waves from the concrete as wind cuts sharply across the open expanse. Behind a humming C-130 Hercules, airmen stand poised, measured, focused and alert. Every movement matters here. Every signal counts.

That intensity carried a deeper purpose April 27, 2026.

Airmen from the U.S. Air Force and Royal Moroccan Air Force stood shoulder-to-shoulder, preparing to execute engine running on and offloading procedures, also known as ERO, a high-risk, high-reward capability that allows cargo to be loaded or unloaded while an aircraft’s engines remain running. It’s fast, it’s efficient and if done incorrectly, it’s unforgiving.

The risks are real. Exhaust pulsations can tip unsecured cargo. Engines can pull in anything, or anyone, too close. Communication must be precise, deliberate, and understood across languages and experience levels. There is no margin for hesitation.

Earlier, inside a classroom in Kenitra, aerial porters from the 88th Aerial Port Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, laid the groundwork, teaching communication techniques, hand signals and safety protocols essential to ERO operations. But knowledge alone isn’t enough. Out here, under the roar of engines and the pressure of execution, training becomes instinct.

“Safety is paramount when performing these operations; a lot can go wrong,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Christopher Pacheco, 88th APS load planner. “That is why we train; it is also why being able to participate in exercises like this is invaluable.”

As the aircraft was towed into position, the classroom lessons transitioned into action. U.S. and Moroccan airmen moved in sync, translating instruction into execution, hand signals exchanged, cargo guided carefully into place, eyes constantly scanning for hazards.

What began as a lesson quickly became a shared operation.

In less than an hour, the aircraft was loaded. More importantly, a new capability had taken root.

ERO operations reduce the need for aircraft shutdowns, cutting down on time, fuel consumption, and procedural delays. In real-world scenarios, that speed can mean the difference between mission success and failure, delivering critical equipment exactly when and where it’s needed.

But beyond the efficiency gains, the value lies in the partnership.

“We had a great time. Everyone learned proper hand signals and how to safely get the gear onboard,” Pacheco said. “Long-term, this skill should be something that would benefit everyone it could affect, if it were ever needed.”

That shared investment in readiness is at the heart of exercise African Lion 2026, U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual joint exercise. Bringing together more than 5,600 civilian and military personnel from over 40 nations, the exercise spans Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, emphasizing interoperability, innovation, and partner-led regional security.

Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), African Lion is more than a demonstration of capability, it’s a commitment. A commitment to building trust, strengthening alliances, and ensuring that when the mission calls, forces across continents can respond as one.

Back on the flightline in Kenitra, the engines quieted, but the impact remained.

In the span of 45 minutes, a procedure was taught. A partnership was strengthened. And a shared readiness, built through sweat, precision, and trust, moved one step closer to reality.

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

TAN-TAN, Morocco — U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Mobile Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), conducted autonomous tactical vehicle training during African Lion 26 at Cap Draa, Tan-Tan, Morocco, April 30, 2026.

The training gave service members an opportunity to test artificial intelligence-powered and autonomous platforms across attack, defense and mission command operations.

“This training allows us to experiment with technologies that can reduce risk to Soldiers while increasing our operational reach,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Ethan Burdette, officer in charge of the training and assigned to the 173rd MBCT. “We’re learning how to integrate autonomous systems into real-world scenarios, not just theory.”

The exercise focused on accelerating the sensor-to-shooter kill chain, compressing decision timelines and delivering scalable, cost-effective warfighting solutions aligned with regional security needs.

“Speed and precision are everything on the modern battlefield,” Burdette said. “These systems help us make faster, more informed decisions and share that information across formations and with our partners.”

AL26, U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual joint exercise, designed to strengthen collective security capabilities of the U.S., African nations and global allies and led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF).

“I think it’s important for multinational militaries to train together and learn from our partners and allies, that way we can all become better in our prospective areas,” said U.S. Army Pfc. David Pomeroy, a combat engineer assigned to the 173rd MBCT. “The way wars are fought are evolving every day and we must learn new strategies in order for us to never fall behind.”

Running from April 20 to May 8, the multinational training spans Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia including more than 5,600 civilian and military personnel from over 40 nations, reinforcing interoperability and strengthening collective security capabilities among U.S., African and allied forces.

“Working alongside our partners ensures these technologies are adaptable and relevant to shared challenges,” Burdette said. “It’s about building solutions together that enhance regional stability.”

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

AGADIR, Morocco — A coalition of U.S. military and research organizations deliver integrated biosurveillance support, strengthening commanders’ situational awareness and directly bolstering mission readiness during African Lion 26, April 20-May 8, 2026.

The Defense Health Agency’s Global Emerging Infections Surveillance program coordinated subject matter experts and laboratory partners from Walter Reed Army Institute of Research‑Africa; Naval Medical Research Unit, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central; the 1st Global Field Medical Laboratory; and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. Together they provided pre‑exercise risk assessments, rapid laboratory analysis and real‑time reporting that commanders and medical planners used to protect forces.

“By executing comprehensive human, animal and environmental surveillance, we provide improved situational awareness for medical personnel who may not regularly deploy to the

U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility,” said Dr. Stephanie Cinkovich, health surveillance activities integrator for DHA‑GEIS. “We bolster force health protection and optimize personnel readiness through Department of War validated findings, making our teams highly aware of the specific pathogens and threat vectors circulating in the granular areas where they operate.”

Operating as a network, DHA‑GEIS places experts and laboratory capability where commanders need them to make timely decisions. The multi‑organization approach shortens detection‑to‑response timelines and enables first-line medical care to adjust treatment protocols during exercises, preserving force health and sustaining mission capability.

DHA‑GEIS is building a collaboration with the 1st GFML to build mutual familiarity and interoperability with service‑specific deployable lab assets. DHA‑GEIS either folds the 1st GFML into comprehensive efforts such as AL26 or synchronizes surveillance streams in future exercises to create a highly efficient, unified approach to force health protection, allowing partner organizations to share capabilities and streamline lab support so commanders receive faster, more actionable results.

“Biosurveillance gives commanders information on what biothreats Soldiers are being exposed to and what risks are in the region that could affect Soldiers,” said U.S. Army Col. Dennison S. Segui, commander of 1st GFML. “Active biosurveillance allows commanders to respond to threats confirmed as present at that time and place, giving greater flexibility to achieve operational goals without being limited by a force health protection posture for threats that are not present.”

The partnership model builds long‑term familiarity between combat forces and laboratory partners, ensuring units can rely on reach‑back support when specialized teams cannot deploy forward. That continuity increases force resilience during both training and operations and reduces friction when commanders need rapid health protection guidance.

Lessons from African Lion will refine laboratory reach‑back workflows and shape future support packages for exercises such as Justified Accord and Flintlock. DHA‑GEIS will continue embedding subject matter experts and synchronizing partner labs to sustain readiness across allies and partners.