Category: Security

Source: United States Army

EL FAID, Morocco – U.S. service members and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces are redefining what partnership looks like through shared expertise, innovation and expanding access to impactful care, under a network of expeditionary medical tents in central Morocco, April 20- May 8, 2026.

The humanitarian civic assistance site, part of African Lion 26, has become a cornerstone of medical readiness and partner entrustment. AL26 brings together military medical professionals from both the U.S. and Morocco to deliver care side by side. African Lion, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), is Africa Command’s largest annual joint event. It spans four countries and includes more than 5,600 personnel from over 40 nations, all working to strengthen regional security through collaboration and innovation.

Each day, more than 1,000 patients pass through the tents of the HCA site, receiving care that often requires multiple interventions, and totaling between 2,000 and 3,000 procedures daily. Approximately 55% of patients are women, 30% men, and 15% are children.

Shared experiences and historic firsts define this year’s operation. On April 30, 2026, U.S. and Moroccan medical teams performed the first emergency cesarean section at the HCA site, a milestone that underscores both the evolution of the exercise and the strength of the partnership behind it.

Lt. Ahlam Abbassi, a gynecologist-obstetrician with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, described the urgency of the situation. “Our facility mainly receives pregnant women for their check-ups and follow-up care,” Abbassi said. “Yesterday, we received a 35-year-old woman who was 35 weeks pregnant. We did her check-up, her body exam, and her ultrasonography, followed by fetal cardiotocographic monitoring that showed the baby had fetal distress with severe bradycardia.”

With little time to spare, a combined team of U.S. and Moroccan medical personnel assembled and acted quickly.

“Given the urgency of the situation, we quickly admitted the patient in the operating room for an emergency cesarean section,” Abassi said. “As it was the first C-section ever done in a company hospital, while everyone was excited, we were under intense pressure and stress.”

The multinational team, including the Moroccan medical team, Dr. Saad Benali, Dr. Abbassi, and midwives, and U.S. personnel worked in unison. Inside the operating tent, the moment carried a weight felt by everyone present. As the baby was delivered, the room fell silent. U.S. and Moroccan service members stood shoulder to shoulder, holding their breath, waiting.

“The C-section proceeded smoothly and efficiently,” Abbassi said. “It was a truly emotional moment when the baby cried for the first time. Fortunately, the baby and the mother are in good condition, thanks to the coordinated efforts of Moroccan and U.S. service members.”

When the newborn cried, the silence broke into cheers. The work, however, was far from over. While Moroccan surgeons continued to care for the mother, a joint U.S. and Moroccan team immediately shifted focus to the newborn, who showed signs of distress.

“He wasn’t crying rapidly,” said U.S. Army Col. Marcus Blackburn, a pediatrician with Utah National Guard and doctor for the HCA site. “He was very low tone and floppy, so they brought it to us. Luckily, we had some of the equipment that we needed. They actually had a warmer here. We were able to stimulate the baby, get him to start breathing better. He still had fluid in his lungs, so we ended up having to give some positive pressure breaths to help clear the lungs and get it to be more vigorous.”

Blackburn and his team, which included personnel with neonatal intensive care experience, were called in to assist. The team’s ability to respond quickly was bolstered by both innovation and the diverse expertise service members bring to the mission. Both U.S. and Moroccan medical personnel played an equally critical role.

“We had to transport the baby to a local hospital to receive further care, but with the staff that we have and the variety of experience that we had here, with so many soldiers being in different civilian occupations, we had a U.S. [neonatal intensive care unit] nurse, and a Moroccan resuscitation nurse who works in a local newborn nursery, so the baby was able to do quite well.”

As the newborn stabilized, the Moroccan resuscitation nurse and two U.S. service members accompanied the baby to a local hospital, monitoring closely and prepared to intervene if necessary. Before leaving the HCA site, the mother kissed her baby and announced that she named her baby after the surgeon who saved their lives. On May 2, 2026, as the mother recovered at the HCA site, U.S. and Moroccan service members visited the mother to check on her condition and present small gifts, continuing the care beyond the operating room.

“Obviously, we weren’t expecting that to be a part of what we accomplished here,” Blackburn said, “but the team came together really well to provide the care that was necessary.”

Adaptability, shared purpose and mutual respect define the HCA mission. Beyond emergency care, the site is a dynamic exchange of knowledge and capability-building. U.S. and Moroccan personnel train side by side, sharing techniques that strengthen both forces long after the exercise ends.

Additional firsts that occurred at the HCA site include U.S. Army Lt. Col. Timothy Soeken, an ophthalmology surgeon, who introduced a small-incision cataract surgery technique to his Moroccan counterpart, expanding ophthalmologic capability; and U.S. Army Cpt. Kirk Waldron, a physician for the HCA site, who demonstrated trigger point injections, offering an alternative for long-term musculoskeletal pain management. Moroccan surgeons, in turn, trained U.S. medics in procedures such as suturing following cyst removal, reinforcing the two-way nature of the partnership.

“We see the same people every time we come back here,” said Col. Wesley Tillmann, commander of the Utah National Guard Medical Readiness Detachment. “We see the same doctors, the same command, and we get to build that relationship. The big difference for us is we get to heal people.”

Each year, the HCA continues to evolve, with improved laboratory turnaround times, expanded surgical capacity, and new equipment, enhancing both readiness and patient outcomes. A huge factor in enhancing the capabilities of the site are based on the specialists who participate at the site. Specialized teams from across the U.S. military medical community, including providers from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, as well as individuals from Fort Bliss, Texas, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, brought advanced surgical and diagnostic capabilities to the site, reflecting both patient demand and a shared commitment to long-term community wellness. For leaders overseeing the mission, the significance extends beyond individual procedures.

This partnership, forged over decades between the U.S. and Morocco, including the enduring ties with the Utah National Guard, continues to deepen through missions like the HCA, where readiness and relationships are strengthened through real-world care. Surrounded by tents, sand, and language barriers, readiness was tested, partnership was strengthened, and a life was saved: a powerful reminder of what is possible through years of friendship, shared knowledge, and trust.

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

NAGO-TORBOLE, Italy — Under the shadow of the Italian Alps, where the echoes of World War II finally fell silent eight decades ago, U.S. Soldiers and Italian community members gathered this week to honor a legacy of sacrifice that remains anchored in the deep waters of Lake Garda.

The ceremonies marked the 81st anniversary of April 30, 1945—a day of dual tragedies for the U.S. Army. It was on this date, just days before the German surrender in Italy, that an enemy shell in Torbole killed Colonel William O. Darby, the legendary founder of the Rangers, and his senior enlisted leader, Sgt. Maj. John “Tim” Evans.

Hours later, an amphibious vehicle carrying 26 Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division sank in the lake’s frigid depths. Only one man survived. For Bradley Galvin, the weight of that history is personal. He traveled to Italy to represent his great-grandfather, Pfc. Frank J. Miller, who was among the 25 men lost in the lake.

“I’ve kind of known about it probably since I was a kid, but I didn’t really know the full story,” Galvin said. “I didn’t know that it was a major event that other people would know about.”

Standing near the shoreline where his great-grandfather was last seen, Galvin noted the importance of the pilgrimage.

“I’m kind of excited for all the events, but also to remember my great-grandfather died here,” he said. “They were very important historical events and should keep being remembered.”

During an evening ceremony in Torbole’s piazza, Col. Vaughn Strong, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Italy, remarked that Darby was only 34, yet his leadership shaped the U.S. Army Rangers.

“His legacy endures in our formations and at Camp Darby, our U.S. Army post in Pisa, which bears his name,” Strong said. “As we mark the 81st anniversary, we reflect on what this day represents, leadership in combat, sacrifice at every level and the enduring bond between our Soldiers and the Italian communities who keep this history alive.”

Wreaths were presented and Bobby J. White, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8862, read the names of those who died.

The remembrance was not limited to a solemn ceremony. During the day, service members, to include Soldiers from the States joined paratroopers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and Soldiers from U.S. Army Garrison Italy for a grueling 40-mile road march beside the lake, retracing the final “race” to the Alps led by Darby’s men.

Pvt. Mitchell Crawford, of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, said he’d never undertaken such an endurance event.

“First I came here to honor the fallen but it’s also a personal challenge for me,” Crawford, said. “After the first 20 miles, I really started hurting. I just focused on getting it done.”

For others, like Spc. Elyieth Barton of 2/503rd’s Chosen Company, the march was a test of future leadership.

“I thought about Rangers and my future,” Barton said. “I wanted to attempt this and see if I have what it takes to do it. And I guess I do.”

The local Italian community remains a vital partner in preserving this history. Ben Appleby and Antonella Previdi, co-founders of the Benàch Historical Research Association, have spent years documenting these final battles. Their research led to the 2023 documentary, “The Lost Mountaineers,” and helped bring families for the fallen, like Galvin’s, to Italy.

“The fighting here and the Soldiers who died here were the last Soldiers who died in Italy in World War II,” Previdi said, noting that Darby’s death remains a focal point for military historians. “It’s something that makes this place very special.”

Capt. Anthony Dove, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, USAG Italy, emphasized that these events are more than just memorials. They are vital for Soldiers to learn from history.

“Learning from mistakes or what happened in the past is also a training tool that we can use in the future,” Dove said. “Just being there, seeing that, honoring Colonel Darby and the 10th Mountain Soldiers, it’s an emotional and significant event.”

The amphibious vehicle remains submerged under 200 meters of water. After the walk and the ceremony, Sgt. Ernesto Ortiz-Montero of the 173rd Airborne Brigade reflected on the enduring bond between the Soldiers and the Italian population.

“The Italians see us… they see us doing things that have their culture and our culture in it,” Ortiz-Montero said. “I feel like they love us. We love them. We’re building that cohesion that everybody wants.”

Source: United States Army

VICENZA, Italy — U.S. Army Garrison Italy and Italian first responders teamed up recently for an emergency exercise simulating a major earthquake striking the Vicenza Military Community and triggering secondary incidents across multiple installations.

The joint drill strengthened coordination between U.S. and Italian agencies and reinforced readiness for real‑world emergencies.

“Exercises like this are essential because they allow us to apply and assess our emergency management capabilities in real time,” said Col. Vaughn Strong, USAG Italy commander. “Training side by side with our Italian fire, medical and law enforcement partners strengthens the interoperability we rely on to protect this community.”

The scenario began at 7:30 a.m., when an earthquake in the Veneto region affected Caserma Miotto in Longare. The installation operations center alerted garrison leaders, prompting coordination with emergency services, public works and tenant units. The Emergency Operations Center activated within 20 minutes.

As first responders worked at Caserma Miotto, the exercise escalated at Caserma Ederle’s Golden Lion Conference Center, where a simulated gas explosion caused multiple injuries. Military police and firefighters arrived quickly, recovering role‑playing Soldiers covered in moulage. Italian fire services joined U.S. crews to treat 16 injured participants.

The Emergency Family Assistance Center opened at 9 a.m., offering support at Army Community Service. ACS and the Java Café closed during the drill, and community alerts advised residents to avoid affected areas.

“Our shared goal is simple,” Strong said. “We work to ensure we can contain emergencies quickly and keep our Soldiers, families and workforce safe.”

Source: United States Army

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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

ZIGUINCHOR, Senegal — When U.S. Army Maj. Erin Graham, a physical therapist with the Vermont National Guard, tried helping a Senegalese woman with a broken femur out of bed, she immediately noticed something was wrong.

The hospital bed would not lower. Its wheels would not lock into place.

As Graham and her team worked to safely move the patient, the bed shifted beneath them, creating another challenge in an already difficult situation. It was a reminder that, in austere environments, many of the tools and systems Graham relies on back home simply may not be available.

“It’s the little things you don’t think about at home,” Graham said. “Things like adjustable beds, wedges or even hooks for catheter bags. Here, you realize how much you rely on them.”

Currently, Graham and her colleagues are participating in a medical readiness exercise in Senegal, as part of African Lion 26. Running from April 25 to May 8, the exercise brings together U.S. Army medical professionals and Senegalese Armed Forces healthcare providers to strengthen medical readiness and interoperability, while operating in expeditionary environments.

The training spans multiple facilities across the region, including Ziguinchor Regional Hospital, Hospital De La Paix and a local military hospital. U.S., Austrian, Italian and Senegalese medical professionals work side by side in these locations, treating patients while exchanging knowledge and techniques shaped by their respective environments.

Executed by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), the exercise prepares military health professionals to deliver care outside traditional clinical settings while strengthening partnerships with African allies.

For Graham, who previously supported Hurricane Helene response and COVID-19 missions with the Vermont National Guard, the experience has pushed her outside her comfort zone and forced her to think differently as a physical therapist.

“You have to figure it out when you don’t have the equipment you’re used to having,” Graham said.

Throughout the exercise, Graham has had to rethink even simple tasks, from moving patients without adjustable beds to securing catheter bags without the hooks commonly found in U.S. hospitals.

“At home, if I need a wheelchair or walker, there’s one available,” Graham said. “Here, you learn to work with what you have.”

Experiences like these help train military medical professionals to operate in austere environments where medical infrastructure and equipment may be limited during future combat or disaster‑response missions.

Alongside Senegalese providers, U.S. and multinational medical professionals strengthen interoperability and build readiness while working in resource‑constrained settings.

The MEDREX also reflects the longstanding relationship between Senegal and the Vermont National Guard through the National Guard‘s State Partnership Program, which has connected the two partners for decades through military cooperation and training exchanges.

Senegal gave Graham more than clinical practice. It gave her new ways to think, adapt and solve problems when the unexpected becomes the norm.

At home, a hospital bed lowers with a tap of a pedal, but here she learned how to move patients and complete the mission even when the equipment she relies upon simply doesn’t exist.

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

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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

BIZERTE, Tunisia — When most people think of forensics, they picture crime scenes, fingerprints, bloodstain patterns and investigators working to solve crimes after they happen. They don’t usually consider how forensic analysis can help stop threats before they ever reach the United States.

During Exercise African Lion 2026, forensic experts assigned to the Joint Theater Forensics Analysis Center worked alongside Tunisian Armed Forces to identify patterns, share intelligence and prevent threats from reaching U.S. borders.

“We protect our home front by making sure the bad guys don’t come to the U.S.,” said Greg Sanson, JTFAC liaison officer for U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF).

Throughout the exercise, JTFAC and the Forensics Exploitation Directorate, part of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, collaborated with Tunisian partners, sharing forensic techniques and building lasting relationships. The exchange of knowledge ensures both forces operate with a shared understanding while strengthening long-term cooperation.

By building those partnerships, U.S. forces gain trusted allies who help identify and track threats early. When experts collect forensic data — whether that is fingerprints, DNA or digital information — they enter it into databases and share it across networks. This process helps identify individuals overseas and flag them before they can enter the United States.

“When we put somebody on a watch list, it goes to the Department of Homeland Security,” Sanson said.

Forensic teams also play a critical role in understanding transnational threat networks. Trafficking people, weapons and drugs often spans multiple regions, making pattern recognition essential. By identifying how individuals and networks operate across borders, analysts can disrupt threats before they spread to Europe or the United States.

In addition to fingerprints and ballistics, modern forensic teams analyze emerging technologies such as unmanned aerial systems. A device’s construction can often reveal unique identifiers tied to specific individuals or groups. This understanding also helps analysts and investigators determine the origins of “exploitable material,” which refers to any physical, chemical or biological traces left at a scene that experts can study to identify perpetrators, link crimes or reconstruct events.

“Just by how something is built, you can often tell who made it,” said Amanda Atkins, an FXD forensic scientist.

Sharing that information allows partner nations to identify threats earlier and take collective action. This collaboration also helps Tunisia strengthen its own forensic capabilities, contributing to long-term, partner-led regional security.

African Lion also provides an opportunity for U.S. personnel to test their readiness. Teams train to rapidly deploy, integrate into partner-nation laboratories and operate in unfamiliar environments, ensuring they are prepared to respond wherever needed.

For some JTFAC members, their assignment in Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, is the latest in a long line of deployments to overseas-based forensic labs. Although allies and partners exchange exploitable material throughout the year, African Lion provides the opportunity to work side by side in a lab to compare and refine best practices.

As threats continue to evolve, forensic analysis remains a critical tool, not only for solving crimes but also for preventing them and maintaining national 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

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