Source: United States Navy
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet (USNAVSOUTH/4th Fleet) successfully concluded its annual Fleet Experimentation (FLEX) event from April 24-30. The exercise showcased the powerful integration of unmanned systems and artificial intelligence in the fight against transnational organized crime.
Source: United States Navy
GROTON, Conn. – The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Texas (SSN 775), under the command of Cmdr. Andrew S. McGovern, returned to Naval Submarine Base New London Friday, May 1, completing a six-month deployment to U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.
Source: United States Navy
A pioneering lease agreement between the Navy and North Carolina will provide enhanced aviation readiness for the nation’s warfighters, while leaders anticipate the facility will bring growth to eastern North Carolina in the form of jobs and economic impact.
Source: United States Navy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As of March 2026, the rubidium fountain clocks have met the benchmark of 15 years of continuous operation as part of the U.S. Naval Observatory’s Master Clock ensemble. Developed and built at the observatory, these clocks were originally brought online in 2011, and their integration as part of the Master Clock shortly after enabled the generation of a time-scale more precise than any other in the world, a standard that continues to be the case today.
Source: United States Army
ckquote>
Back to
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa
ZIGUINCHOR, Senegal — Medical personnel from Austria and Italy will join Senegal and U.S. military medical personnel to conduct a multinational medical readiness exercise in southern Senegal as part of African Lion 2026, strengthening partnerships and improving readiness to deliver care in operational environments.
The exercise, held from April 25 to May 8, gathers U.S. Army medical professionals from the Vermont National Guard, Senegalese Armed Forces healthcare providers, and allied medical teams from Austria and Italy.
Training takes place at multiple medical facilities across the region. Working side by side, participating forces are exchanging expertise and refining their ability to provide effective care in complex environments.
Led by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), the MEDREX prepares military medical personnel to operate outside traditional clinical settings while strengthening multinational interoperability.
The training focuses on critical wartime medical skills, including point-of-injury care, blast and trauma management, surgical treatment and patient recovery through rehabilitation. These activities enhance both individual proficiency and unit readiness across participating forces.
“MEDREX allows our medical professionals to train in realistic environments while learning directly from our Senegalese and multinational partners,” said U.S. Army Col. Scot Tebo, command surgeon for SETAF-AF. “This collaboration improves how we deliver care in austere conditions and strengthens our collective ability to support forces during complex operations.”
The exercise reinforces enduring partnerships among participating nations and builds the trust and coordination needed to respond to shared security challenges.
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).
For media inquiries or to request interviews, contact SETAF-AF Public Affairs at setaf_pao@army.mil.
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 Navy
NORFOLK, Va. – U.S. and Canadian maritime leadership from Commander, U.S. Second Fleet (C2F), Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, (LANTAREA), Maritime Forces Atlantic & Joint Task Force Atlantic (RCN MCC and JTF-A COM), and Fleet and Maritime Security Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) convened to advance the Atlantic Maritime Security Coalition (AMSC). The coalition, formerly known as the Tri-Party Staff Talks (TPST), brings together key maritime forces to enhance collaboration and ensure interoperability between U.S. and Canadian forces.
Source: United States Army
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — Service members and Department of the Army civilians assigned to the 21st Theater Sustainment Command completed a Lean Six Sigma course at Panzer Kaserne, April 13-17, 2026. During the course, they strengthened their ability to identify inefficiencies and improve mission effectiveness through structured problem-solving techniques.
The course focuses on applying Lean Six Sigma principles through the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control framework, commonly known as DMAIC. This methodology streamlines processes, reduces waste and improves performance. Built on data-driven decision-making, Lean Six Sigma gives participants the tools to evaluate workflows and implement lasting improvements.
Participants are required to identify a problem affecting their section and present it to a sponsor for approval. A sponsor provides oversight and practical support to help ensure a project’s success. Once approved, trainees begin working on their projects before the in-person portion of the course. This process allows them to begin developing solutions to real-world issues within their units, which they continue to analyze and refine throughout the training.
The course uses a pay-it-forward approach in which applicants identify a problem, apply and, if accepted, develop an efficient solution with minimal waste. Upon successful implementation, they receive course credit and certification, expanding problem-solving capability across the Department of the Army with each class.
“Before the in-person portion started, we completed an application that made us really look at what problem we were trying to solve,” said Maj. Shirley Charles, a participant in the Lean Six Sigma course.
Throughout the course, students developed project charters, analyzed processes and worked to identify root causes of inefficiencies under the guidance of certified instructors.
In Lean Six Sigma, multiple certification levels, or “belts,” distinguish roles and responsibilities. Green Belt practitioners typically complete their training requirements within four to five months after coursework. They focus on smaller-scale projects and are authorized to address and resolve issues within their defined areas. In contrast, Black Belt practitioners require approximately six to nine months to complete certification requirements. Their projects involve greater complexity and scope and require the use of more advanced tools and methods.
“The first part of the charter is where they define the problem,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kirk Bucknor, a master Black Belt instructor. “As a black belt, I’m allowed to mentor them, keep them on track and provide them with the tools and context they need to work through their issues.”
Each participant is required to bring a project into the course and is evaluated on the ability to define the problem and identify its root causes.
“With this course, you have to come forward with a project,” Bucknor said.
Instructors also work closely with unit leadership to ensure projects address priority issues and align with operational needs.
“We work with them and their leaders to identify the key issues they face,” said Kyle Buno, a Department of the Army civilian and master Black Belt instructor for the course.
According to Buno, the program maintains a strong certification success rate.
“We do have a 92% success rate from people taking this course to actually getting certified,” Buno said.
The Lean Six Sigma course reflects the Army’s continued investment in professional development and its commitment to improving readiness through data-driven process improvement. Graduates leave equipped with tools to identify inefficiencies, reduce waste and enhance mission effectiveness.
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
Back to
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.
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. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Mallett)
VIEW ORIGINAL“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