Chièvres Air Base, Belgium –When U.S. Air Force firefighters from the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) on Chièvres Air Base (CAB) and local Belgian firefighter recruits merge their contrasting tactics in the heat of a live burn, the result is an unbreakable partnership that guarantees mutual readiness.
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –Local firefighters join forces with firefighters from the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) during a joint training on May 6, 2026, at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The training allowed both countries to learn and teach different methods and tactics, improving readiness between Allies. (U.S. Army photo by Kristin Savage, USAG Benelux Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –Firefighters from the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) show local firefighter recruits how to force open a door during a fire training on May, 6, 2026 on Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The 424 ABS invited the firefighters to join them for training to give them hands on experience. (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL
The 424th invited local firefighter recruits to participate in a joint fire training exercise on May 6, 2026, at CAB, Belgium. Rather than sitting in a classroom, the students were thrown into action, tackling a rigorous training day that included a tour of the fire station, a simulated burning building scenario, and critical search and rescue operations.
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –A firefighter from the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS), monitors a building fire from within during a joint training with local firefighter recruits on May 6, 2026, at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The training offered the recruits an opportunity to leave the classroom and receive hands-on training extinguishing fires. (U.S. Army photo by Kristin Savage, USAG Benelux Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –A firefighter from the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) lights a fire for a burning building training on May 6, 2026, on Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The 424 ABS invited local firefighter recruits to participate in a joint fire training exercise to give them an experience outside the classroom. (U.S. Army photo by Kristin Savage, USAG Benelux Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL
Staff Sgt. Zachary Gager, 424th ABS Fire Department crew chief, led the training but noted he walked away learning new tactics himself. He observed the stark differences in methodology, particularly how European crews focus heavily on calculated water conservation, contrasting with the traditionally aggressive approach of American firefighters.
“The great part about being on a NATO base is learning different tactics,” said Gager. “This is my second time leading it, and I really love it. It’s just a really humbling experience to teach youth about firefighting.”
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –Cédric Reygaerts, USAG Benelux lead garrison fire protection specialist, teaches local firefighter recruits during a joint exercise with the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) firefighters on May 6, 2026, at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The training allowed both local and military firefighters the opportunity to enhance communication skills despite the language barrier. (U.S. Army photo by Kristin Savage, USAG Benelux Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –Local firefighter recruits prepare equipment before a joint fire training with the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) on May 6, 2026, on Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The students had the opportunity witness U.S. Air Force firefighters in action and teach them more about Belgian methods. (U.S. Army photo by Kristin Savage, USAG Benelux Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL
Cédric Reygaerts, USAG Benelux lead garrison fire protection specialist, recognized the vital benefits for both sides. The 424th firefighters had the opportunity to learn more about their Belgian counterparts and improve interoperability, while the young trainees experienced the intensity of U.S. military firefighting firsthand.
“If something happens here on Chièvres Air Base, we need the Belgian firefighters. One purpose is to check the communication during a fire because we know the language barrier is an issue,” Reygaerts explained. “The training also allows the firefighter students to see what it is to be a firefighter on CAB and provides them a better understanding of cooperation. One day, they might even apply to work on Chièvres Air Base.”
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –Local firefighter recruits joined the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) for a joint fire training on May 6, 2026, on Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The students left the classroom for a rigorous hands-on training that started with extinguishing a burning building. (U.S. Army photo by Kristin Savage, USAG Benelux Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –Gwenn Corbisier, USAG Benelux fire prevention inspector, talks through an exercise scenario during a joint fire training exercise on May 6, 2026 at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The joint training allowed local firefighter recruits and firefighters from the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) the opportunity to teach and learn from each other. (U.S. Army photo by Kristin Savage, USAG Benelux Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL
For Eden Lassoie, an 18-year-old Belgian firefighter student, classroom theories became reality the moment she stepped into the heat.
“My favorite part of today was when I saw the fire; I learned how to enter the burning building and learned how to extinguish it,” said Lassoie. “I loved learning the differences and getting to work with different people.”
Firefighters from the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) and local firefighter recruits communicate during a burning building training on May 6, 2026, at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The training allowed the local recruits to practice breaking down a door and extinguishing fires in preparation for real world events. (U.S. Army photo by Kristin Savage, USAG Benelux Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL
Ultimately, the flames inside the burning building provided more than just a training environment—they served as a forge for a stronger, more unified cross-border Alliance, ensuring both nations are ready to answer the call together.
CHICAGO – U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Moises Garcia, assigned to the 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command, was recognized as the military honoree during a Chicago Cubs home game at Wrigley Field, against the Cincinnati Reds, May 5, 2026.
More than 34,000 fans rose to their feet and applauded as Garcia was recognized on the field for his 31 years of service in the U.S. Army Reserve.
“I’m truly humbled and grateful to be recognized for my service here today,” Garcia said. “This moment is bigger than me. It honors the sacrifices of everyone who served before me and beside me.”
A Chicago native and lifelong Cubs fan, Garcia said his father, Gregorio, introduced him to baseball by taking him to games and teaching him how to play. Garcia later played little league for the Blue Jays at Hanson Park on Chicago’s west side while his father cheered from the stands.
“Throughout this game, my heart has been with my dad, who I know is watching from above,” Garcia said.
After graduating from Charles A. Prosser Career Academy in 1995 Garcia enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve, beginning a military career that has now spanned more than three decades.
Garcia has served on five deployments in Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and Djibouti.
His awards and decorations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, the Iraq Campaign Medal with three campaign stars and the National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star.
Garcia currently serves as a human resources sergeant with the 85th USARSC in Arlington Heights, Illinois; in his civilian career, he serves as a staff administrative specialist with the 16th Psychological Operations Battalion at Fort Sheridan, Illinois.
PUYALLUP, Wash. — In preparation for Washington’s upcoming wildfire season, aviation crews assigned to the 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, Washington Army National Guard, partnered with Central Pierce Fire and Rescue to conduct water bucket training May 7.
Throughout the exercise, firefighters and aviation crews rehearsed aerial wildfire response operations, practicing bucket drops, air-to-ground communication procedures and coordination between firefighters and aircrews ahead of Washington’s annual fire season.
Using UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, aircrews conducted multiple water-bucket drops while ground-based firefighters coordinated target locations and evaluated the effectiveness of each drop. The training focused on communication, timing and precision in environments that can quickly become hazardous during wildfire response operations.
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, Washington Army National Guard conducts a water bucket drop during wildfire response training with Central Pierce Fire and Rescue near Puyallup, May 7, 2026. The training prepares aviation crews and firefighters to coordinate aerial firefighting operations during Washington’s wildfire season. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Andrew Phommavongsay) (Photo Credit: Capt. Andrew Phommavongsay)VIEW ORIGINAL
“Air assets have become a critical asset in fighting these fires,” said a representative from Central Pierce Fire and Rescue. “These are very fast-moving fires, especially when the weather’s playing into it with the wind, and it’s extremely difficult for us on the ground and extremely hazardous sometimes for us to get even close enough to attempt to extinguish these fires.”
Fire officials said helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft often provide firefighters additional access and suppression capabilities in areas that may be difficult or unsafe for crews operating on the ground.
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jarin Trakel, company standardization instructor pilot, 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, Washington National Guard, emphasized the recurring partnership helps firefighters and aviation crews build familiarity and communication before responding to real-world emergencies.
“We kind of try to bridge that gap by putting a face to the radio before anything actually happens,” Trakel said. “That way they know what to expect when they call the Washington Guard.”
Trakel said the joint training also allows both organizations to better understand each other’s capabilities, communication procedures and operational limitations before responding to wildfire incidents together.
Firefighters from Central Pierce Fire and Rescue observe a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, Washington Army National Guard, conducting water bucket operations during joint wildfire response training near Puyallup, May 7, 2026. The exercise emphasized air-to-ground coordination and communication during aerial firefighting missions. (Photo Credit: Capt. Andrew Phommavongsay)VIEW ORIGINAL
For Washington Army National Guard aviation crews, water bucket operations require annual certification and ongoing proficiency training to ensure pilots and crew members remain prepared to respond when activated to support wildfire suppression missions across the state.
Trakel described water bucket operations as one of the more demanding aviation mission sets conducted during domestic operations training.
“This is kind of the varsity league of training,” Trakel said. “The aircraft, we put it pretty close to its limitations when we’re picking water up, moving the aircraft around in tight spaces, at low airspeed with a high power setting.”
He added that the mission requires experienced crews and constant communication and coordination among pilots, crew chiefs and ground firefighters. During real wildfire responses, military aviation crews often integrate with multiple civilian rotary-wing aircraft operating from the same water sources and along the same flight paths.
“It takes a lot of coordination,” said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Martin Hays, battalion aviation mission survivability officer, 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, Washington National Guard. “You’re dealing with firefighters on the ground and additional weight with the water bucket.”
Hays said wildfire response operations remain among the more demanding domestic mission sets conducted by Guard aviation crews due to terrain, smoke, wind conditions and the coordination required between ground personnel and aircraft.
During the exercise, firefighters and aircrews practiced identifying targets, coordinating water-drop locations, and maintaining positive communication throughout the operation.
“The first thing that we do is try to identify our ground contact to make sure we have positive communication with the crews,” said the battalion commander for Central Pierce Fire and Rescue. “Obviously, the priority is actually stopping any forward progress towards residential structures or life hazards.”
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, flies near a Central Pierce Fire and Rescue engine during a joint water bucket training near Puyallup, Wash., May 7, 2026. The Washington Army National Guard partnered with local firefighters to rehearse aerial wildfire response operations ahead of fire season. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Andrew Phommavongsay) (Photo Credit: Capt. Andrew Phommavongsay)VIEW ORIGINAL
Fire officials said the partnership has continued to grow through recurring joint training opportunities between firefighters and Guard aviation crews.
“It’s extremely rare to find helicopters that are willing to train with us,” a firefighter said. “We decided this was a great opportunity for us to get some training out of this too.”
Since 2012, the Washington National Guard has supported wildfire suppression efforts alongside the Washington Department of Natural Resources throughout the state. In 2024, aviation crews flew more than 75 firefighting hours and dropped nearly 300,000 gallons of water in support of multiple wildfire responses across Washington. According to the Washington Department of Natural Resources, 1.2 million gallons of water were delivered via aviation assets with an average response of 16 minutes in 2025.
In recent years, Washington Army National Guard aviation crews have been activated to support wildfire response operations across the state.
“The more we get to go out and do this, the better,” Trakel said. “It just makes us safer, more capable to give back to the state when called upon.”
As Washington prepares for another wildfire season, Guard aviators and local firefighters continue building the relationships, communication and operational readiness needed to protect communities across the state.
NIANTIC, Conn. – The Connecticut National Guard is hosting Cyber Yankee 2026, the National Guard’s premier annual regional cyber training exercise, at Camp Nett in Connecticut, May 4-15.
Started in 2015, Cyber Yankee partners military cyber warriors with cyber experts from local utility companies to collaborate and train on responding to credible cyber threats against critical infrastructure.
“Cyber Yankee puts real operators from the Guard, federal agencies, and private utilities in the same room, working the same problem, before a real attack forces that meeting,” said Maj. Gen. Francis J. Evon Jr., the adjutant general and commander of the Connecticut National Guard. “Gas, water, and electric systems do not defend themselves. It takes a skilled team that knows how to work together to keep us safe. That’s what this exercise is all about.”
The two-week exercise begins with a week of classroom training, followed by a week of tactical-level defensive cyber operations exercises. These exercises split the participants into groups: blue groups are military personnel, orange groups are civilian partners, and red groups are malicious actors such as hackers, hacktivists or foreign state actors.
What makes Cyber Yankee unique compared with other military cyber events, such as Cyber Shield, is that this event focuses on civilian infrastructure, such as natural gas, electricity and water, rather than Department of War infrastructure, such as its computer network.
During the exercise, red groups will actively attempt to infiltrate the infrastructure to cause harm. It is the responsibility of the orange and blue teams to implement mitigations to prevent these actors from gaining access, identify any breaches and respond to them to prevent damage to critical infrastructure.
“There are credible threats to the United States critical infrastructure,” said Air Force Col. Cameron Sprague, the Connecticut National Guard’s cyber operations officer and director of Cyber Yankee 2026. “Unfortunately, there are threats to the United States that seek to use cyber means to degrade or deny us those industries—or at least be prepared to do that in the event of a conflict with us. Cyber Yankee is all about being able to defend ourselves against that.”
Since the inception of Cyber Yankee, the exercise has grown significantly. The first iteration of Cyber Yankee, hosted in Massachusetts, consisted of about 100 participants split into two teams — one from Massachusetts and one from Connecticut.
This year’s event, the 12th iteration, includes six teams and more than 360 personnel, including service members from the National Guard in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Tennessee. It also includes representatives from the Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard and international partners from the National Guard’s State Partnership Program, including Cyprus, Brazil, El Salvador, Kenya, Paraguay, Uruguay, Canada and Sweden.
Local, state and other civilian participants include 10 private industry companies, the Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Energy and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
“Cyber is a team sport,” said Sprague. “it’s all about collaboration and if the event happens where we’re attacked by a nation state against our critical infrastructure and services are taken down, we’ll need to work together to restore and defend them.”
As society becomes more dependent on digital assets for everyday functions, cyberattacks inevitably become a greater threat. The training at Cyber Yankee helps cyber warriors combat these threats in real time.
One example was a ransomware attack against the city of Hartford, Connecticut, in September 2020. A hacker disrupted critical systems in the city’s school system, causing delays that rippled through many families’ daily routines.
As a result of this attack, the Connecticut National Guard’s cyber team was activated. In conjunction with the city of Hartford, the threat was isolated and ultimately fixed. This attack exposed several vulnerabilities in the city’s cybersecurity. However, the training from Cyber Yankee allowed the Guard team to remain calm and focused during this high-stress event and deliver results.
Although Cyber Yankee’s proven track record of success has laid the foundation for this exercise to grow into something much larger, Sprague said one of its greatest strengths is its limited size and regional focus on building relationships with cyber teams and industry experts who would work together in the event of a serious cyber incident.
Tucked away from the roar of the flight line, Fleet Readiness Center East’s Cable Shop serves as the depot’s neurosurgeons, performing intricate surgery on the electrical “nerves” that bring aircraft to life. Whether they’re rewiring a five-mile-long wiring harness or manufacturing a new one from scratch, the team’s surgical focus ensures the fleet stays connected and mission-ready.
WASHINGTON – The Department of the Navy today released its Fiscal Year 2027 Shipbuilding Plan, outlining the Administration’s long-term strategy to expand fleet capacity, strengthen the maritime industrial base, and deliver a more capable, ready, and lethal naval force.
WASHINGTON – The Department of the Navy today announced the establishment of three additional Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) organizations: PAE Aviation, PAE Mission Systems and PAE Munitions. With these directives, the Navy continues foundational acquisition reforms focused on accelerating delivery of capability to the fleet.
WASHINGTON – May 11, 2026 – The Department of the Navy today announced the establishment of the Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) for Mission Systems, a new warfighting organization designed to accelerate the development and delivery of critical capabilities to the fleet.
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.
1 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –Radio frequency transmission operators with the 355th Communications Squadron, 355th Mission Support Group, 355th Wing; U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) G6 Directorate; and a Royal Moroccan Armed Forces communications service member validate a multi-language artificial intelligence capability that delivers real-time Arabic-to-English translation over MPU5 radios integrated into the Mobile Ad Hoc Network–Cloud High Mobility Radio system during African Lion 26 at Southern Zone Headquarters, Agadir, Morocco May 4, 2026. This proof concept tests the connection of allied and partner sensors to feed into a shared common operational picture, significantly improving interoperability and collective decision-making.
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 5,600 civilian and military personnel from more than 40 nations, using innovation to drive partner-led regional security. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Raquel Birk) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Raquel Birk)
VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Brent Ottinger, an instructor assigned to 7th Army Training Command Combined Arms Training Center, conducts proficiency demonstration training on an unmanned aerial system with members of the Royal Moroccan Air Force during the inaugural African Lion 26 drone academics at Southern Zone Headquarters, Agadir, Morocco, May 4, 2026. The inaugural AL26 drone academics brought together subject matter experts and students from the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, Armed Forces of Nigeria, Ghana Armed Forces and U.S. forces to build foundational proficiency in unmanned aircraft system flight operations, reconnaissance and target identification.
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 SETAF-AF from April 20 to May 8, 2026, and hosted in Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, AL26 involves over 5,600 civilian and military personnel from more than 40 nations, using innovation to drive partner-led regional security. (Photo by Jason Johnston) (Photo Credit: Jason Johnston)
VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –Keersten Ricks, Ph.D., chief of the Diagnostic Systems Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), examines environmental pathogens during African Lion 26 at Southern Zone Headquarters, Agadir, Morocco, May 2, 2026. The biosurveillance team was composed of U.S. military and research organizations who delivered integrated biosurveillance support, focusing on strengthening commanders’ situational awareness and directly bolstering mission readiness.
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 5,600 civilian and military personnel from more than 40 nations, using innovation to drive partner‑led regional security. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Shane Killeen) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Shane Killeen)
“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.
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Soldiers assigned to MoD Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Mobile Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), fire mortars down range during an African Lion 26 counterattack lane at Cap Draa, Tan-Tan, Morocco, May 4, 2026. The command field exercise counterattack lane tested new combined arms breach tactics by synchronizing unmanned ground vehicles, remote systems and maneuver elements, demonstrating the integration of autonomous and conventional forces to create standoff, reduce risk and generate new tactical possibilities on the modern battlefield.
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 5,600 personnel from more than 40 nations, using innovation to drive partner-led regional security. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Sanchez) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Christopher Sanchez)
VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –A chemical biological integrator with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency decontaminates after exiting the stadium during an African Lion 26 simulated chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosive attack at the Grand Stade d’Agadir, Agadir, Morocco, May 5, 2026. The training sharpened the interoperability and response capacity needed to counter weapons of mass destruction threats. Morocco’s active role underscored its standing as a key partner in advancing collective security and building the regional readiness necessary to address shared threats.
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 5,600 personnel from more than 40 nations, using innovation to drive partner-led regional security. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Caitlinn Belcher) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Caitlinn Belcher)
“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.”
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –Moroccan servicemembers prepare to dive to observe the Iver3-580 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle as part of African Lion 26 off the coast of Agadir, Morocco, May 7, 2026. The exercise challenged multinational naval forces to plan and execute operations across conventional warfare, maritime interdiction and unmanned underwater surveying, advancing the common operating procedures and interoperability essential to collective maritime security and regional stability.
AL26 is U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual joint exercise, designed to strengthen collective security capabilities of the U.S., African nation 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 5,600 personnel from more than 40 nations, using innovation to drive partner-led regional security. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kalypso Braynen) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Kalypso Braynen)
VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. and multinational African Lion 26 command post exercise participants provide daily updates in the joint operations center at Southern Zone Headquarters, Agadir, Morocco, May 5, 2026. The CPX brought together multinational staff from across the coalition to establish a combined joint task force, execute the joint planning process, and conduct mission command procedures in a simulated operational environment. The exercise tested battle rhythm, staff proficiency, and command and control procedures, strengthening interoperability and decision-making capacity across the AL26 coalition force.
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 SETAF-AF from April 20 to May 8, 2026, and hosted in Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, AL26 involves over 5,600 civilian and military personnel from more than 40 nations, using innovation to drive partner-led regional security. (Photo by Jason Johnston) (Photo Credit: Jason Johnston)
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.”
U.S. and Royal Moroccan Armed Forces service members perform a dance in the children’s tent during the African Lion 26 humanitarian civic assistance mission at El Faid, Morocco, May 4, 2026. The HCA mission reflected the enduring U.S.-Morocco partnership, with Utah National Guard and Moroccan military medical teams providing medical, surgical, dental and diagnostic services, reinforcing the commitment to regional stability built through cooperation.
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 5,600 civilian and military personnel from more than 40 nations, using innovation to drive partner-led regional security. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Lark Sine) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Lark Sine)
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.
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.
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.