DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – U.S. and Tanzanian medical professionals completed the first-ever medical readiness exercise at Lugalo General Military Hospital and Msata Military Training Base, Tanzania, March 2-12. The mission served as an operational component of Justified Accord 2026, U.S. Africa Command’s largest exercise in East Africa.
Led by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), JA26 focused on readiness, innovation and crisis response. The MEDREX advanced those priorities by testing U.S. medical proficiency in austere, resource-constrained environments and supporting the Nebraska-Tanzania State Partnership Program.
The joint medical team integrated professionals from U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force units from the Nebraska National Guard and active-duty forces. The team treated more than 800 patients across 10 distinct medical specialties, including trauma surgery, infectious disease, orthopedic surgery, optometry and pediatrics.
Tanzanian partners identified the required capabilities, shaping the U.S. medical team’s composition.
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Angela Ling, the lead medical readiness exercise planner for Justified Accord 2026, assigned to the 155th Medical Group, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Nebraska Air National Guard, meets the Tanzania People’s Defence Force hospital commander as part of a medical readiness exercise during Justified Accord 26 at Lugalo General Military Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, March 3, 2026. This first-ever MEDREX in Tanzania prepared U.S. military health professionals for the challenges of providing care outside traditional clinical settings. Working alongside African partners, U.S. medical professionals refined their ability to deliver rapid, adaptable and resource-efficient medical care, directly increasing medical readiness for large-scale combat operations.
JA26 increases multinational interoperability in support of humanitarian assistance and crisis response, prepares regional partners for United Nations and African Union missions, and builds readiness for the U.S. joint force. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and hosted in Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania, JA26 is U.S. Africa Command’s largest exercise in East Africa. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Tucker Chase) (Photo Credit: 1LT Tucker Chase)
VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Air Force Col. Halton Beumer, an ear, nose and throat and facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon assigned to the Surgical Operations Squadron, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, performs surgery as part of a medical readiness exercise during Justified Accord 26 at Lugalo General Military Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, March 3, 2026. This first-ever MEDREX in Tanzania prepared U.S. military health professionals for the challenges of providing care outside traditional clinical settings. Working alongside African partners, U.S. medical professionals refined their ability to deliver rapid, adaptable and resource-efficient medical care, directly increasing medical readiness for large-scale combat operations.
JA26 increases multinational interoperability in support of humanitarian assistance and crisis response, prepares regional partners for United Nations and African Union missions, and builds readiness for the U.S. joint force. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and hosted in Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania, JA26 is U.S. Africa Command’s largest exercise in East Africa. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Tucker Chase) (Photo Credit: 1LT Tucker Chase)
“We collaborate with the host nation about the types of specialties they prefer,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Angela Ling, a medical officer assigned to the 155th Medical Group, 155th Air Refueling Wing, Nebraska Air National Guard. “It’s not just what Nebraska has available, it’s what they need and desire, and then how do we improve readiness by fulfilling their needs.”
Providing these tailored, host-nation requirements ensures U.S. forces increase their technical proficiency and advance the interoperability required for rapid crisis response. This training promotes shared responsibility and positions African partners to achieve operational independence and lead regional security efforts.
About 20 U.S. military medical personnel provided care alongside Tanzanian counterparts at Lugalo General Military Hospital. Meanwhile, a smaller joint team deployed to the remote village of Msata, testing medical decision-making under severe resource constraints.
Treating unfamiliar regional illnesses, such as malaria, provides military physicians with hands-on experience they cannot replicate in standard U.S. treatment facilities.
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Maj. Woo Do, the chief of pediatric surgery with the Directorate for Surgical Services, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and Tanzania People’s Defence Forces medical personnel perform surgery on a Tanzanian patient as part of a medical readiness exercise during Justified Accord 2026 at Lugalo General Military Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, March 4, 2026. This first-ever MEDREX in Tanzania prepared U.S. military health professionals for the challenges of providing care outside traditional clinical settings. Working alongside African partners, U.S. medical professionals refined their ability to deliver rapid, adaptable and resource-efficient medical care, directly increasing medical readiness for large-scale combat operations.
JA26 increases multinational interoperability in support of humanitarian assistance and crisis response, prepares regional partners for United Nations and African Union missions, and builds readiness for the U.S. joint force. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and hosted in Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania, JA26 is U.S. Africa Command’s largest exercise in East Africa. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Tucker Chase) (Photo Credit: 1LT Tucker Chase)
VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Maj. Woo Do, chief of pediatric surgery with the Directorate for Surgical Services, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and Tanzania People’s Defence Forces medical personnel perform a surgery on a Tanzanian patient as part of a medical readiness exercise during Justified Accord 2026 at Lugalo General Military Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, March 4, 2026. This first-ever MEDREX in Tanzania prepared U.S. military health professionals for the challenges of providing care outside traditional clinical settings. Working alongside African partners, U.S. medical professionals refined their ability to deliver rapid, adaptable and resource-efficient medical care, directly increasing medical readiness for large-scale combat operations.
JA26 increases multinational interoperability in support of humanitarian assistance and crisis response, prepares regional partners for United Nations and African Union missions, and builds readiness for the U.S. joint force. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and hosted in Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania, JA26 is U.S. Africa Command’s largest exercise in East Africa. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Tucker Chase) (Photo Credit: 1LT Tucker Chase)
“Operating in this austere environment forces us to rely on our foundational clinical skills and adapt to logistical constraints,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Halton Beumer, an ear, nose, throat and facial plastic/reconstructive surgeon assigned to the Surgical Operations Squadron, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston. “The interoperability we build here directly translates to our own operational readiness, ensuring we are prepared to deploy and provide trauma care anywhere in the world.”
Such field training ensures medical units remain tactically prepared to support large-scale combat operations globally.
“At home station, our main priority in the National Guard is ensuring that our Airmen are medically ready to deploy, and then also maintaining our readiness,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Brooke Sciuto, family medicine physician and commander of 155th Medical Group, Nebraska Air National Guard. “Here, we have the great opportunity to provide care and practice our readiness skills.”
The exercise also functioned as a battle lab for the total force. The U.S. Army tested a digital field-medicine tracker for the first time in Africa to quantify operational readiness. Providers logged encounters, procedures, diagnoses and clinical hours through a mobile interface.
Developed by the U.S. Air Force, the Medical Currency Application for Readiness Tracking 2.0 is a cloud-enabled, modular system. The platform aggregates clinical data and adds calculated measures like work-relative value units, as well as joint knowledge, skills and abilities metrics, then populates a near real-time dashboard accessible to leadership.
U.S. Air Force and Tanzania People’s Defence Force medical personnel pose for a group photo after completing a knowledge exchange on pediatric best practices as part of a medical readiness exercise during Justified Accord 26 at Lugalo General Military Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, March 6, 2026. This first-ever MEDREX in Tanzania prepared U.S. military health professionals for the challenges of providing care outside of traditional clinical settings. Working alongside African partners, U.S. medical professionals refined their ability to deliver rapid, adaptable and resource-efficient medical care, directly increasing medical readiness for large-scale combat operations.
JA26 increases multinational interoperability in support of humanitarian assistance and crisis response, prepares regional partners for United Nations and African Union missions, and builds readiness for the U.S. joint force. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and hosted in Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania, JA26 is U.S. Africa Command’s largest exercise in East Africa. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Tucker Chase) (Photo Credit: 1LT Tucker Chase)
“The most significant improvements came from the hundreds of end users across the Army, Navy and Air Force who tested the application during operational missions and exercises,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Justin Fo, professor of surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. “Their feedback was critical in improving usability and ensuring the platform met the practical needs of clinicians operating in real-world environments.”
The platform’s ongoing success relies on continuous user-driven feedback from the field. Testing by end users during the exercise ensures the application meets the practical needs of medical personnel.
By synchronizing the state partnership, specialized clinical expertise and digital innovation, this historic MEDREX validated U.S. medical readiness and reinforced the operational value of partnered training in East Africa.
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.
SEMBACH, Germany — In a significant effort to bolster the capabilities of its enlisted leaders, approximately 35 U.S. Army noncommissioned officers from 10 NATO countries convened here for three days of intensive training February 25-27. The event focused on honing the essential skills NCOs need to lead Soldiers, drive readiness, and ensure the operational effectiveness of the U.S. Army across Europe.
The gathering was kicked off by Command Sgt. Maj. James E. Morris Jr. of the U.S. Army NATO Brigade, who immediately addressed the relevant reality for Soldiers serving in the alliance: geographic isolation. “As part of the United States Army’s NATO Brigade, we find ourselves in geographically dispersed places, and sometimes we don’t get together often enough,” Morris said, adding, “And I think that’s why training like this builds camaraderie amongst our teams.”
Morris assured the attendees that the training was meticulously planned to provide maximum value. “We’re going to give you some really good training, some things that are cutting edge, things that are going on right now in the United States Army… But even bigger than that, we’re prepping you to go back to the big Army and do some of the hard-hitting things that are out there.”
A key focus of the training was clarifying the very purpose of their mission. Morris candidly admitted that upon his arrival, there was a fundamental lack of understanding about the brigade’s role. “One of the biggest things that we had a problem with when I walked in the door was people didn’t even know what the U.S. Army NATO does,” he said. To remedy this, the curriculum included a “NATO 101” brief to explain the brigade’s significance. “I don’t want you to feel like a cog in the wheel,” Morris insisted. “I want you to know that you have a part to play in the grand scheme of things in the machine we call the U.S. Army NATO.”
For the NCOs present, the event was a welcome chance not just to train, but to connect. Staff Sgt. Charles Reese, assigned to Allied Forces South Battalion in Naples, Italy, highlighted the importance of personal interaction. “For me personally, with all of us being so dispersed all over Europe, the social aspect to meet and greet, put faces to names, and have conversations is very important,” he said. “The other part is just the training itself, filling in a lot of the blanks of what we don’t know.”
Reese described his experience with U.S. Army NATO as “eye-opening” and a catalyst for personal development. “It’s forced me to grow,” he reflected. “Because you’re tasked with so many things… what it does is it puts you in a position to grow, use attributes that you may not have known that you have, and I think it makes you a better all-around leader because you’re pulled in so many different directions you have to master multi-tasking.”
The sentiment was widely shared, with Reese adding, “I would just say that I think we should do more of these things more often. It’s good to see so many people that I see in emails and I’ve never met before.”
1st Sgt. John Shelton, also from the Naples-based Company B, emphasized the training’s particular benefit for new NCOs who must navigate the complexities of working within a multinational framework. “A lot of my NCOs are new. So, this training is extremely beneficial to them just because there’s a lot of NATO-isms that we don’t know,” Shelton said. He explained that while daily duties might seem similar to the regular Army, integration with NATO introduces unique protocols. “Our NCOs can act as the bridge between their NATO requirements and our national requirements.”
Shelton elaborated on this critical bridging role, describing how his NCOs are tied into NATO’s operational rhythm. “He’s tied into their syncs, their meetings, their touchpoints. So, he relays all that information to me. Then I filter out what is needed on the national side,” Shelton explained. This makes the NCOs indispensable. “But knowing more intuitively what the NATO responsibilities and requirements are,” he continued, “is what makes the training very beneficial for them and for us.”
As the training concluded, Morris expressed his gratitude and underscored the value of their participation. He stressed that feedback is essential for improvement. “The best way that we can get better is by hearing the things that you have to say,” he told the group. “And we are better because of you… We can’t do it without you. Literally.”
His final message was one of unity and mutual support, encouraging the NCOs to build on the connections they had just forged. “It’s important that you all crosstalk because I know some of you are going through the same exact things… because you have shared experiences, right? So lean on each other,” Morris urged. “There’s an office here at Sembach Kaserne full of folks that really care, that want to help… Help us stay informed of what’s going on out there. Come up on the net anytime you need help. We’re here to support.”
U.S. Army NATO includes about 725 U.S. Soldiers assigned to NATO billets across 21 countries in Europe and at the NATO units in Norfolk, Va. U.S. Army NATO also includes another 75 U.S. Soldiers assigned to the Military Personnel Exchange Program and as students at schools of other nations.
These 800 Soldiers are supported by a cadre of some 275 national support element Soldiers who conduct mission essential training to achieve and maintain rapid deployment readiness, improve interoperability with allies and partners and protect U.S. personnel and interests.
VICENZA, Italy — When Maj. Brian Bailey pulled into an Austrian rest stop, plumes of black smoke billowed from a tractor-trailer cab engulfed by flames.
Nearby were two people on the ground, dangerously close to the fire. Adrenaline raced through Bailey’s body as he ran toward the blaze. A woman screamed “Help my husband!”
Bailey, a chaplain at U.S. Army Garrison Italy, was returning to Vicenza from a course in Grafenwöhr, Germany, on March 8 when he pulled into to rest area in Angath, about 40 miles northeast of Innsbruck.
One victim, the truck’s driver, was severely burned and unresponsive. The second man, a Lithuanian passerby, had pulled the driver out but fell five feet during the rescue, shattering his leg. His wife had been calling for help.
Bailey, a Tennessee native and Iraq veteran, had been in tense situations before. Soldier training, to include the Combat Lifesaver Course and Combat Medical Ministry training kicked in.
Maj. Brian Bailey, a chaplain at U.S. Army Garrison, checks the baptismal water at the Caserma Ederle chapel on May 13. Earlier that week he helped rescue a driver from a tractor-trailer cab engulfed by flames at an Austrian rest area. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Rick Scavetta)VIEW ORIGINAL
“Those courses prepared me to be a first responder for physical and spiritual injuries and when faced with the reality of the situation,” Bailey said. “The skills I had been taught allowed me to act.”
The trucker, a man from Uzbekistan, was severely burned and bloodied. Bailey and another bystander – a Polish man named Bongo – carefully moved the trucker away from the flames. They gently placed him beside the Lithuanian – Bailey called him Otto – who was on a trip with his wife and nephew.
Bailey helped cut away the trucker’s burned clothes and assessed his injuries. He had shallow breathing and a fast, weak pulse. He and Bongo prepared to conduct CPR, clearing his airway, tilting his head back and elevating his feet. Worried that his heart may stop, Bailey ran into the rest stop and, using his high school-level German, convinced staff to get an automated external defibrillator.
Back outside, they continued to monitor the victims’ vital signs. Bailey told other people to call for help and spoke to the emergency dispatcher through a bystander’s phone, sharing information while continuing to provide care.
Otto, the Lithuanian, was in extreme pain. They didn’t want to move him any further so they did their best to shield him from the heat of the flames, growing higher as the fire consumed the whole front of the truck nearby.
Several loud explosions erupted from the burning cab. Other truckers, using handheld extinguishers, attempted to put the fire out, but their efforts were in vain.
Maj. Brian Bailey, a chaplain at U.S. Army Garrison Italy, was returning to Vicenza from a course in Grafenwöhr, Germany, on May 8 when he helped rescue a driver from a tractor-trailer cab engulfed by flames at at Austrian rest area. (Photo Credit: Courtesy photo.)VIEW ORIGINAL
The first Austrian paramedics to arrive didn’t have gear to move the injured. Then Austrian police and ambulances arrived. Bailey helped them move the injured to a safer spot for further care.
“We first placed the burn victim on a litter and moved him to a grassy area away from the fire,” Bailey said. “We then returned for the second man with the broken leg, and I assisted a paramedic in stabilizing his leg with an air splint.”
As the medics worked, Bailey spoke to Otto, offering encouragement. Bailey helped lift Otto into an ambulance, that transported him to the nearby Kufstein District Hospital, according to Austrian news outlets. The driver was airlifted by helicopter to the Murnau am Staffelsee Hospital in Bavaria with severe burns.
During the Initial investigations, police said a technical defect in the driver’s cab caused the fire, according to Austrian news reports.
Reflecting afterward, Bailey thought of his training as an Army chaplain and passages from the Bible – things that helped him process the stressful event. Bailey’s religious beliefs have been at the forefront of his mind since the incident. He believes that his involvement was not by chance. He speaks humbly of the steps he took that afternoon, from the first aid to the comforting words of encouragement that he offered.
“My deepest wish was for my actions to point not to myself, but to the profound hope and compassion that Jesus speaks of,” Bailey said. “I am humbled to have been a small part of the care for the wounded, and I pray that my service brought a glimmer of that divine hope to a very dark situation.”
USAG BAVARIA – HOHENFELS, Germany – During a bright, chilly Saturday in the hilly U.S. Army installation at Hohenfels, Germany, the streets came alive as more than a hundred runners and walkers took part in the Shamrock 5K fun run / walk March 14, 2026.
The annual event, which typically includes many dozens of community members, received a boost in numbers from 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment; the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team; and more from the 1st Armored Division from Fort Bliss, Texas, who were on hand because of training they are taking part in.
Angela Lane, the deputy garrison manager for U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria – Hohenfels, spoke to the crowd of runners at the Rodney J. Harris Sports and Fitness Center.
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –USAG BAVARIA – HOHENFELS, Germany — Angela Lane, deputy garrison manager for U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, thanks runners for making the Shamrock 5K fun run / walk a special community event. Soldiers, civilians and Family members dressed in green and took to the streets during the annual Shamrock 5-kilometer fun run / walk March 14, 2026 at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria – Hohenfels. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –USAG BAVARIA – HOHENFELS, Germany — Angela Lane, deputy garrison manager for U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria – Hohenfels, poses with two costumed runners. Soldiers, civilians and Family members dressed in green and took to the streets during the annual Shamrock 5-kilometer fun run / walk March 14, 2026 at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria – Hohenfels. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell)VIEW ORIGINAL
“Whatever your reason for coming down here, I appreciate you,” Lane said. “This is a small community, and I appreciate when you guys come out like this. This just strengthens our bond as a community, and just makes us ‘Better in Bavaria.’”
USAG BAVARIA – HOHENFELS, Germany — Soldiers, civilians and Family members dressed in green and take to the streets during the annual Shamrock 5-kilometer fun run / walk March 14, 2026 at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria – Hohenfels. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell)VIEW ORIGINAL
Runners lined up behind a colorful, inflatable arch. The throng of runners began by pounding through the complex of buildings on Pershing Road before exiting onto General Patton Drive, stretching and dispersing through the length of Camp Nainhof before rounding the corner at the airfield and footing it to Camp Linderberg. The faster runners looped back and were cheered on by participants who joined the event more for the fun than for the record.
The event, according to event organizer and fitness coordinator Kimberly Spalsbury, is non-competitive.
“Everybody in the community can come out and take part in it and not feel like it’s a competition,” she said. “We want it to be fun, family-friendly. Bring your young kids, bring your big kids, bring your pets.”
There were several young participants during the run. A few dogs also took part in the event. While the bibs were green, many other runners took a cue from the forthcoming St. Patrick’s Day to dress in green, including as bearded leprechauns.
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –USAG BAVARIA – HOHENFELS, Germany — Anthony Flores, breaks ahead of other runners. Soldiers, civilians and Family members dressed in green and took to the streets during the annual Shamrock 5-kilometer fun run / walk March 14, 2026 at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria – Hohenfels. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –USAG BAVARIA – HOHENFELS, Germany — A runner takes a breather after finishing a race. Soldiers, civilians and Family members dressed in green and took to the streets during the annual Shamrock 5-kilometer fun run / walk March 14, 2026 at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria – Hohenfels. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell)VIEW ORIGINAL
The first finishers, however, were Soldiers from Fort Bliss, who finished in less than 23 minutes. Leading the pack was Anthony Flores of G Company, 2-37 AR. He encouraged his unit to show up for the run in addition to taking the run seriously.
“I love it for myself because it helps you clear the mind and keeps yourself healthy,” he said.
As many of the serious competitors arrived, volunteers with the local chapter of the American Red Cross, encircled their heads with completion medals. The runners then took a second to recuperate, some sitting on the flagstones outside the fitness center after giving it their all.
The Service Credit Union and American Red Cross handed out snacks and drinks to help runners recover their strength as more and more runners arrived, cheered on by the group gathered at the fitness center.
ROME – March 16, 2026 – Approximately 40 nations and more than 300 senior leaders and personnel will participate in the African Land Forces Summit 2026 (ALFS 26), scheduled for March 22–24, 2026, in Rome, Italy. ALFS is an annual forum that convenes African land force commanders alongside U.S. and partner-nation military leaders, as well as representatives from academia, government and industry, to address shared security challenges.
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) will host the 2026 summit. Since its inception, ALFS has been held across the United States and Africa, including in the U.S. (2010 and 2022), Uganda (2012), Senegal (2015), Tanzania (2016), Malawi (2017), Nigeria (2018), Botswana (2019), Ethiopia (2020), Côte d’Ivoire (2023), Zambia (2024) and Ghana (2025). The Rome summit marks the first time this premier forum will be hosted in Europe.
The theme for ALFS 26, “Empowering shared security through intelligence, innovation, and industry,” reflects a growing emphasis on connecting military leadership with private-sector expertise. The summit is designed to bridge the gap between defense institutions and industry partners, enabling collaborative approaches to modern security requirements.
Over the course of the two-day event, participants will engage with a distinguished group of defense, industry and academic thought leaders to explore strategies that strengthen regional stability and reinforce a framework of shared security among participating nations.
“The 2026 African Land Forces Summit in Rome represents a significant milestone as a U.S. Army-led forum intentionally designed to connect African senior leaders with global industry expertise,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Andrew C. Gainey, commanding general of SETAF-AF. “This summit emphasizes the integration of dual-use technology and capital investors with African land forces as we are looking to address an evolving security environment through industry and innovation.”
A key component of the summit will be engagement with capital investors, who will join defense leaders and industry innovators to discuss emerging solutions and technologies that support modern land forces. These discussions will focus in part on dual-use technologies that provide both civilian and defense applications.
“Our goal is to create an environment where meaningful exchanges between defense leaders, industry innovators and investors lead to tangible cooperation, shared responsibility and a more secure future for both America and the African continent,” Gainey added.
By fostering nontraditional partnerships and strengthening collaboration across military, industry and investment communities, SETAF-AF and its African partners aim to build a more resilient, technologically advanced security environment that promotes long-term peace and stability for Africa and the United States.
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.
VICENZA, Italy – When Maj. Brian Bailey pulled into an Austrian rest stop, plumes of black smoke billowed from a tractor-trailer cab engulfed by flames.
Nearby were two people on the ground, dangerously close to the fire. Adrenaline raced through Bailey’s body as he ran toward the blaze. A woman screamed “Help my husband!”
Bailey, a chaplain at U.S. Army Garrison Italy, was returning to Vicenza from a course in Grafenwöhr, Germany, on March 8 when he pulled into to rest area in Angath, about 40 miles northeast of Innsbruck.
One victim, the truck’s driver, was severely burned and unresponsive. The second man, a Lithuanian passerby, had pulled the driver out but fell five feet during the rescue, shattering his leg. His wife had been calling for help.
Bailey, a Tennessee native and Iraq veteran, had been in tense situations before. Soldier training, to include the Combat Lifesaver Course and Combat Medical Ministry training kicked in.
Maj. Brian Bailey, a chaplain at U.S. Army Garrison, checks the baptismal water at the Caserma Ederle chapel on May 13. Earlier that week he helped rescue a driver from a tractor-trailer cab engulfed by flames at an Austrian rest area. (Photo Credit: Rick Scavetta)VIEW ORIGINAL
“Those courses prepared me to be a first responder for physical and spiritual injuries and when faced with the reality of the situation,” Bailey said. “The skills I had been taught allowed me to act.”
The trucker, a man from Uzbekistan, was severely burned and bloodied. Bailey and another bystander – a Polish man named Bongo – carefully moved the trucker away from the flames. They gently placed him beside the Lithuanian – Bailey called him Otto – who was on a trip with his wife and nephew.
Bailey helped cut away the trucker’s burned clothes and assessed his injuries. He had shallow breathing and a fast, weak pulse. He and Bongo prepared to conduct CPR, clearing his airway, tilting his head back and elevating his feet. Worried that his heart may stop, Bailey ran into the rest stop and, using his high school-level German, convinced staff to get an automated external defibrillator.
Back outside, they continued to monitor the victims’ vital signs. Bailey told other people to call for help and spoke to the emergency dispatcher through a bystander’s phone, sharing information while continuing to provide care.
Otto, the Lithuanian, was in extreme pain. They didn’t want to move him any further so they did their best to shield him from the heat of the flames, growing higher as the fire consumed the whole front of the truck nearby.
Several loud explosions erupted from the burning cab. Other truckers, using handheld extinguishers, attempted to put the fire out, but their efforts were in vain.
Maj. Brian Bailey, a chaplain at U.S. Army Garrison Italy, was returning to Vicenza from a course in Grafenwöhr, Germany, on May 8 when he helped rescue a driver from a tractor-trailer cab engulfed by flames at at Austrian rest area. (contributed image) (Photo Credit: Courtesy)VIEW ORIGINAL
The first Austrian paramedics to arrive didn’t have gear to move the injured. Then Austrian police and ambulances arrived. Bailey helped them move the injured to a safer spot for further care.
“We first placed the burn victim on a litter and moved him to a grassy area away from the fire,” Bailey said. “We then returned for the second man with the broken leg, and I assisted a paramedic in stabilizing his leg with an air splint.”
As the medics worked, Bailey spoke to Otto, offering encouragement. Bailey helped lift Otto into an ambulance, that transported him to the nearby Kufstein District Hospital, according to Austrian news outlets. The driver was airlifted by helicopter to the Murnau am Staffelsee Hospital in Bavaria with severe burns.
During the Initial investigations, police said a technical defect in the driver’s cab caused the fire, according to Austrian news reports.
Reflecting afterward, Bailey thought of his training as an Army chaplain and passages from the Bible – things that helped him process the stressful event. Bailey’s religious beliefs have been at the forefront of his mind since the incident. He believes that his involvement was not by chance. He speaks humbly of the steps he took that afternoon, from the first aid to the comforting words of encouragement that he offered.
“My deepest wish was for my actions to point not to myself, but to the profound hope and compassion that Jesus speaks of,” Bailey said. “I am humbled to have been a small part of the care for the wounded, and I pray that my service brought a glimmer of that divine hope to a very dark situation.”
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – The yearly Army Emergency Relief (AER) campaign kicked off on installations across the world on March 1. The campaign, which runs until June 14, educates Soldiers about the types of AER assistance available to them and provides the opportunity for them to donate to help fellow Soldiers.
To jump start this year’s campaign, the garrison hosted several kick-off events, including breakfasts at dining facilities in Baumholder, Kaiserslautern and Landstuhl, and a cake cutting in Sembach.
Jessee Dean, AER specialist with USAG Rheinland-Pfalz Army Community Service, said the garrison’s goals for this year are to reach a 20 percent participation rate for all active duty soldiers and to notify all active duty members of the services AER provides.
Dean said that during last year’s campaign, USAG-Rheinland-Pfalz contributed $31,585 to the campaign. This year’s goal is to exceed that total and take in at least $32,000 in donations.
The Army Emergency Relief fund has provided soldiers and Army families with over $2 Billion in financial assistance to nearly four million people over the last 84 years.
“AER is one of the best organizations helping soldiers and families,” said USAG Rheinland-Pfalz Command Sergeant Major Randy Rivera, noting that AER provides soldiers with zero-interest loans, grants and a variety of different types of financial assistance, including scholarships for dependent spouses and children for up to a four-year degree.
Rivera also explained that AER offers grants for soldiers and families’ permanent change of station (PCS) travel and emergency leave. They offer coverage for up to $500 or 50 percent of the price of airline tickets for emergency leave, and even financial assistance for things like car repair.
AER is solely funded by donations from active duty, U.S. Army Reserve, Army National Guard and retired Soldiers, and other organizations whose goal is to support Soldiers during times of financial difficulty.
If you are interested in donating, head to https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/donate/ and select one of the two donation options – standard online donation via bank card, eCheck or PayPal, or a recurring payroll allotment. Additionally, cash and check donations can be given via DA Form 4908, which can be obtained through and turned into AER Unit Representatives.
For more information on the Army Emergency Relief Fund Campaign and how to support, visit the official AER website at https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org, contact your unit AER representative, or reach out to Dean at +49 (0) 9641-70-541-9012
U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz sets, serves and secures the total force community, enabling power projection for the European Theater.
SEMBACH, Germany — Far from the familiar formations of the U.S. Army, a select group of American Soldiers is deeply embedded within the military forces of their European allies. Each year, U.S. Army NATO brings these exchange officers together for a crucial training and leader development event, ensuring they remain ready and connected while serving in isolated assignments across seven countries.
This initiative is part of the Military Personnel Exchange Program, a cornerstone of security cooperation since 1954. The program is designed for the reciprocal exchange of personnel, placing U.S. Soldiers in allied units and vice versa. According to Todd Scatini, the MPEP program manager for U.S. Army Europe and Africa, it’s a powerful framework for building partner capacity and integrating forces at the unit level. The program, he said, allows the U.S. to tangibly demonstrate its commitment by having a presence directly within allied formations.
The annual gathering is more than just a training requirement; it’s a vital opportunity for connection and shared understanding.
“It’s always good to bring the folks in to put a face to a name and have a discussion about what’s going on in your part of the world,” said Col. Jeremiah D. Pope, commander of U.S. Army NATO Brigade.
Beyond the immediate benefits of camaraderie, the program plays a vital role in the strategic fabric of the alliance. This broader perspective was emphasized by U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Kareem (Monty) Montague, an exchange officer assigned to the French Forces Command in Lille, France.
“I think this training is incredibly important because we are all stationed across Europe, working regularly with our European partners,” he said. “And there is a benefit to bringing all of us together once a year, not just to meet annual training requirements, but to share lessons learned and integrate our understanding of the unique challenges we all face.”
Montague stressed that the true power of the program lies in building the deep-seated trust that is essential for combined operations.
“If we’re going to fight with allies, we have to understand them, and there has to be a mutual trust that’s only gained over time,” he explained. “The more people who have experiences serving in those allied formations and take those experiences back to the U.S., the better we understand our allies and the more effective we’ll be on the battlefield, which is where it all matters.”
This visible presence of American Soldiers in allied ranks sends a clear message of solidarity. Capt. Paolo Bonventre, a military exchange officer with the Folgore Airborne Brigade in Livorno, Italy, sees this as a fundamental aspect of his role.
“I think right off the bat, it is important because it provides a presence and shows our commitment to our allies, that we are invested in our relationship with them,” he said.
The program’s influence also cascades through the ranks. Scatini highlighted that U.S. Army sergeants major are teaching in NCO academies in the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy. “In terms of impact and ability to educate and inspire an allied NCO Corps,” he said, “those sergeants major are senior leaders to a generation of noncommissioned officers that then go out and become the backbone of our partner armies.”
For the officers themselves, the annual training is a welcome chance to build their own support network. “This is a time for me to be able to meet these guys, get some perspective from them, and make those connections with them,” Bonventre noted.
Recognizing the challenges of being in isolated assignments, the leadership of U.S. Army NATO ensures that robust support is always available.
“Don’t suffer in silence,” Pope urged the exchange officers. “The U.S. Army NATO support staff, whether it’s finance, medical, administrative, whatever it is, we have a section to help you take care of that… I have an open-door policy. Just come right down and talk to me.”
U.S. Army NATO provides direct support to approximately 60 MPEP Soldiers and their families across Europe and also supports roughly 1,000 Soldiers assigned to NATO billets at 84 locations in 24 countries.
PICACHO STAGE FIELD, Ariz. — Soldiers with the 2-285th Assault Helicopter Battalion, Arizona Army National Guard, trained alongside federal, state and local firefighting partners during helicopter bucket aerial firefighting qualification hosted by the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, March 5, strengthening the state’s ability to rapidly respond to wildland fires.
The training ensures Arizona National Guard Soldiers remain prepared to combat wildland fires from the air. It included classroom instruction and field drills designed to test coordination between helicopter crews and firefighting ground crews. Personnel with the 2-285th AHB, DFFM, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and local fire departments practiced interagency operations to train and qualify in calling for and executing aerial water drops. Trainings like these enhance collaboration between military and mutual aid agencies while reinforcing the Army National Guard’s dedication to readiness and emergency response.
“This training is critical for ensuring our crews are ready to respond effectively to wildland fires when called upon,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephan Hilgendorf, 2-285th instructor pilot. “Flying with the Water Bucket requires precision, teamwork and clear communication with ground crews to deliver water safely and efficiently where it’s needed most. The opportunity to train alongside firefighting professionals in real-world scenarios strengthens our ability to integrate into joint operations and protect lives, property and natural resources, directly supporting our communities.”
More than 40 UH-60 Black Hawk pilots and crew chiefs successfully qualified in aerial firefighting for the 2026 season. Each crew member is essential to mission execution. While the pilots navigate the aircraft, crew chiefs play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of aerial firefighting operations.
“The crew chief is the one who truly directs the helicopter bucket,” said Staff Sgt. Tyler Mowbray, 2-285th crew chief. “We are the pilot’s eyes on the ground and the steady hand ensuring 600 gallons of water is picked up, flown and delivered with precision and safety. Without our constant vigilance and communication from the cabin, the bucket is just dead weight; with us, it’s a mission-critical tool.”
Given Arizona’s unique conditions, where fire season is not confined to a single period, and wildland fires can ignite year-round, it is essential for the Arizona National Guard to maintain a constant state of readiness. Through real-world training and interagency coordination with local mutual aid partners, the battalion remains committed to being always ready and always there to respond to emergencies at home.
PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. – Army armament engineers here partnered with a pair of Pennsylvania companies, one with alloy expertise and the other with forging metals, to deliver a capable barrel for the Army’s next generation of small arms.
Carpenter Technology developed the alloy and Geissele Automatics (also known as GWYNEDD) developed the production techniques for the barrels, while the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center provided the expertise in gun technology to deliver an innovation that is key to meeting the required capability.
This novel barrel design, created as part of two separate CRADAs (Cooperative Research and Development Agreements) between the Armaments Center, Geissele and Carpenter, relies on the alloy, GNB 200, which provides Army small caliber next generation weapons with higher tensile strength and, with it, better wear resistance.
This advancement came after several projects focusing specifically on barrel technology over the past decade.
According to general engineer Daniel Cler, the design’s principal investigator, DEVCOM had tested several “high alloy barrel materials” over the decade, seeking to help alleviate pressure buildup, corrosion and mechanical wear as next-generation weapons maintain significantly higher-pressure than their legacy counterparts, this could in turn worsen barrel wear.
In the past several years, the U.S. Army has attempted to shift away from using hazardous heavy metals such as hexavalent chromium coatings, which is still renowned for its longevity, but is known to cause significant health problems in production when hexavalent chromium is in solution.
Seeking to replace hexavelant chrome coatings with barrel materials that provide good wear and corrosion performance without coatings, the Army has performed research into a plethora of different metals. However, many of these materials were too hard to cold hammer forge, a method that is the current manufacturing technology for most military small arms. Because of this, the Armaments Center was refocusing on hammer forging and materials that were compatible with the process when it signed both CRADAs in 2022.
GNB 200 is, per Carpenter Technology’s website, a “premium remelted alloy steel specially formulated for high temperature wear resistance.” According to Cler, GNB 200 is near the upper limit of what can reliably be cold-hammer forged.
The GNB 200 material made into an M240L configuration. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo)VIEW ORIGINAL
Carpenter Technology was already highly familiar with GNB 200, and as such provided samples for testing, along with several other materials. The Armaments Center gave guidance, processed information, provided support for analysis and result documentation and carried out accelerated wear testing for proposed alloys.
Work with Geissele focused on manufacturability and feasibility. Geissele cold hammer forged the barrels themselves, provided input and direction for coating alternatives and specifications, performed testing on barrels, and processed parameters on manufacturability. In this stage, the Armaments Center gave its expertise on barrel technologies, provided ammunition for testing and performed project oversight.
The parties involved tested the barrels in an M240L machine guns over the project’s third and final year, which ended in spring 2025. The material showed much better performance than the standard M240L barrel and now informs future Army next generation weapons.
GNB 200 continues to inform the next generation of Army small caliber weapons.Though the CRADA with Carpenter Technology has expired, DEVCOM renewed its CRADA with Geissele for another three years to continue development of barrel coatings.
A CRADA is a written agreement between one or more federal laboratories and one or more non-federal parties to work together on research or development.
The GNB 200 hammer forged barrel is not the only project made in collaboration with Geissele. The pair also collaborated on developing a new rifle profile which has been shown to further reduce wear and improve dispersion. This profile, classified as F41A21/18, received a patent in October 2025.
Cler said he was most proud of seeing a project he worked on informed next generation systems. He also noted how important it is to have some influence upon the industry in the correct direction, though he lamented not being able to get involved earlier.
“CRADA’s are a good way to influence industry so that as systems are developed to meet Army requirements, industry is ready to jump in with better solutions that are more aligned with the Army,” he said.