In the fast-paced and often unpredictable world of military operations, U.S. service members are frequently mobilized across the globe to support exercises, conflicts and peacekeeping missions. These assignments come with unique challenges, and sometimes, life threatening emergencies.

DAKAR, Senegal— The U.S. Army and Senegalese Armed Forces have launched African Lion 2025 operations in Senegal this week as part of U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual combined training event. Participating nations in Senegal include Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, the Netherlands, and the United States.

During Exercise African Lion 2025, units from the U.S. Army’s 807th Theater Medical Command played a crucial role in health care operations alongside Tunisian Armed Forces. Key contributors included the 409th Medical Company Area Support, a U.S. Army Reserve unit based in Madison, Wisconsin; the 903rd Medical Detachment Preventive Medicine, a U.S. Army Reserve unit based in Machesney Park, Illinois; and the 172nd Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 261st Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 44th Medical Brigade. These units provided essential services such as sick-call operations, casualty movement, preventive medicine, veterinary inspections and academics, and behavioral health classes across multiple training sites in Tunisia. Soldiers from the 807th also led knowledge exchanges with Tunisian counterparts, strengthening partnerships and enhancing joint operational medical readiness in a challenging environment.

GABES, Tunisia – A stevedore shouted over the diesel hum of cranes as the first storage container was lifted out of the cargo ship and onto Tunisian soil. For the untrained eye, it may have looked like just another port delivery. But for the Soldiers and civilians waiting at the port of Gabes, it marked the start of something much bigger.

Special forces paratroopers descending upon the barren north-Saharan desert, unfurling the crescent moon and star of the red and white Tunisian flag, during the final event of African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Tunisia. This marked the conclusion of nearly two weeks of warfighting training for more than 1,700 multinational service members.

African Lion 25, U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, officially kicks off April 14, 2025, in Tunisia, with activities in Ghana, Senegal, and Morocco beginning in May.

African Lion 2025 (AL25) officially opened May 4 at the Centre d’Entraînement Tactique 2 (CET2) training area here, marking the start of the Senegalese portion of U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual combined joint exercise.