Spc Israel Osagie: Serving Africa and America at Justified Accord 2024

NANYUKI, Kenya – "I'm here to give back to my continent," said U.S. Army Spc. Israel Osagie, a practical nursing specialist with the 425th Medical Detachment, 176th Medical Brigade, 807th Medical Command.


“I've always loved the Army because it gets you motivated, it keeps your head straight, and it gives you all the inspiration and motivation to push ahead in your career,” he shared. “As a physician, I want to major in psychiatry, and I think the Army is the best place to explore my career opportunities."
By Sgt. Alisha Grezlik U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa Nanyuki, Kenya Mar 06, 2024
View Gallery
fallback
Gallery contains 7 images

NANYUKI, Kenya – "I'm here to give back to my continent," said U.S. Army Spc. Israel Osagie, a practical nursing specialist with the 425th Medical Detachment, 176th Medical Brigade, 807th Medical Command.

Originally from Nigeria, Osagie felt emotional about returning to the continent.

“For me, it's coming back to give back to home. When I landed in Kenya and I saw the locals, I was inspired to do more,” he said. “Seeing me in my U.S. Army uniform and trying to recognize me as being one of theirs, has been very welcoming and heartwarming.”

Osagie is one of many to join exercise Justified Accord 2024 (JA24) as part of the Role 1 medical team that provides capabilities for first aid, immediate lifesaving measures, and triage. JA24 is U.S. Africa Command's largest military exercise in East Africa, running from Feb. 26 - March 7. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), this year's exercise incorporates more than 1,000 service members and units from 23 nations.

At JA24, the medical team has a mission to ensure the safety and well-being of all personnel during training exercises. Osagie feels his role on the medical support team is vital, providing essential health resources and expertise for U.S. Soldiers and multinational partners. However, his passion for the medical system started almost a decade ago.

First becoming a physician in Nigeria, Osagie practiced for six years prior to coming to the U.S. in 2021 and joining the U.S. Army Reserves.

“I've always loved the Army because it gets you motivated, it keeps your head straight, and it gives you all the inspiration and motivation to push ahead in your career,” he shared. “As a physician, I want to major in psychiatry, and I think the Army is the best place to explore my career opportunities."

Osagie’s main focus is on mental health, and when he returns to his current home state of Texas, he aims to address substance-use disorders and immunocompromised conditions.

Recognizing the global impact of these issues, he stressed, "The army needs expertise in mental health for successful missions. If we don't have that, then our missions are going to fail.”

In addition to his professional duties, Osagie expressed gratitude to his family and everyone involved in the mission's success.

"This is me doing what I do best," he concluded. "I appreciate everything Kenya has offered us, including their rich culture.”

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis response options in Africa and Europe.

More in Partnerships
African Lion 2025 opens in Senegal, strengthening regional security cooperation
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.
Read more
African Lion 2025 highlights US, Tunisian military partnerships and medical readiness
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.
Read more
Senegal hosts African Lion 2025 with U.S. and Allied Forces
The U.S. Army and Senegalese Armed Forces have launched African Lion 2025 (AL25) operations in Senegal this week as part of U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual combined training event.
Read more
More in Partnerships
African Lion 2025 opens in Senegal, strengthening regional security cooperation
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.
Read more
African Lion 2025 highlights US, Tunisian military partnerships and medical readiness
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.
Read more
Senegal hosts African Lion 2025 with U.S. and Allied Forces
The U.S. Army and Senegalese Armed Forces have launched African Lion 2025 (AL25) operations in Senegal this week as part of U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual combined training event.
Read more
More in Partnerships
African Lion 2025 opens in Senegal, strengthening regional security cooperation
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.
Read more
African Lion 2025 highlights US, Tunisian military partnerships and medical readiness
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.
Read more
Senegal hosts African Lion 2025 with U.S. and Allied Forces
The U.S. Army and Senegalese Armed Forces have launched African Lion 2025 (AL25) operations in Senegal this week as part of U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual combined training event.
Read more