Gallery contains 13 images
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Photo 1 of 13
U.S. Army Southern European Task
Ghana Armed Forces Warrant Officer Class 2 Emmanuel Adarkwa, left, and U.S. Army Sgt. Heith E. Walston, a combat medic assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, treat a simulated casualty during the Partner Medical Training exercise at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, Jan. 15, 2025. U.S. Army Southern European Task Force Africa, (SETAF-AF), strengthens interoperability with African partners through focused security cooperation exchanges such as the Partner Medical Training. The Partner Medical Training enables teams from SETAF-AF, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Dental Health Activity - Italy, and the Ghana Armed Forces to share medical best practices, strengthening readiness and interoperability between partners, while challenging medics to conduct their duties under the stress of simulated combat scenarios. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
Photo by: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla
Photo 2 of 13
U.S. Army Southern European Task
U.S. Army Sgt. Heith E. Walston, a combat medic assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, checks the breathing pattern on a simulated casualty during the Partner Medical Training exercise at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, Jan. 15, 2025.U.S. Army Southern European Task Force Africa, (SETAF-AF), strengthens interoperability with African partners through focused security cooperation exchanges such as the Partner Medical Training. The Partner Medical Training enables teams from SETAF-AF, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Dental Health Activity - Italy, and the Ghana Armed Forces to share medical best practices, strengthening readiness and interoperability between partners, while challenging medics to conduct their duties under the stress of simulated combat scenarios and preparing teams for the upcoming U.S. Army Best Medic Competition in Texas. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
Photo by: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla
Photo 3 of 13
U.S. Army Southern European Task
U.S. Army Sgt. Nathan S. Nance, a combat medic assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, fills a syringe during the Partner Medical Training exercise at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, Jan. 15, 2025.U.S. Army Southern European Task Force Africa, (SETAF-AF), strengthens interoperability with African partners through focused security cooperation exchanges such as the Partner Medical Training. The Partner Medical Training enables teams from SETAF-AF, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Dental Health Activity - Italy, and the Ghana Armed Forces to share medical best practices, strengthening readiness and interoperability between partners, while challenging medics to conduct their duties under the stress of simulated combat scenarios and preparing teams for the upcoming U.S. Army Best Medic Competition in Texas. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
Photo by: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla
Photo 4 of 13
U.S. Army Southern European Task
Ghana Armed Forces Warrant Officer Class 2 Emmanuel Adarkwa, left, Ghana Armed Forces Warrant Officer Class 2 Augustine Akagri, center, Ghana Armed Forces Capt. Emmanuel Oti Boateng, right, fire M-4 Carbines in a simulated stress shoot during the Partner Medical Training exercise at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, Jan. 15, 2025. U.S. Army Southern European Task Force Africa, (SETAF-AF), strengthens interoperability with African partners through focused security cooperation exchanges such as the Partner Medical Training. The Partner Medical Training enables teams from SETAF-AF, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Dental Health Activity - Italy, and the Ghana Armed Forces to share medical best practices, strengthening readiness and interoperability between partners, while challenging medics to conduct their duties under the stress of simulated combat scenarios. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
Photo by: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla
Photo 5 of 13
U.S. Army Southern European Task
Ghana Armed Forces Capt. Emmanuel Oti Boateng, a combat medic, prepares to fire an M-4 Carbine in a simulated stress shoot during the Partnered Medical Training exercise at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, Jan. 15, 2025. U.S. Army Southern European Task Force Africa, (SETAF-AF), strengthens interoperability with African partners through focused security cooperation exchanges such as the Partnered Medical Training. The partnered Medical Training enables participants from SETAF-AF, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Dental Health Activity - Italy, and the Ghanaian Armed Forces to share medical best practices, strengthening readiness and interoperability between partners. The event also challenges medics to conduct their duties while under the stress of simulated combat scenarios, preparing teams for the upcoming Best Medic Competition Feb. 2025 in Texas. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
Photo by: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla
Photo 6 of 13
U.S. Army Southern European Task
Ghana Armed Forces Capt. Emmanuel Oti Boateng, prepares to insert a syringe into a simulated casualty during the Partner Medical Training exercise at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, Jan. 15, 2025.U.S. Army Southern European Task Force Africa, (SETAF-AF), strengthens interoperability with African partners through focused security cooperation exchanges such as the Partnered Medical Training. The Partner Medical Training enables teams from SETAF-AF, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Dental Health Activity - Italy, and the Ghana Armed Forces to share medical best practices, strengthening readiness and interoperability between partners, while challenging medics to conduct their duties under the stress of simulated combat scenarios. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
Photo by: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla
Photo 7 of 13
U.S. Army Southern European Task
Ghana Armed Forces Warrant Officer Class 2 Augustine Akagri, a combat medic, assesses a simulated casualty during the Partner Medical Training exercise at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, Jan. 15, 2025.U.S. Army Southern European Task Force Africa, (SETAF-AF), strengthens interoperability with African partners through focused security cooperation exchanges such as the Partner Medical Training. The Partner Medical Training enables teams from SETAF-AF, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Dental Health Activity - Italy, and the Ghana Armed Forces to share medical best practices, strengthening readiness and interoperability between partners, while challenging medics to conduct their duties under the stress of simulated combat scenarios. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
Photo by: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla
Photo 8 of 13
U.S. Army Southern European Task
Ghana Armed Forces Warrant Officer Class 2 Emmanuel Adarkwa, a combat medic, prepares to fire an M-4 Carbine in a simulated stress shoot during the Partner Medical Training exercise at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, Jan. 15, 2025. U.S. Army Southern European Task Force Africa, (SETAF-AF), strengthens interoperability with African partners through focused security cooperation exchanges such as the Partner Medical Training. The Partner Medical Training enables teams from SETAF-AF, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Dental Health Activity - Italy, and the Ghana Armed Forces to share medical best practices, strengthening readiness and interoperability between partners, while challenging medics to conduct their duties under the stress of simulated combat scenarios. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
Photo by: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla
Photo 9 of 13
U.S. Army Southern European Task
Ghana Armed Forces Capt. Emmanuel Oti Boateng and U.S. Army Spc. Danielle Soberanis, a medic assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force Africa, (SETAF-AF), assess a simulated casualty during the Partner Medical Training exercise at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, Jan. 15, 2025. SETAF-AF strengthens interoperability with African partners through focused security cooperation exchanges such as the Partner Medical Training. The Partner Medical Training enables teams from SETAF-AF, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Dental Health Activity - Italy, and the Ghana Armed Forces to share medical best practices, strengthening readiness and interoperability between partners, while challenging medics to conduct their duties under the stress of simulated combat scenarios and preparing teams for the upcoming U.S. Army Best Medic Competition in Texas. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
Photo by: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla
Photo 10 of 13
U.S. Army Southern European Task
Ghana Armed Forces Capt. Emmanuel Oti Boateng, left, and U.S Army Spc. Danielle Soberanis, right, a medic assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force Africa, (SETAF-AF), listen to instructions given by a lane grader during the Partner Medical Training exercise at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, Jan. 15, 2025. SETAF-AF strengthens interoperability with African partners through focused security cooperation exchanges such as the Partnered Medical Training. The Partner Medical Training enables teams from SETAF-AF, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Dental Health Activity - Italy, and the Ghana Armed Forces to share medical best practices, strengthening readiness and interoperability between partners, while challenging medics to conduct their duties under the stress of simulated combat scenarios. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
Photo by: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla
Photo 11 of 13
U.S. Army Southern European Task
Ghana Armed Forces Warrant Officer Class 2 Augustine Akagri, a combat medic, simulates reacting to contact during the Partner Medical Training exercise at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, Jan. 15, 2025. U.S. Army Southern European Task Force Africa, (SETAF-AF), strengthens interoperability with African partners through focused security cooperation exchanges such as the Partner Medical Training. The Partner Medical Training enables teams from SETAF-AF, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Dental Health Activity - Italy, and the Ghana Armed Forces to share medical best practices, strengthening readiness and interoperability between partners, while challenging medics to conduct their duties under the stress of simulated combat scenarios. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
Photo by: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla
Photo 12 of 13
U.S. Army Southern European Task
Ghana Armed Forces Warrant Officer Class 2 Augustine Akagri, a combat medic, places a litter with a simulated casualty in a medical vehicle during the Partner Medical Training exercise at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, Jan. 15, 2025. U.S. Army Southern European Task Force Africa, (SETAF-AF), strengthens interoperability with African partners through focused security cooperation exchanges such as the Partner Medical Training. The Partner Medical Training enables teams from SETAF-AF, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Dental Health Activity - Italy, and the Ghana Armed Forces to share medical best practices, strengthening readiness and interoperability between partners, while challenging medics to conduct their duties under the stress of simulated combat scenarios. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
Photo by: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla
Photo 13 of 13
U.S. Army Southern European Task
Ghana Armed Forces Warrant Officer Class 2 Augustine Akagri, a combat medic, left, and U.S. Army Sgt. Brayden J. Chapman, a combat medic assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, discuss how to approach a simulated casualty during the Partner Medical Training exercise at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, Jan. 15, 2025. U.S. Army Southern European Task Force Africa, (SETAF-AF), strengthens interoperability with African partners through focused security cooperation exchanges such as the Partner Medical Training. The Partner Medical Training enables teams from SETAF-AF, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Dental Health Activity - Italy, and the Ghana Armed Forces to share medical best practices, strengthening readiness and interoperability between partners, while challenging medics to conduct their duties under the stress of simulated combat scenarios and preparing teams for the upcoming U.S. Army Best Medic Competition in Texas. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
Photo by: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla
VICENZA, Italy— Augustine Akagri had never felt anything like the biting cold of the Italian Alps. As a Warrant Officer Class II in the Ghana Armed Forces with 15 years of combat medical experience and a Ghana Jungle Badge, he believed he was ready for any challenge—until he faced the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) in subzero temperatures.
“When I was going through it [ACFT] I felt the cold in my ribs and my tongue was numb,” said Akagri.
What carried him through wasn’t his medical training, but the resilience skills he had learned during a session with U.S. Army Chaplain Capt. Allen Hoskyn the day before.
“The resilience training helped a lot, I told myself ‘forget this cold and this numbness, I need to finish this,” said Akagri.
The ACFT was just the beginning of Akagri’s experience. Alongside two other medics from the Ghana Armed Forces, he participated in the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force-Africa (SETAF-AF) Partner Medical Training exercise, designed to strengthen medical readiness and interoperability between partners.
The three-day event brought together U.S. Army medics and medical professionals from SETAF-AF, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and Dental Health Activity-Italy to train with the Ghana Armed Forces team. Participants underwent intensive medical training over the first two days, followed by a final day dedicated to testing. During the testing phase, participants were divided into three mixed teams, with each team comprising members from all participating units. The teams tackled 12 challenging lanes which included tactical combat casualty care, stress shooting, and K9 tactical combat casualty care.
Not only did the training provide valuable experience for both Ghanaian and American medics, but it also created an opportunity to exchange medical knowledge.
“They [Ghanaian medics] have much more clinical medical knowledge, whereas we focus more on trauma,” said Sgt. Brayden Chapman, a combat medic from the 1-503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. “I saw different ways of treating wounds because they use a different set of medications than we do, based on what’s available to them versus what’s available to us.”
Chapman added, “Overall, the training was of deep value.”
Like Chapman, Akagri gained a wealth of medical knowledge during the three-day training, which he hopes to share with his unit back in Ghana.
“It’s been an amazing experience. We’ve learned a lot of things, and we were also able to share our ideas with the other participants,” Akagri said.
Most of all, Akagri will remember the cold weather—and that he’ll think twice before turning off the AC at home.
“When I turned off the AC in my house, my wife told me, ‘How are you going to cope when you’re out there [in Italy]?’ So when I got here and felt the cold, I kept remembering her words.”
