TUNIS, Tunisia – Exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25) provides U.S. service members with a unique opportunity to train alongside troops from diverse backgrounds and specialties, fostering collaboration and strengthening lasting partnerships with their Tunisian counterparts.
“A highlight is meeting and interacting with U.S. troopers from various backgrounds and fields of expertise and the special relationship developed with the Tunisian soldiers we interacted with,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Dwight Chavez, an Army Reserve Soldier assigned to the 988th Medical Detachment Preventive Medicine, augmenting the 903rd Medical Detachment Preventive Medicine (903rd PM), a U.S. Army Reserve unit based in Machesney Park, Illinois, during the exercise.
This sentiment was echoed across multiple downtrace units of the 807th Theater Medical Command, a major contributor to AL25 through both real-world medical support and invaluable training opportunities. Key participating units included the 409th Medical Company Area Support (MCAS), the 903rd PM, as well as the 172nd Multifunctional Medical Battalion (MMB).
AL25 is set to be the largest annual military exercise in Africa, bringing together more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands, taking place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia. Medical operations are critical to sustaining readiness and safeguarding service members, both during this exercise and in preparation for future joint, combined operations alongside multinational partners.
Each participating unit played an impactful role in the overseas mission, while gaining valuable experience to enhance future operational capabilities.
“It is important for the 409th to participate in this mission to ensure continuous medical support for soldiers in both routine and emergency settings,” explained U.S. Army Spc. Melissa Mangino, assigned to the 919th Medical Company Ground Ambulance, augmenting the 409th MCAS. “In a sick call environment, we provide essential care such as administering NSAIDs [nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs] and decongestants, to manage minor conditions and keep soldiers mission-ready.”
Mangino further described how the 409th MCAS played a critical role in assisting the 933rd Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment’s Role 2 facility by supporting casualty movement and serving as an additional set of hands for medical providers, enhancing overall operational medical readiness and response.
Soldiers were dispersed across multiple training sites throughout Tunisia. The 409th MCAS provided medical support through Role 1 and sick call operations at Ben Ghilouf Training Area, as well as sick call operations in Tunis and Bizerte.
Role 1 providers perform an initial medical assessment and treatment, initial trauma care and forward resuscitation, not including surgical care. Role 2 care includes additional medical treatment, advanced trauma management, emergency surgery and resuscitative care.
‘It’s good when the medics are bored’ became a familiar refrain among Soldiers in Ben Ghilouf, a positive indicator that operations were running smoothly, with no major accidents or illnesses. This success reflected the diligent work and collaboration of the 903rd PM team.
“Preventive medicine units help by minimizing risks and hazards from disease and non battle injuries such as waterborne, airborne and food-borne illness which were our main focus during this mission,” noted Chavez.
In addition to PM operations, veterinary Soldiers contributed by conducting Food and Water Risk Assessments (FWRA) to identify potential public health risks in training areas and facilities.
Beyond hands-on medical and veterinary support, didactic training sessions with Tunisian Armed Forces service members served to exchange knowledge and strengthen partnerships.
“Our role this year as the veterinary team is primarily academic. We are working with our Tunisian counterparts to provide education regarding a variety of topics such as food safety and defense, water management, a veterinarian's role in a crisis, as well as classes on MWD [Military Working Dog] care,” said U.S. Army Maj. Brian Collins, assigned to the 949th Medical Detachment Veterinary Services, 172nd MMB.
“Having met with some Tunisian veterinarians, I have been impressed with the wide variety of training they have received. They receive training in topics that go beyond what I learned in vet school, which says a lot about the quality of training they receive,” added Collins.
Similarly, U.S. Army Maj. Rebekah Austin and Sgt. Capprieottie Lee, assigned to the 785th Medical Detachment Combat Operational Stress Control, 172nd MMB, were encouraged by the parallels in behavioral health practices between U.S. and Tunisian forces.
“Our BH [behavioral health] system of care in the U.S. is very similar to what they have in Tunisia,” said Austin. “Seeing their leaders learn about and practice psychiatric first aid reminded me that Soldier care is a core value in leaders who care, regardless of the uniform they wear.”
Participation in exercise African Lion enhances U.S. service member abilities to operate effectively in complex, multi-domain environments, while building the partnerships and capabilities necessary to deploy, fight and win alongside allies.
“I think the best part about my role as a BHT [behavioral health team] has been the fact that we have the ability to engage and make meaningful connections with not only the Tunisian Army, but also our soldiers,” concluded Lee.
About African Lion African Lion 25 (AL25) is set to be the largest annual military exercise in Africa, bringing together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, and about 10,000 troops. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), on behalf of U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM), the exercise will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. AL25 is designed to restore the warrior ethos, sharpen lethality, and strengthen military readiness alongside our African partners and allies This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win.
