U.S. Army Southern European Task

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Hope Cruse, left, an animal care specialist, and right, U.S. Army Capt. Kylie Smith, a veterinarian, both assigned to Public Health Command Europe, perform a cesarean section (C-section) on a sheep during the medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) at the in Accra, Ghana, May 20, 2025. Cruse and Smith both had the opportunity to work with animals during the MEDREX that they had not treated before. Part of African Lion 2025 (AL25), this MEDREX is planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and prepares U.S. military health professionals for the challenges of providing care outside of traditional clinical settings. By working alongside African partners, U.S. medical professionals refine their ability to deliver rapid, adaptable, and resource efficient medical care, directly increasing medical readiness for large scale combat operations.