ALFS 21: US Army, African land force leadership discuss maintaining security despite pandemic challenges



By SETAF-Africa Public Affairs SETAF-Africa Vicenza, Italy May 20, 2021
View Gallery
fallback
Gallery contains 2 images

VICENZA, Italy – African partner land forces chiefs and senior enlisted leaders, partner nation liaison officers, National Guard State Partnership Program adjutant generals and representatives, Multinational Joint Task Force and African Mission to Somalia commanders, interagency leaders, and senior U.S. military officials attended the 9th African Land Forces Summit, held May 19.

The summit theme for 2021, “Maintaining security in a degraded environment,” highlighted COVID-19-related challenges within the operational environment and encouraged dialogue to address military pandemic responses, as well as the pandemic’s effects on current and future operations.

In accordance with the event’s theme and taking into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic-related travel limitations and the health and safety of country delegations, the command organized ALFS 21 as a one-day virtual event.  ALFS, one of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa’s premier annual engagements, was first held in Washington, D.C., in 2010, but has been co-hosted by an African nation on the African continent since 2012.

Following opening remarks from Maj. Gen. Andrew M. Rohling, the SETAF-AF commander, the attendees, including 35 African land forces commanders, participated in one of four regionally-focused plenary sessions on a virtual platform. Each plenary session opened with recorded speeches from U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville, the U.S. Army chief of staff; Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, the U.S. Africa Command commander; and Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, U.S. Army Europe and Africa commanding general. Session participants then engaged in moderated discussion, which included prepared remarks from land forces leaders from the region, on topics related to the event theme.

In their remarks, McConville, Townsend, Cavoli and Rohling each emphasized that while the global pandemic has impacted the way ahead for operations, it has not diminished the U.S. Army’s commitment to supporting its African partners in ensuring peace and stability on the continent and throughout the world.

“We’ve all felt the impact of COVID-19 in our nations and our forces, and we must all be prepared for continuous change in the strategic environment and emerging challenges,” McConville said. “I still truly believe that we are in an age of strategic competition. That said, competition does not have to mean conflict. What we really want is cooperation and coexistence. Together, with strong allies and partners, we have many more options collectively than we do as individual nations to maintain our strength and readiness across the region.”  

More in Media Room
New Hampshire National Guard teams with Morocco for sling load training at African Lion 2025
TAN TAN, Morocco – Soldiers assigned to the 744th Forward Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard partnered with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR), for a sling load exercise, May 17, 2025, at Tan Tan, Morocco, during African Lion 25.
Read more
Double Duty: Twin Airmen tackle African Lion 2025 side by side
Assigned to the 121st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Dexter as an assisted dedicated crew chief and Dylan a fuels system specialist with the 121st Maintenance Squadron, these identical twins from the Ohio Air National Guard are working together once again, this time during the multinational military exercise African Lion 2025.
Read more
Honoring the fallen, uniting the living: A legacy rekindled at African Lion 2025
DODJI, Senegal – During African Lion 2025, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Gabay and Royal Netherlands Army Capt. Lars Roijen rekindled a personal and historical connection that began at a World War II cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands. After discovering that Gabay’s great uncle was buried there, Roijen—whose hometown is Margraten—adopted the grave, honoring a Dutch tradition dating back to the war. Now serving together at AL25 in Senegal, the two Soldiers embody the enduring bonds between allies. Their story highlights the human connections behind military cooperation and reflects the spirit of African Lion: strengthening partnerships, honoring shared sacrifice, and building a safer future together.
Read more
More in Media Room
New Hampshire National Guard teams with Morocco for sling load training at African Lion 2025
TAN TAN, Morocco – Soldiers assigned to the 744th Forward Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard partnered with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR), for a sling load exercise, May 17, 2025, at Tan Tan, Morocco, during African Lion 25.
Read more
Double Duty: Twin Airmen tackle African Lion 2025 side by side
Assigned to the 121st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Dexter as an assisted dedicated crew chief and Dylan a fuels system specialist with the 121st Maintenance Squadron, these identical twins from the Ohio Air National Guard are working together once again, this time during the multinational military exercise African Lion 2025.
Read more
Honoring the fallen, uniting the living: A legacy rekindled at African Lion 2025
DODJI, Senegal – During African Lion 2025, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Gabay and Royal Netherlands Army Capt. Lars Roijen rekindled a personal and historical connection that began at a World War II cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands. After discovering that Gabay’s great uncle was buried there, Roijen—whose hometown is Margraten—adopted the grave, honoring a Dutch tradition dating back to the war. Now serving together at AL25 in Senegal, the two Soldiers embody the enduring bonds between allies. Their story highlights the human connections behind military cooperation and reflects the spirit of African Lion: strengthening partnerships, honoring shared sacrifice, and building a safer future together.
Read more
More in Media Room
New Hampshire National Guard teams with Morocco for sling load training at African Lion 2025
TAN TAN, Morocco – Soldiers assigned to the 744th Forward Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard partnered with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR), for a sling load exercise, May 17, 2025, at Tan Tan, Morocco, during African Lion 25.
Read more
Double Duty: Twin Airmen tackle African Lion 2025 side by side
Assigned to the 121st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Dexter as an assisted dedicated crew chief and Dylan a fuels system specialist with the 121st Maintenance Squadron, these identical twins from the Ohio Air National Guard are working together once again, this time during the multinational military exercise African Lion 2025.
Read more
Honoring the fallen, uniting the living: A legacy rekindled at African Lion 2025
DODJI, Senegal – During African Lion 2025, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Gabay and Royal Netherlands Army Capt. Lars Roijen rekindled a personal and historical connection that began at a World War II cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands. After discovering that Gabay’s great uncle was buried there, Roijen—whose hometown is Margraten—adopted the grave, honoring a Dutch tradition dating back to the war. Now serving together at AL25 in Senegal, the two Soldiers embody the enduring bonds between allies. Their story highlights the human connections behind military cooperation and reflects the spirit of African Lion: strengthening partnerships, honoring shared sacrifice, and building a safer future together.
Read more