U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

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SETAF-AF Task Force Update
Photo illustration created for SETAF-AF Task Force Update newsletter. (Photo Credit: Maj. Brian Andries) View original
Welcome to the SETAF-AF Task Force Update

Driving innovation and operational readiness month after month, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) stands ready to respond wherever duty calls.

Check out this month’s recap of how #SETAFAfrica advances innovation, partnership, and readiness.

ISSUE 2 | August 2026

  • US, Burundian medical teams impact over 600 patients during a medical readiness exercise | Sep. 1, 2026

    Twenty-four U.S. Army medical professionals treated patients alongside Burundian counterparts at Kamenge Military Hospital, improving the lives of more than 600 patients in just two weeks.

    The 30th Medical Brigade and the Burundi National Defence Force executed a medical readiness exercise that placed U.S. providers inside a partner-nation hospital, Aug. 17-28.

    US, SETAF-AF Soldiers validate first Liberian drill sergeant cadre | Aug. 7, 2026

    The mobile training team, or MTT, brought together instructors from multiple organizations, including the Michigan National Guard, the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy, the U.S. Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization, and civil affairs Soldiers from U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF).

    SETAF-AF hosts joint Ghanaian delegation to advance partner drone production | Aug. 3, 2026
    SETAF-AF hosts joint Ghanaian delegation to advance partner drone production
    Ghana Armed Forces representatives inspect a drone during a showcase of unmanned aircraft systems innovation, technical management and production capabilities hosted by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, at the 173rd Mobile Brigade Combat Team’s Bayonet Innovation Team drone lab on Caserma Del Din in Vicenza, Italy, July 22, 2026. The visit gave the Ghanaian delegation a firsthand look at how the U.S. Army designs, builds and maintains small unmanned aircraft at the tactical level, including the brigade’s in-house production. The exchange also advanced a partnership that provides insight into operating drones in extreme heat, informing U.S. system design and supporting readiness and lethality in different environments. The engagement complements the Africa Multidomain Training and Experimentation Center effort in Morocco, a U.S. Africa Command and Morocco initiative to help standardize drone proficiency and shared operational understanding among African nations. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Catessa Palone) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Catessa Palone) View original

    U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa hosted Ghana Armed Forces representatives for a showcase of U.S. unmanned aircraft systems innovation, technical management and production capabilities at Caserma Del Din in Vicenza, Italy, July 21-22.

    The five-member delegation represented Ghana's army, navy and air force, and included leaders and planners ranging from the battalion to branch headquarters. It was the first time Ghanaians visited SETAF-AF to discuss UAS, and the first time Ghanaian officers toured the 173rd Airborne Brigade's Bayonet Innovation Team lab.

  • SETAF-AF Soldiers earn Air Assault wings, strengthen readiness | Sept. 2, 2026

    Eight U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Soldiers earned their Air Assault wings after completing the 10-day Air Assault School at 7th Army Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Aug. 14, 2026.

    Vicenza community tackles Danish Flyver Ruck March | Aug. 27, 2026

    SETAF-AF hosts first Danish Flyver Ruck March at Caserma Del Din. The endurance event challenged participants while promoting physical readiness and camaraderie across the Vicenza military community and offering participants a chance to earn a unique foreign military award. (U.S. Army video by Pfc. Cheshaon Jones)

    SETAF-AF customs program achieves top-tier recognition | Aug. 26, 2026

    The U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) customs and border clearance program supports that mission across the African continent, integrating customs requirements into military movements while strengthening SETAF-AF’s ability to deploy, operate and redeploy forces and equipment. The program, recently inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Operational Protection Directorate customs program was recognized as ranking in the top 5% of programs they evaluated worldwide.

    The U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) customs program recently achieved top-tier recognition by placing in the top 5% of USDA-inspected programs. Spanning across the African continent, the mission integrates crucial border and pre-clearance requirements into everyday military movements. By protecting against agricultural threats and handling prohibited items, the operation strengthens SETAF-AF’s ability to efficiently deploy, operate, and redeploy forces and equipment. (U.S. Army video by Cpl. Garcia)

    [Music licensed through Pixabay, “Ethereal World” by SergePavkinMusic https://pixabay.com/music/ambient-ethereal-world-116585/]

Highlights

  • PARTNERSHIP
    VMC partners with Alpini for annual clean-up
    PARTNERSHIP
  • READINESS
    173rd Airborne Brigade at Saber Junction
    READINESS
  • CRISIS RESPONSE
    US, Nigerian forces strengthen partnership
    CRISIS RESPONSE
  • PEOPLE
    Sgt. 1st Class James Vervaecke talks customs
    PEOPLE

U.S. Soldiers and Family members participate in the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) annual Bring Your Lion Cub to Work Day event held at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, Aug. 14, 2026. The event provided military children an understanding of the day-to-day life of their parent. (U.S. Army video by Pfc. Cheshaon Jones)

[Music licensed through Pixabay, "First Light 22 seconds" by MusicFlies, https://pixabay.com/music.acoustic-group-first-light-22seconds-314892]

Learn more about U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa at https://www.setaf-africa.army.mil.

For the latest #SETAFAfrica news, follow us at https://www.army.mil/africa.

For the latest in Africa, follow U.S. Africa Command online at:

AFRICOM Facebook | AFRICOM Instagram | AFRICOM LinkedIn | AFRICOM X | AFRICOM YouTube

For the latest from U.S. Army Europe and Africa, follow them at:

USArmyEURAF Facebook | USArmyEURAF Instagram | USArmyEURAF LinkedIn | USArmyEURAF YouTube

For local events and news for the Vicenza Military Community, visit The Garrison Outlook.

Follow USAG-Italy online at: USAG-Italy Facebook | USAG-Italy Instagram | USAG-Italy YouTube

Follow AFN Vicenza, 105.3 The Eagle at: AFN-Vicenza Facebook

Archives

  • Issue 1 | July 2026

SETAF-AF leads and participates in multiple exercises every year, including African Lion, U.S. Africa Command's premier exercise on the continent.

Exercises build U.S. and partner militaries' readiness for contingency operations and enable interoperability. These exercises train and test command and control systems, fire and maneuver tactics, and medical techniques for the U.S. and African partner forces.

African Lion

African Lion is a multinational, combined, joint exercise led by U.S. Army's Southern European Task Force, on behalf of U.S. Africa Command.

Photos & Videos

Justified Accord

Justified Accord is U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual joint combined exercise in East Africa. Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) leads this joint, all-domain exercise in East Africa to promote interoperability between participants for peacekeeping operations in East Africa and build partner capacity to disrupt malign influence, aggression, and activity.

Photos & Video

Medical Readiness Exercises (MEDREX Africa)

Medical Readiness Exercises are planned and executed by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) to build partnerships and increase interoperability and strengthen treatment capabilities between the U.S. and African partners. These three-week exercises allow both the U.S. and African military medical personnel to exchange best practices, learn each others' procedures and techniques and result in lasting partnerships between military medical professionals.

Photos & Video

Shared Accord

Exercise Shared Accord, planned and executed by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), is an annual bilateral exercise designed to promote security cooperation and interoperability between the United States and African partners.

About us

SETAF-AF is responsible for coordinating all U.S. Army activities in Africa in support of U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa. U.S Army activities include military readiness exercises across the continent, security force assistance engagements, crisis response and enduring posture support. These activities strengthen partner networks in Africa, build partner capacity against regional and global security threats and provide strategic access for U.S. forces in contingency operations.

Leadership

  • Maj. Gen. Matthew W. Brown
    Commanding General
    Maj. Gen. Matthew W. Brown
  • Brig. Gen. Richard P. Cipro
    Deputy Commanding General - National Guard
    Brig. Gen. Richard P. Cipro
  • Command Sgt. Major Chad B. Harness
    Senior Enlisted Advisor
    Command Sgt. Major Chad B. Harness

Units

  • The 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sky Soldiers) is the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapid forces to the United States European, Africa and Central Commands areas of responsibility. Forward-based in Italy and Germany, the Brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build interoperability and strengthen the Alliance.

    Follow our #SkySoldiers online at DVIDS.

  • The 207th Military Intelligence Brigade (MIB) Theater conducts intelligence analysis, collection, and exploitation in support of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in order to set the intelligence architecture for the theater, disrupt trans-national and trans-regional threats and promote regional stability in Africa while building and maintaining intelligence readiness.

    Follow them online at DVIDS.

Contact Us

This website is maintained by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Public Affairs Office.

SETAF_PAO@army.mil

Media should contact the media branch at setaf_media@army.mil.