USAFRICOM response force keeps skills sharp

By Maj. Cain ClaxtonFebruary 22, 2022

USAFRICOM response force hones skills
Soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade's 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, conduct the North and West Africa Response Force Mission Readiness Exercise at Aviano Airbase, Italy, Feb. 19, 2022. The exercise tested the no-notice deployment capability of the U.S. Africa Command's North and West Africa Response Force, made up of elements of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and Southern European Task Force, Africa from Vicenza, Italy, U.S. Marines and service members from the U.S. Air Force's 37th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Semaj Johnson) VIEW ORIGINAL

VICENZA, Italy -- Members of the U.S. Africa Command’s North and West Africa Response Force conducted a series of crisis response training exercises in multiple locations throughout Italy, Feb. 16-20.

Soldiers of the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) and U.S. Army Southern European Task Force-Africa joined with U.S. Marines from Naval Air Station Sigonella, and U.S. Airmen from Aviano to improve crisis response capabilities.

The NARF supports USAFRICOM requirement to respond to crises and contingencies on a moment's notice in North and West Africa. Regular exercises ensure the joint team's capability to marshal and deploy with a scalable force package in support of U.S. persons, facilities and interests in Africa.

USAFRICOM response force practices skills
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade's 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, conduct the North and West Africa Response Force Mission Readiness Exercise at Aviano Airbase, Italy, Feb. 19, 2022. The exercise tested the no-notice deployment capability of the U.S. Africa Command's North and West Africa Response Force, made up of elements of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and Southern European Task Force, Africa from Vicenza, Italy, U.S. Marines and service members from the U.S. Air Force's 37th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Semaj Johnson ) VIEW ORIGINAL
USAFRICOM response force hones skills
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Marine Corps C-130 crew from Naval Air Station Sigonella and Soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade's 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, conduct the North and West Africa Response Force Mission Readiness Exercise at Aviano Airbase, Italy, Feb. 19, 2022. The exercise tested the no-notice deployment capability of the U.S. Africa Command's North and West Africa Response Force, made up of elements of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and Southern European Task Force, Africa from Vicenza, Italy, U.S. Marines and service members from the U.S. Air Force's 37th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Semaj Johnson) VIEW ORIGINAL

The training included water survival drills in Vicenza; air load and transit operations in Aviano and in Sicily with Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps air assets.

Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines of the NARF routinely conduct crisis and contingency response exercises both in Europe and Africa, improving joint operational capability across a variety of mission sets.

Learn more about SETAF-AF at: https://www.setaf-africa.army.mil/

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