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Approximately 80 Idaho Army National Guard Soldiers with the 1st Battalion of the 148th Field Artillery Regiment, along with counterparts from several states to include California, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin are training with the Royal Moroccan Army in the northern Sahara Desert as part of African Lion ’22. Idaho’s battalion, from the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team and headquartered in Pocatello, left the United States June 18 for the two-week exercise overseas with the international partner. Idaho Soldiers spent the first week preparing for the combined arms live-fire multinational mission that is the primary focus of the second week and conducted annual crew certification on the M109A6 Howitzer. During the exercise, the battalion provided ground support with preparatory and destructive fires, as well as obscuration using white smoke fires. At the end of the two-week exercise, the Idaho National Guard and the four counterpart states will conduct the combined arms live-fire multinational mission with Moroccan forces.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 6Show Caption +Hide Caption –
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing over Morocco during Exercise African Lion 2021, June 18, 2021. KC-135s support fighter aircraft in the creation of a safe, stable and secure Africa.
African Lion is U.S. Africa Command's largest, premier, joint, annual exercise hosted by Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal, 7-18 June. More than 7,000 participants from nine nations and NATO train together with a focus on enhancing readiness for U.S. and partner nation forces. African Lion is a multi-domain, multi-component, and multi-national exercise, which employs a full array of mission capabilities with the goal to strengthen interoperability among participants. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph Barron)
(Photo Credit: Airman 1st Class Joseph Barron, U.S. Air Force)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 6Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Approximately 80 Idaho Army National Guard Soldiers with the 1st Battalion of the 148th Field Artillery Regiment, along with counterparts from several states to include California, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin are training with the Royal Moroccan Army in the northern Sahara Desert as part of African Lion ’22. Idaho’s battalion, from the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team and headquartered in Pocatello, left the United States June 18 for the two-week exercise overseas with the international partner. Idaho Soldiers spent the first week preparing for the combined arms live-fire multinational mission that is the primary focus of the second week and conducted annual crew certification on the M109A6 Howitzer. During the exercise, the battalion provided ground support with preparatory and destructive fires, as well as obscuration using white smoke fires. At the end of the two-week exercise, the Idaho National Guard and the four counterpart states will conduct the combined arms live-fire multinational mission with Moroccan forces.
(Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Becky Vanshur, U.S. Army)VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 6Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Senegalese Armed Forces (SAF) soldiers move in formation to breach and clear a room during African Lion 22 in Dodji, Senegal, June 25, 2022. African Lion 22 is U.S. Africa Command’s largest, premier, joint, annual exercise hosted by Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia, June 6-30. More than 7,500 participants from 28 nations and NATO train together with a focus on enhancing readiness for U.S. and partner nation forces. AL22 is a joint all-domain, multi-component and multinational exercise, employing a full array of mission capabilities with the goal to strengthen interoperability among participants and set the theater for strategic access.
(Photo Credit: Cpl. Zachary Myers, U.S. Army)VIEW ORIGINAL5 / 6Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Marines, soldiers and Tunisian Armed Forces advance through a valley at a rehearsal for a live-fire exercise as a part of African Lion 22 in the Ben Ghilouf Training Area, Tunisia, June 23, 2022. African Lion 2022 is U.S. Africa Command's largest, premier, joint, annual exercise hosted by Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia, June 6 - 30. More than 7,500 participants from 28 nations and NATO train together with a focus on enhancing readiness for U.S. and partner nation forces. AL22 is a joint all-domain, multi-component, and multinational exercise, employing a full array of mission capabilities to strengthen interoperability among participants and set the theater for strategic access.
(Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Brandon Jacobs, U.S. Army)VIEW ORIGINAL6 / 6Show Caption +Hide Caption –
The Royal Moroccan Navy fregate Sultan Moulay Ismai and the guided missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) dock during a port visit for distinguished visitors of African Lion 2022 to Agadir, Morocco, June 28, 2022. AL22 is U.S. Africa Command's largest, premier, joint, combined annual exercise hosted by Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia, June 6 - 30. More than 7,500 participants from 28 nations and NATO train together with a focus on enhancing readiness for U.S. and partner-nation forces. AL22 is a joint all-domain, multi-component, and multinational exercise, employing a full array of mission capabilities with the goal to strengthen interoperability among participants and set the theater for strategic access.
(Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Katie Theusch, U.S. Army)VIEW ORIGINAL
VICENZA, Italy — 18 nations and approximately 8,000 personnel will participate in African Lion 2023, U.S. Africa Command's largest annual combined, joint exercise that will take place in Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia from May 13-June 18, 2023.
“Our collective ability to bring like-minded nations together for an exercise like this is truly impressive,” said Maj. Gen. Joel Tyler, United States Africa Command chief of staff. “African Lion is the centerpiece of the AFRICOM exercise strategy, and one of the greatest U.S. exercises across the globe.”
AL23 provides an opportunity to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative readiness training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands including U.S. Africa Command, U.S. European Command, and U.S. Central Command; as well as strategic maritime choke points and global shipping lanes.
This year’s exercise features multiple combined arms live-fire exercises; a maritime exercise; an air exercise with U.S. C-130J Super Hercules, KC-135 Stratotanker, F-16 Fighting Falcons and bomber aircraft; a joint forcible entry with paratroopers into a field training exercise; two chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear response exercises; and three humanitarian civic assistance program events.
SETAF-AF establishes the exercise’s combined joint task force headquarters, integrating AFRICOM components and international partners to provide mission command across the training enterprise. U.S. participants come from across the joint force including the Reserves and National Guard.
AFRICOM sponsored exercises bolster partnerships between African, U.S. and other international militaries, increasing interoperability during crisis and operations to increase security and stability in the region. Exercise African Lion strengthens shared defense capabilities and cooperation to counter transnational threats and violent extremist organizations.
All media inquiries and coverage requests should be sent to SETAF-AF public affairs at setaf_pao@army.mil.
SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.
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