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U.S. Army Southern European Task
U.S. Army Cpt. Tyler Christ, a fires advisor assigned to the 4th Battalion, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB), provides instruction during the academics portion of African Lion 2025 (AL25) at Agadir, Morocco, May 9, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Aaliyah Craven)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Aaliyah Craven
Photo 2 of 12
U.S. Army Southern European Task
A Royal Moroccan soldier briefs Soldiers at the noncommissioned officer (NCO) development workshop during African Lion 2025 (AL25,) in Agadir, Morocco, May 12, 2025. NCO development strengthens leadership, decision-making and adaptability, ensuring enlisted leaders are prepared to meet the dynamic challenges of future operations. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. Altered for security purposes. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Daniel Alejandro Luna)
Photo by: Sgt. Daniel Luna
Photo 3 of 12
U.S. Army Southern European Task
U.S. Army Cpt. Saira Sumbal, a civil affairs planner assigned to the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion, 352nd Civil Affairs Command, provides instruction during the academics portion of African Lion 2025 (AL25) at Agadir, Morocco, May 9, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Aaliyah Craven)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Aaliyah Craven
Photo 4 of 12
U.S. Army Southern European Task
U.S. Army Warrant Officer Washington Dustin, a network operation technician assigned to the Army Reserve Cyber Protection Brigade, leads a defensive cyber operations classroom discussion during African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Agadir, Morocco, May 9, 2025. This defensive cyber operations course equips personnel with the skills to detect, counter and mitigate cyber threats, ensuring operational security and resilience in future missions. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Aaliyah Craven)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Aaliyah Craven
Photo 5 of 12
U.S. Army Southern European Task
U.S. Army and Royal Moroccan soldiers pose for a photo after a noncommissioned officer (NCO) development workshop during African Lion 2025 (AL25) at Agadir, Morocco, May 12, 2025. NCO development strengthens leadership, decision-making and adaptability, ensuring enlisted leaders are prepared to meet the dynamic challenges of future operations. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Daniel Alejandro Luna)
Photo by: Sgt. Daniel Luna
Photo 6 of 12
U.S. Army Southern European Task
A U.S. Army Soldier provides instruction during a noncommissioned officer (NCO) development workshop at African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Agadir, Morocco, May 12, 2025. NCO development strengthens leadership, decision-making and adaptability, ensuring enlisted leaders are prepared to meet the dynamic challenges of future operations. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Daniel Alejandro Luna)
Photo by: Sgt. Daniel Luna
Photo 7 of 12
U.S. Army Southern European Task
Royal Moroccan Armed Forces soldiers brief during the noncommissioned officer (NCO) development workshop during African Lion 2025 (AL25,) in Agadir, Morocco, May 12, 2025. NCO development strengthens leadership, decision-making and adaptability, ensuring enlisted leaders are prepared to meet the dynamic challenges of future operations. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. Altered for security purposes. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Daniel Alejandro Luna)
Photo by: Sgt. Daniel Luna
Photo 8 of 12
U.S. Army Southern European Task
U.S. Army Capt. Christopher Wintterle, a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) hazards and defenses officer assigned to 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade, leads a joint targeting academics class during African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Agadir, Morocco, May 9, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Aaliyah Craven)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Aaliyah Craven
Photo 9 of 12
U.S. Army Southern European Task
U.S. Army Maj. Donald Auray, an executive officer assigned to the 4th Battalion, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB), provides instruction during the academics portion of African Lion 2025 (AL25) at Agadir, Morocco, May 9, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Aaliyah Craven)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Aaliyah Craven
Photo 10 of 12
U.S. Army Southern European Task
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Daniel Cederman, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), presents a certificate of completion to a Royal Moroccan Armed Forces soldier at a noncommissioned officer (NCO) development workshop during African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Agadir, Morocco, May 12, 2025. NCO development strengthens leadership, decision-making and adaptability, ensuring enlisted leaders are prepared to meet the dynamic challenges of future operations. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. Altered for security purposes. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Daniel Alejandro Luna)
Photo by: Sgt. Daniel Luna
Photo 11 of 12
U.S. Army Southern European Task
A Royal Moroccan soldier gives a brief during a noncommissioned officer (NCO) development workshop at African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Agadir, Morocco, May 12, 2025. NCO development strengthens leadership, decision-making and adaptability, ensuring enlisted leaders are prepared to meet the dynamic challenges of future operations. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Daniel Alejandro Luna)
Photo by: Sgt. Daniel Luna
Photo 12 of 12
U.S. Army Southern European Task
U.S. Army Capt. Christopher Wintterle, a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) hazards and defenses officer assigned to 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade, leads a joint targeting academics class during African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Agadir, Morocco, May 9, 2025. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Aaliyah Craven)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Aaliyah Craven
AGADIR, Morocco — With more than 300 partner nation military students and 19 unique warfighting courses underway, the African Lion 2025 (AL25) academics program builds a formidable intellectual foundation for U.S. and partner forces ahead of the continent’s largest annual military exercise.
The two-week academic phase, led by U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Jimmy Richter, AL25 academics coordinator assigned to Marine Corps Advisor Company Alpha, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve, takes place across nine classroom nodes centered in Agadir, Morocco. The curriculum includes instruction in public affairs, cyber defense, operational logistics and joint planning.
This is all designed to sharpen interoperability between U.S., African and European military partners before the larger live training events begin.
“This program emphasizes the strength of our partnerships, formal and informal, across the region,” Richter said. “Over the past eight months, we’ve co-developed 19 warfighting-focused courses alongside our Moroccan partners. These classes don’t just build knowledge; they feed directly into the planning and execution of African Lion, reinforcing interoperability where it matters most.”
A notable course of this year’s instruction is the defensive cyber operations course, which drew participants from multiple partner nations. The class introduces students to emerging cyber threats in Africa and best practices for safeguarding operational networks.
“Teaching threat hunting in a foreign environment was a blast to say the least,” said U.S. Army Warrant Officer 1 Washington Dustin, a network operation technician assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve Cyber Protection Brigade, U.S. Army Cyber Command. “People from all backgrounds had a healthy understanding of how we all share the same battle in cyberspace.”
Another key focus is joint targeting and joint planning, two areas which directly enable the command post exercise (CPX) and broader operational integration during AL25’s field phase. These lessons are more than theoretical; they are designed for immediate application in the days to follow.
“I’ve been very privileged to have the opportunity to teach and learn from our foreign partners in joint targeting academics, which synchronizes our effort for the combined planning exercise during AL25,” said U.S. Army Capt. Christopher Wintterle, a chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear (CBRN) officer, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade.
The joint planning process, or planning exercise (PLANEX), begins immediately after the academic phase concludes. There, students will apply what they learned in simulated scenarios, acting as integrated planning teams addressing notional regional threats.
“I think we have the benefits of understanding and integrating into military planning that can provide support to the mission,” said British Army Capt. Daniel Cherodian, an engagement officer assigned to 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade, 1st United Kingdom Division. “Ultimately that planning will support the force and achieve mission objectives.”
African Lion is more than a tactical readiness exercise—it’s an investment in long-term regional security.
“The relationships forged in the classroom are the same ones we’ll rely on in future operations,” concluded Richter. “That’s why it’s so critical we invest in shared learning.”
About African Lion
AL25 is set to be the largest annual military exercise in Africa, bringing together over 40 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win.
