Images

Members of the U.S. Army and Ethiopian National Defense Force introduce themselves before the opening ceremony for the field training exercise portion of Justified Accord 2019 at the Hurso Training Center near Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, July 16, 2019. Justified Accord is an annual combined, joint exercise designed to strengthen partnerships, increase interoperability and enhance the capability and capacity of international participants to promote regional security and support peacekeeping operations for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Aubry Buzek)

Members of the Ethiopian National Defense Force and the U.S. Army salute during their respective national anthems during the opening ceremony for the field training exercise portion of Justified Accord 2019 at the Hurso Training Center near Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, July 16, 2019. Justified Accord is an annual combined, joint exercise designed to strengthen partnerships, increase interoperability and enhance the capability and capacity of international participants to promote regional security and support peacekeeping operations for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Aubry Buzek)

Members of the Ethiopian National Defense Force and U.S. Army color guards prepare to present the national flags during the opening ceremony for the field training exercise portion of Justified Accord 2019 at the Hurso Training Center near Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, July 16, 2019. Justified Accord is an annual combined, joint exercise designed to strengthen partnerships, increase interoperability and enhance the capability and capacity of international participants to promote regional security and support peacekeeping operations for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Aubry Buzek)

Members of the local and international media participate in a press conference during the opening ceremony of exercise Justified Accord 2019 at the Peace Support Training Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, July 15, 2019. JA19 is a U.S. Army Africa-led exercise designed to enhance the capacity and capability of participating international staff and forces in peacekeeping operations in support of the African Union Mission in Somalia. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ian Valley)

U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Michael Raynor, left, and Brig. Gen. Lapthe C. Flora, the U.S. Army Africa deputy commanding general and co-director for exercise Justified Accord 2019, second from right, meet leaders of the Ethiopian National Defense Force before the opening ceremony of exercise Justified Accord 2019 at the Peace Support Training Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, July 15, 2019. JA19 is a U.S. Army Africa-led exercise designed to enhance the capacity and capability of participating international staff and forces in peacekeeping operations in support of the African Union Mission in Somalia. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ian Valley)

Leaders from the Ethiopian National Defense Force, the U.S., and other global partners posed for a group photo following the opening ceremony of exercise Justified Accord 2019 at the Peace Support Training Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, July 15, 2019. JA19 is a U.S. Army Africa-led exercise designed to enhance the capacity and capability of participating international staff and forces in peacekeeping operations in support of the African Union Mission in Somalia. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ian Valley)

U.S. Army Medical Professionals inspect a patient’s x-ray during Medical Readiness Exercise 19-3 at Accra, Ghana, June 10, 2019. MEDREX 19-3 allows U.S. forces to train in an alternatively resourced environment, share medical practices, and build lasting relationships with Ghanaian medical professionals. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Craig Jensen)

During the Command Senior Enlisted Leaders program at the African Land Forces summit 2019, Senior NCOs conducted a site visit at the Botswana Defence Force NCO development school on a military base in Gaborone, Botswana, June 25, 2019.

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Charles Hooper, Defense Security Cooperation Agency director (Left), U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Vincent Santiago, senior enlisted advisor at the DSCA (middle), and Warrant Officer Elijah Koranga, Kenya Defense Force, share a laugh during the African Land Forces Summit 2019 in Gaborone, Botswana, June 24, 2019. ALFS is a four-day seminar that brings together land forces chiefs from across Africa to discuss topics of common interest.

The mobility section of U.S. Army Africa (USARAF), G4, holds U.S. Army Africa Transportation forum in Garmisch, Germany, June 11-13.

USARAF, G4, is hosting an Africa Transportation forum in Garmisch, Germany June 11-13. Forum presenters are offering training and logistical insight on how to best move cargo into Africa to U.S. Army Africa Command, U.S. Army Africa, U.S. Army Europe, U.S. Naval Forces Command, and U.S. Air Force Service members, and more than a dozen other influential civilian or foreign commercial carriers.

"I joined the military to serve. My great grandpa, grandpa, dad, step-dad, and mother all served and I felt it was my obligation to serve as they did for our country. Now the Army is MY family and I love everyday I spend in it," U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jimmy Podolak, 774th Ordnance Company (EOD), Fort Riley, Kansas. Photo: Improvised Explosive Device Defeat training, May 5-30, 2019, Makurdi Nigeria.

"I joined the military to serve. My great grandpa, grandpa, dad, step-dad, and mother all served and I felt it was my obligation to serve as they did for our country. Now the Army is MY family and I love everyday I spend in it," U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jimmy Podolak, 774th Ordnance Company (EOD), Fort RIley, Kansas. Photo: Improvised Explosive Device Defeat training, May 5-30, 2019, Makurdi Nigeria.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brian Miller, left, explosive ordnance technician, from the 774th Ordnance Company (EOD), Fort Riley, Kansas, begins the Improvised Explosive Device Defeat training lane with a block of instruction May 30, 2019, at the Nigerian Army School of Military Engineers in Makurdi, Nigeria. The U.S. Army Africa-led training strengthens partner networks and builds partner capacity in the fight against threats from violent extremist organizations.

Brig. Gen. Eric Folkestad, U.S. Army Africa deputy commanding general, Army Reserve Engagement Cell Director, hosts a breakfast for all USARAF National Guard and Reserve Soldiers at the dining facility on Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy, May 23, 2019. Brig. Gen. Folkestad brought USARAF National Guard and Reserve Soldiers together to exchange ideas and develop a strong working relationship.

"I joined the military because my family has a history of military service. My father was my role model and he served in the Air Force. This is my dream job, I really love it." -Maj. Jessica E. Borowicz, U.S. Army Africa west region desk officer

Chaplain (Maj.) Matthew D. Madison, the U.S. Army Africa operations chaplain, right, leads a small group discussion with the Gambia Armed Forces chaplains during an event held April 23-26, 2019, at the Gambia Pastoral Institute in Banjul, Gambia. (U.S. Army photo)

U.S. Soldiers assigned to the East Africa Response Force (EARF) and Soldiers assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry Regiment, New Jersey Army National Guard, both deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), depart a C-130J Hercules assigned to the 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, CJTF-HOA, during an emergency deployment response exer-cise at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 1, 2019. The EARF provides a broad range of rapidly de-ployable military capabilities to protect American interests on the African continent should any threat arise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas Grimes)

"My father and his father both served before me, so I wanted to continue the family tradition and follow in their footsteps." -U.S.Army SPC Christopher Alexander, USARAF all-wheel mechanic.

Kristen Clark, Eric Doro and Sarah Galvin, the 2018 U.S. Army Africa Emerging Enterprise Leader participants, meet on Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, Italy, April 30, 2019, to discuss the positive effects the program has had on their civilian careers. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Gaelen Lowers)

#WhyWeServe Wednesday " I serve to get a great experience for my civilian career, all while providing for my family in Nairobi, Kenya." -Spc Obadiah Okari U.S. Army Africa, Headquarter Support Company all-wheel mechanic

U.S. Army Civil Affairs Team 4034 conducts human rights and law training prepared by the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies with the Cameroonian military in Garoua, Cameroon, on May 6, 2019. This military exchange strengthens partner capacity, increases #readiness and facilitates dialogue about human rights.

U.S. Army and Senegalese military pose for a group photo to highlight the strong partnership between the two countries at Hospital Military De Ouakam, Senegal, during Medical Readiness Exercise 19-2 closing ceremony, April 25, 2019. Medical Readiness Exercises provide a real-world environment where medical professionals from both militaries can build and strengthen medical treatment capability and capacity by honing their medical skills in alternative conditions while also learning different protocols from their counterparts. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Craig Jensen)

Tunisian Land Forces Soldiers arrive in Fort Polk, Louisiana to participate in a Joint Readiness Training Center exercise on March 30. This is the TLF's third rotation at JRTC and the largest African contingent to attend. JRTC provides military forces with multi-echelon training in a decisive action exercise environment to enable capabilities across the range of military operations and increase force readiness.

"I serve for my family. Both my father and my brother served, and our bond is stronger because of our shared experience."- U.S. Army Capt. Brian Andries, public affairs officer, 79th Theater Sustainment Command, Los Alamitos, California.

U.S. Army Africa dedicated the Current Operations Integration Center to Mr. David P. Gunderson on Caserme Del Din on April 17, 2019. Gunderson served as a supervisory operations specialist and a critical member of U.S. Army Africa for over five years. The COIC is instrumental in protecting U.S. personnel and facilities within Africa.

U.S. Army and Senegalese military medical professionals build and strengthen medical treatment capability and capacity during MEDREX 19-2 at Hospital Military De Ouakam, Senegal. USARAF is scheduled to conduct five MEDREXs this year to enhance readiness of U.S. Army medical professionals, reinforce interoperability between countries, and strengthen the capacity of participating military and civilian medical personnel.

A Zambian soldier talks through troop positioning with 1st Lt. Elijah Taulbee, 101st Airborne Div. 2nd Brigade, U.S. Army Africa regionally aligned force (RAF) training advisor, during an ambush response scenario. ZAMBATT V, the fifth iteration of troops from the country of Zambia to deploy in support of the United Nation’s Multidimensional Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), spent more than six weeks working with U.S., U.K., and French partners training and preparing for their mission to Central African Republic. U.S. Army Africa is providing military observer coach and trainer team mentors to the Zambian Defense Force (ZDF) at the Zambian Army Nanking Peace Mission Training Center (PMTC) near Lusaka, Zambia. (U.S. Navy Photo by MC2 (SW/AW) Evan Parker)

A Zambian soldier talks through troop positioning with 1st Lt. Elijah Taulbee, 101st Airborne Div. 2nd Brigade, U.S. Army Africa regionally aligned force (RAF) training advisor, during an ambush response scenario. ZAMBATT V, the fifth iteration of troops from the country of Zambia to deploy in support of the United Nation’s Multidimensional Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), spent more than six weeks working with U.S., U.K., and French partners training and preparing for their mission to Central African Republic. U.S. Army Africa is providing military observer coach and trainer team mentors to the Zambian Defense Force (ZDF) at the Zambian Army Nanking Peace Mission Training Center (PMTC) near Lusaka, Zambia. (U.S. Navy Photo by MC2 (SW/AW) Evan Parker)

A U.S. Soldier with 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, trains with members of the Moroccan special operations forces’ 2nd Airborne Brigade on the Mark 19 40 mm grenade machine gun during a live-fire portion of the field training exercise during exercise African Lion 2019, in Tifnit, Morocco, March 26, 2019. African Lion 2019 is an annual, combined multilateral exercise designed to improve interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation’s tactics, techniques, and procedures while demonstrating the strong bond between the nations’ militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Atiyeh)

AFRICOM executed ‘New Normal’ crisis management procedure.

"Serving gives me a sense of pride. All of the men in my family have served in previous conflicts. Continuing to serve is a sense of respect and honor to them." U.S. Army Africa Lt. Col. Kenneth O'Neal, MEDREX and exercise planner, surgeon cell.

The imagery has played out on the small screen for years. U.S. Army recruiting commercials featuring Soldiers running toward those in need – ready and able to help.

U.S. Army Africa Commanding General Maj. Gen. Roger Cloutier introduces new USARAF Deputy Commanding General Brig. Gen. Eric Folkestad during the quarterly training at Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, Italy, March 1, 2019. For Brig. Gen. Folkestad's full bio, visit: https://www.usaraf.army.mil/leaders/deputy-commanding-general-army-reserve-engagement-cell-director

"I serve because I feel fulfilled and I think no matter what you do in the military, the smallest job to the largest you are truly contributing. It's rewarding to wear this uniform." -U.S. Army Africa CPT Sarah Schneider, G4 logistics officer

Members of African partner nations and U.S. Service members work together this week at the Initial Planning Event for Shared Accord 2019, February 12, 2019, in Kigali, Rwanda. Shared Accord is a joint, combined exercise designed to improve the interoperability and capabilities of the participating military, police, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations to respond to UN and African Union-mandated peacekeeping operations.

Members of African partner nations and U.S. Service members work together this week at the Initial Planning Event for Shared Accord 2019, February 12, 2019 in Kigali, Rawanda. Shared Accord is a joint, combined exercise designed to improve the interoperability and capabilities of the participating military, police, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations to respond to UN and African Union-mandated peacekeeping operations. #SA19 #Readiness

MG Roger Cloutier, USARAF commanding general, hosted senior leaders from U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), The National Guard State Partnership Program, U.S. Department of State, USAID, and allied nation partners for the 2019 Senior Leader Strategy Session Feb. 6-8. Cloutier stressed the importance of what he described as "stacking overlays," by deconflicting, coordinating and synchronizing mutual activities in Africa. "Ultimately it comes down to enduring relationships," Cloutier said.

MG Roger Cloutier, USARAF commanding general, hosted senior leaders from U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), The National Guard State Partnership Program, U.S. Department of State, USAID, and allied nation partners for the 2019 Senior Leader Strategy Session Feb. 6-8. Cloutier stressed the importance of what he described as "stacking overlays," by deconflicting, coordinating and synchronizing mutual activities in Africa. "Ultimately it comes down to enduring relationships," Cloutier said. #Partnership #Allies #StatePartnershipPorgram