U.S. Airmen begin African Lion humanitarian efforts

Utah Air National Guard and active duty airmen have partnered with the Moroccan military to provide medical care at a surgical field hospital set up for humanitarian civic assistance during African Lion 2021.


"This is a great opportunity for both the Moroccans and the U.S. to work together for the betterment of the Moroccan citizens." - Lt. Col. Bingham
By Tech. Sgt. Annie Edwards Southern European Task Force Africa Tafraoute, Morocco Jun 14, 2021
View Gallery
fallback
Gallery contains 3 images

Utah Air National Guard and active duty airmen partnered with the Moroccan military to provide medical care at a surgical field hospital set up for humanitarian civic assistance during African Lion 2021.

The hospital, operating through June 17, will provide general medical care, level 2 surgical and dental care, as well as several specialties including cardiology, ear, nose, and throat, optometry, pediatrics, orthopedics, gynecology, and dermatology. The field hospital also includes a pharmacy and offers public health and social services.

“This is a great opportunity for both the Moroccans and the U.S. to work together for the betterment of the Moroccan citizens,” said Lt. Col. Todd Bingham, ground commander for the U.S element of the medical portion of African Lion 2021. “It gives us an opportunity to come and assist by providing the best health care we can.”

The humanitarian mission allows the military care providers to work with their Moroccan counterparts while serving civilians that may otherwise have difficulty receiving some types of medical care due to remote locations or lack of access within their community.

“This gives all of our providers and medics experience working in an austere environment and the opportunity to treat different things that they may not have seen before,” said Capt. Dan Eicher, Utah Air National Guard State Partnership Program coordinator.

Eicher said the collaboration with Moroccan medical care providers is an important opportunity for the Air National Guard providers to learn from individuals’ expertise in different areas.

Senior Airman Hannah Potter, a dental technician with the 419th Fighter Wing, said she was very excited about participating in the exercise and “it is really neat to see how appreciative people are of the dental care.”

“The best part is getting to interact with different people and hear their stories and appreciate all the different backgrounds,” said Potter.

African Lion 2021 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 21 is a multi-domain, multi-component, and multinational exercise, which employs a full array of mission capabilities with the goal to strengthen interoperability among participants and to support the U.S. National Defense Strategy.

More in Readiness
USS Hershel “Woody” Williams arrives in Tema, Ghana
The U.S. and Ghana share a strong history of promoting maritime peace and stability in the Gulf of Guinea. The Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary sea base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) arrived in Tema, Ghana for a routine port visit, Oct. 2, 2023.
Read more
Communications directorate keeps HOA connected
The Expeditionary Communications Directorate’s overall mission is to provide the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa with the best advice on equipment and capability while advancing cyber defense, and joint and coalition interoperability. This enables the joint force to develop, maintain, and strengthen strategic access, influence, operations, and regional security throughout East Africa.
Read more
U.S. Africa Command Hosts the 2023 Strategic Religious Affairs Conference
U.S. Africa Command held its annual strategic religious affairs conference at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, from Aug. 15-17, 2023. Chaplains and their Senior Enlisted Religious Affairs Advisors joined from U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) Service Component Commands, U.S. National Guards State Partnership Program, Department of State, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. European Command.
Read more
More in Readiness
USS Hershel “Woody” Williams arrives in Tema, Ghana
The U.S. and Ghana share a strong history of promoting maritime peace and stability in the Gulf of Guinea. The Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary sea base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) arrived in Tema, Ghana for a routine port visit, Oct. 2, 2023.
Read more
Communications directorate keeps HOA connected
The Expeditionary Communications Directorate’s overall mission is to provide the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa with the best advice on equipment and capability while advancing cyber defense, and joint and coalition interoperability. This enables the joint force to develop, maintain, and strengthen strategic access, influence, operations, and regional security throughout East Africa.
Read more
U.S. Africa Command Hosts the 2023 Strategic Religious Affairs Conference
U.S. Africa Command held its annual strategic religious affairs conference at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, from Aug. 15-17, 2023. Chaplains and their Senior Enlisted Religious Affairs Advisors joined from U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) Service Component Commands, U.S. National Guards State Partnership Program, Department of State, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. European Command.
Read more
More in Readiness
USS Hershel “Woody” Williams arrives in Tema, Ghana
The U.S. and Ghana share a strong history of promoting maritime peace and stability in the Gulf of Guinea. The Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary sea base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) arrived in Tema, Ghana for a routine port visit, Oct. 2, 2023.
Read more
Communications directorate keeps HOA connected
The Expeditionary Communications Directorate’s overall mission is to provide the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa with the best advice on equipment and capability while advancing cyber defense, and joint and coalition interoperability. This enables the joint force to develop, maintain, and strengthen strategic access, influence, operations, and regional security throughout East Africa.
Read more
U.S. Africa Command Hosts the 2023 Strategic Religious Affairs Conference
U.S. Africa Command held its annual strategic religious affairs conference at Kelley Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, from Aug. 15-17, 2023. Chaplains and their Senior Enlisted Religious Affairs Advisors joined from U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) Service Component Commands, U.S. National Guards State Partnership Program, Department of State, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. European Command.
Read more