U.S. Army Master Sgt. Bisi Akindele, senior healthcare noncommissioned officer, 352nd Civil Affairs Command, distributes personal hygiene items to students in Damongo, Ghana, May 17, 2024, as part of a medical civic action program (MEDCAP) during African Lion 2024 (AL24). The MEDCAP provides an opportunity for US and partner nations to build relationships with local communities by providing medical care, treatment and supplies. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents.
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U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. John Hirnyk, civil affairs team chief, 4th Civil Affairs Group, Force Headquarters Group, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, interacts with a child at a medical civic action program (MEDCAP) event held during African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Damongo, Ghana, May 17, 2024. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents.
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An elementary school teacher watches members of the 352nd Civil Affairs Command and the Ghana Armed Forces distribute public health supplies to her students during a medical civic action program (MEDCAP) as part of African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Damongo, Ghana, May 17, 2024. The MEDCAP provides an opportunity for US and partner nations to build relationships with local communities through medical care, treatment and supplies. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents.
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U.S. Army Maj. Amber Morton-Chism, public health nurse, U.S. Army Health Clinic Vicenza, Italy, gives students deworming medicine at a local elementary school in Damongo, Ghana, May 17, 2024, during a medical civi action program (MEDCAP) during African Lion 2024 (AL24). The MEDCAP provides an opportunity for US and partner nations to build relationships with local communities by providing medical care, treatment and supplies. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents.
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U.S. Army Soldiers from the 352nd Civil Affairs Command and U.S. Marines from the 4th Civil Affairs Group, Force Headquarters Group, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, partnered with the Ghana Armed Forces in a visit to a local elementary school to distribute public health supplies during a medical civic action program (MEDCAP) as part of African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Damongo, Ghana, May 17, 2024. The MEDCAP provides an opportunity for US and partner nations to build relationships with local communities by providing medical care, treatment and supplies. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents.
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U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. John Hirnyk, civil affairs team chief, 4th Civil Affairs Group, Force Headquarters Group, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, high-fives elementary students before they receive public health supplies during a medical civic action program (MEDCAP) event held as part of African Lion 2024 (AL24). AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents.
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U.S. Army Soldiers from the 352nd Civil Affairs Command and U.S. Marines from the 4th Civil Affairs Group, Force Headquarters Group, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, partnered with the Ghana Armed Forces in a visit to a local elementary school to distribute public health supplies during exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Damongo, Ghana, May 17, 2024. The visit was part of a medical civic action program (MEDCAP) to provide medical care and supplies to local communities. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents.
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U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Erinayo Soniregun, 4th Civil Affairs Group, Force Headquarters Group, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, interacts with elementary students as they receive public health supplies from the 352nd Civil Affairs Command and Ghana Armed Forces during a medical civic action program (MEDCAP) event held as part of African Lion 2024 (AL24). The MEDCAP provides an opportunity for US and partner nations to build relationships with local communities by providing medical care, treatment and supplies. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents.
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U.S. Army Maj. Elizabeth Contreras, physician assistant, 352nd Civil Affairs Command, consults with a translator from the Ghana Navy and a patient during the medical civic action program (MEDCAP) event as part of exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24), in Damongo, Ghana, May 17, 2024. African Lion 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents.
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Members of the Ghana Armed Forces socialize during the medical civic action program (MEDCAP) event held as part of exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24), in Damongo, Ghana, May 17. 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents.
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A nurse and member of the Ghana Navy sit outside of the medical civic action program (MEDCAP) event held as part of exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24), in Damongo, Ghana, May 17, 2024. African Lion 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents.
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A Ghana Armed Forces soldier controls traffic during the medical civic action program (MEDCAP) event held as part of exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Damongo, Ghana, May 17, 2024. African Lion 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents.
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U.S. Army Maj. Amber Morton-Chism, a public health nurse with U.S. Army Health Center Vicenza, Italy, consults with a translator and patient during the medical civic action program (MEDCAP) event held as part of exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24), in Damongo, Ghana, May 17, 2024. African Lion 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents.
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DAMONGO, Ghana — As exercise African Lion 2024 unfolds across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia, U.S. Army Soldiers and Marines conducted humanitarian work with lasting impact.
From May 17-18, a civil affairs team from U.S. Southern European Task Force, Africa joined civil affairs personnel from the 4th Civil Affairs Group, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, in partnership with the Ghana Armed Forces for a medical civil action program in the remote town of Damongo.
The medical civil action program, or MEDCAP, was part of AL24, marking the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s largest, annual, combined military exercise focused on enhancing readiness with African partner nations. With over 8,100 participants from 27 countries, the massive exercise integrates contingency operations and humanitarian assistance.
Leading the effort was U.S. Army Maj. Jennifer Stachura, civil affairs team leader, 437th Civil Affairs Battalion, 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, 352nd Civil Affairs Command. Stachura’s team partnered with Ghana’s military to deliver desperately needed health care.
“Our mission strengthened the well-being of an underserved community,” Stachura said. “Combining our expertise with Ghana’s forces allowed us to make a lasting impact.”
At Saint Anne’s Hospital, the local clinic in Damongo, the joint team provided consultations, screenings, treatments and education on hygiene and healthy practices.
A local woman receives care during the medical civic action program (MEDCAP) event held as part of exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24), in Damongo, Ghana, May 17, 2024. African Lion 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents.
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Members of the Ghana Armed Forces hand out supplies and medicine to patients during the medical civic action program (MEDCAP) event held as part of exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24), in Damongo, Ghana, May 17. 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Caitlinn Belcher)
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Local patients arrive at the medical civic action program (MEDCAP) event hosted by the 352nd Civil Affairs Command during exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Damongo, Ghana, May 17, 2024. African Lion 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents.
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As an Army reservist blending military and civilian medical skills, Stachura used her background as a nurse to directly improve lives.
“It was a privilege to use my nursing training for this humanitarian service,” she said.
Damongo residents face high rates of malaria, malnutrition and poor maternal care. For two days, the MEDCAP was a rare source of hope amidst these public health challenges.
“We didn’t just treat symptoms,” said U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. John Hirnyk, civil affairs team chief, 4th Civil Affairs Group, Force Headquarters Group, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve. “We empowered the community with tools for healthier lives, sowing seeds of long-term change.”
Joining forces with the SETAF-AF civil affairs team, Marines from the 4th Civil Affairs Group were inspired by the results of the MEDCAP.
“Working alongside the Ghana Armed Forces and our Army counterparts has been an incredible experience,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Michael Aniton, detachment commander, 4th Civil Affairs Group. “The cooperation and shared commitment to improving lives have been truly inspiring.”
U.S. Army Master Sgt. Bisi Akindele, senior healthcare noncommissioned officer, 352nd Civil Affairs Command, added, “Being part of this mission has shown me the profound impact we can have. It’s about building trust and making a real difference.”
A Damongo community leader, who requested anonymity, expressed profound gratitude, saying, “the mission of collaboration devoted to improving lives gives us hope.”
About African Lion
2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Army Africa Command’s premier and largest annual, combined, joint exercise African Lion. This year’s exercise will take place April 19 through May 31 and is hosted across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia with more than 8,100 participants from over 27 nations and contingents from NATO. African Lion 24 focuses on enhancing readiness between the U.S. and partner nation forces. This joint all-domain, multi-component, and multinational exercise, employs a full array of mission capabilities with the goal to strengthen interoperability among participants and set the theater for strategic access.
African Lion content can be found on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS).
About SETAF-AF
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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