AfricanLion

About African Lion

African Lion 25 is U.S. Africa Command's largest, premier, annual exercise, hosted across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia. This joint, all-domain, multi-component, and multinational exercise includes more than 10,000 participants from more than twenty nations, including contingents from NATO. African Lion aims to strengthen interoperability among participants and build readiness to respond to crises and contingencies in Africa and around the world.

The exercise will include a command post exercise, field training exercises, a live-fire demonstration, and humanitarian civic assistance program events. Additionally, humanitarian civic assistance missions will feature a combination of medical, dental and veterinary assistance and exchanges across Morocco, Ghana and Senegal.

Click here for the African Lion Photos, News and Video

African Lion 25 Announcment

African Lion Images

MORE PHOTOS

Press Information

All news, photos and videos from African Lion is available for download on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.
All products are public domain and can be used by media outlets. You can search without an account, to download you'll need to create a free account.

Videos

Video by Capt. Jennifer French

2-503rd Infantry Regiment: A Legacy of Airborne Excellence

173rd Airborne Brigade

Feb. 1, 2025 | 2:54

The 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), known as "The Rock," has a distinguished history rooted in the airborne legacy of the U.S. Army. Originally part of the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), the unit made history in World War II with a combat jump into New Guinea in 1943 and a pivotal assault on Corregidor Island in 1945, earning a Presidential Unit Citation. Reactivated in 1963 under the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate), 2-503rd became the first major U.S. Army unit deployed to Vietnam. In 1967, elements of the battalion conducted the war’s only combat parachute jump during Operation Junction City. Over six years of fierce combat, Sky Soldiers of 2-503rd earned numerous commendations, including multiple Medals of Honor, before the unit’s deactivation in 1972.

Reactivated in 2000 as part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Vicenza, Italy, 2-503rd has since served in multiple global conflicts. In 2003, it executed a combat parachute jump into Iraq during Operation Northern Delay, marking a key moment in the Iraq War. The battalion later shifted focus to Afghanistan, deploying in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2012, engaging in some of the most intense battles of Operation Enduring Freedom, including the Battle of Wanat. Today, stationed in Italy, 2-503rd remains a highly capable airborne force, prepared to deploy anywhere at a moment’s notice, continuing the storied legacy of the Sky Soldiers.

The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance.

(Video by Capt. Jennifer French)

Recording(s) "Shattered Crown" by Infected (3:27)
Individual Youtube Creator / Podcaster
Clients No client or brand/company work
Distributions Standard Coverage - Web / Social Media (Up to 1 million subscribers), Podcast (Up to 10k monthly
downloads)