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US and Moroccan forces deliver medical care to 10,000 during African Lion 25

  • Published
  • By Maj. Marie Denson
  • 151st Wing

ANZI, Morocco - U.S. joint forces worked alongside the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR) at the humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) field hospital from May 11 to 23, 2025, to positively impact the health and well-being of local communities near Anzi, Morocco. During that time, medical personnel from both nations provided free healthcare services to approximately 10,000 local residents. 

“This has been one of the most diverse groups that we've brought to African Lion. We have members from 37 different units, and they are absolutely stellar,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Micah Smith, HCA commander. “They bring an amount of medical expertise that has really benefited the population from dermatology, cardiology, pulmonology, all kinds of subspecialties that they would not have a chance to see here.”

The HCA was conducted as part of African Lion 25 (AL25), the largest annual military exercise in Africa. Exercises like AL25 are made possible by the contributions of U.S. military components worldwide. Active duty members, guardsmen, and reservists participate in the HCA portion of the exercise. 

Participating units include multiple service members from the Utah Air and Army National Guard, as well as Headquarters – Florida Air National Guard, Womack Army Medical Center – North Carolina, 31st Dental Squadron – Aviano Air Base in Italy, 75th Medical Group – Hill Air Force Base in Utah, 104th Medical Group – Massachusetts Air National Guard, 116th Medical Group Detachment One – Georgia Air National Guard, 119th Medical Group – North Dakota Air National Guard, 121st Medical Group – Ohio Air National Guard, 124th Medical Group – Idaho Air National Guard, 129th Medical Group – California Air National Guard Base, 132nd Wing – Iowa Air National Guard, 134th Medical Group – Tennessee Air National Guard, 136th Medical Group – Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Texas, 137th Special Operations Medical Group – Oklahoma Air National Guard, 147th Medical Group – Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Texas, 148th Medical Group – Minnesota Air National Guard, 153rd Medical Group – Wyoming Air National Guard Base, 166th Medical Group – Delaware Air National Guard, 169th Intelligence Squadron – Fort Meade in Maryland, 185th Medical Group – Iowa Air National Guard Base, 190th Air Refueling Wing – Kansas Air National Guard Base, 193rd Special Operations Medical Group Detachment One – Pennsylvania Air National Guard, 932nd Medical Group – Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command – Italy. 

These units exemplify that the U.S. military has a commitment to building strong military relationships with our allies and partners.

“We gathered individuals from various units. It has been wonderful to see everyone collaborate and work as a cohesive team,” said Master Sgt. Alan Stettler, HCA First Sgt. “This mission is quite fulfilling and could easily become the highlight of some of their careers.”

The HCA field hospital incorporated several specialties, to include dentistry, dermatology, internal medicine, pediatrics, optometry, ophthalmology, laboratory, cardiology, orthopedics, emergency medicine, family medicine, general surgery, gynecology, radiology, and pharmacy.

This event represents the Utah National Guard and U.S. joint forces’ commitment to supporting local Moroccan communities through direct medical care, while further reinforcing strategic military partnership with the FAR. 

“Our relationship with Morocco is one of the oldest that the United States has. Morocco is the first country to recognize the United States, and our partnership is over 20 years old with our state partnership,” said Capt. Andrew Edtl, Lead Planner, African Lion HCA 2025. “Morocco is a key player on the African continent, and our close ties with Morocco as a major non-NATO ally is further strengthened through our participation in this event each year as a major component in the African Lion exercise.”

The 151st Air Refueling Wing medical group, Utah Air National Guard, has led, planned, and coordinated the HCA piece of African Lion for the last 21 years. This mission builds on the enduring relationship between Utah and Morocco through the National Guard State Partnership Program, which began in 2003. Since its inception, the partnership has supported ongoing joint training, knowledge sharing, and humanitarian efforts. 

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Visit the DVIDS Feature page to see more photos and videos for African Lion 25 here -> https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/MDGAL25