Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Solomon Navarro | VICENZA, Italy – U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps personnel participate...... read more read more
Subscribe
VICENZA, Italy — U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), hosted a pre-exercise planning event at Caserma Del Din Nov. 18 to Nov. 22, bringing together U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps elements to refine joint planning and coordination in preparation for exercise Judicious Response 2025, a multinational crisis-response exercise scheduled for next year.
The event provided a critical opportunity for participants to sharpen their crisis action planning skills in a structured yet dynamic environment.
"Judicious Response -2 provided an exceptional opportunity for field grade leaders to develop their crisis action planning competency," said U.S. Army Col. Ranjini Danaraj, director of operations, SETAF-AF. "This exercise allowed us to baseline the staff on expectations for how we organize, analyze and present in an effective manner."
The pre-exercise also emphasized the critical role of integrating capabilities across the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps to strengthen joint crisis-response strategies. For the Navy, the focus was on maritime operations, ensuring the security of surrounding waters to support potential evacuation efforts.
“This event highlights the strength of our joint force, combining maritime, air and ground capabilities to prepare for complex scenarios,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Emmanuel Ehima, U.S. Navy Europe and Africa under the Sixth Fleet.
Ehima underscored the importance of joint collaboration in refining operational plans and ensuring readiness for real-world crises.
SETAF-AF’s strategic role in fostering joint force cooperation was central to the event, reflecting its position as a cornerstone of U.S. Africa Command’s mission. Acting as a liaison among service components, SETAF-AF provides the logistical and operational frameworks necessary to synchronize efforts across the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
“These foundations are critical to unified responses in Africa, particularly through exercises like Judicious Response,” said U.S. Army Maj. Elijah Lloyd, a planning officer with SETAF-AF. “Working together with our sister services during the pre-exercise ensures we are aligned and ready to operate as a cohesive joint force headquarters.”
The pre-exercise event showcased the importance of joint force collaboration in addressing complex global challenges. By refining planning and coordination, SETAF-AF and its partners have laid the groundwork for a successful Judicious Response 2025, demonstrating the strength of integrated U.S. military capabilities in ensuring regional stability and readiness.
Danaraj also emphasized the value of the intellectual challenge and urgency inherent in crisis situations, noting the tangible outcomes and constructive feedback the team experienced during the event.
"I try to emphasize with the team that the majority of what I've done the last 10 years of my career are crisis operations, so being able to manage this process at the pace of relevancy is a professional imperative," she said. "More often than not, there are tangible results and feedback on the outcomes of your efforts, and I think the team experienced that in a very constructive environment last week."
About exercise Judicious Response
Exercise Judicious Response is a U.S. Africa Command-led multinational crisis-response exercise designed to enhance operational readiness, strengthen defense partnerships and improve joint force integration. Initially conducted as a command post exercise in Stuttgart, Germany, Judicious Response has evolved to include live planning and operational components, with its first African iteration in 2019. The exercise prepares U.S. and allied forces to respond to complex scenarios, such as political instability or humanitarian crises, while fostering cooperation among partner nations and military services.
About SETAF-AF
SETAF-AF serves as a dedicated headquarters under U.S. Africa Command, coordinating Army activities across Africa to enhance regional stability and provide scalable crisis response options.
| Date Taken: | 12.02.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 12.19.2024 10:17 |
| Story ID: | 486397 |
| Location: | VICENZA, IT |
| Web Views: | 29 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, SETAF-AF, joint forces prepare for exercise Judicious Response 2025, by SFC Solomon Navarro, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
