Photo By Maj. Joe Legros | U.S. Army Lt. Col. Travis Michelena, center, the theater support team chief assigned...... read more read more
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GABES, Tunisia – A stevedore shouted over the diesel hum of cranes as the first storage container was lifted out of the cargo ship and onto Tunisian soil. For the untrained eye, it may have looked like just another port delivery. But for the Soldiers and civilians waiting at the port of Gabes, it marked the start of something much bigger.
This was the opening move in setting the theater for exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25).
Without the shipment of 95 pieces of cargo, including vehicles, equipment and weapon systems, the exercise would be dead in the Mediterranean water.
“We’re not just moving cargo; we’re enabling the entire exercise to happen,” said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dustin VanFleet, a mobility officer assigned to the 839th Transportation Battalion, 598th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, U.S. Transportation Command.
Along with setting the theater, VanFleet also set the record straight. A stevedore, he clarified, is a longshoreman who works at a port and is responsible for moving goods on and off ships.
“We’re the first ones in,” VanFleet explained. “Before troops land or vehicles roll, we’re on the ground establishing the logistical foundation that allows the rest of the force to operate. That’s how we set the theater.”
This does not happen overnight.
Setting the theater is a strategic concept that goes beyond logistics. It means having an adaptable and agile military with the infrastructure, agreements and relationships in place to shape conditions for successful Army, joint and combined operations. The combined force in Gabes validated those capabilities in a real-world environment.
“This is my first time participating in African Lion and working with the Tunisians. It’s been a seamless process allowing for the clearance of cargo at a rapid pace,” said VanFleet.
The Portuguese-flagged vessel, BBC Bergen, arrived to a welcome-party of Italians, Americans and Tunisians, highlighting the multinational effort involved. The Bergen's journey took two and a half days across the Mediterranean from Livorno, Italy, and all 95 pieces - including shipping containers filled with equipment, trailers, water purification systems, air defense vehicles and M119 howitzers - were offloaded in less than a day and a half.
Multiple units joined the 839th Transportation Battalion’s offloading effort, including Soldiers assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), the 79th Theater Sustainment Command, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (1-57 ADAR) and the 240th Composite Supply Company (240th CSC) – all there to ensure a successful offloading process.
Two members of the 1-57 ADAR accompanied the crew of the Bergen on its voyage from Italy. The escort is a requirement anytime sensitive U.S. military equipment, dubbed ‘super cargo,’ is transported on a foreign-flagged vessel.
“Without the port operation, nothing downstream moves forward,” said VanFleet.
This first port operation in Tunisia set the foundation for the broader SETAF-AF-led African Lion exercise, showcasing the U.S. Army’s ability to operate in complex environments. Gabes was simply the first stop.
Immediately after offloading, equipment was loaded onto Tunisian Armed Forces vehicles and transported to exercise locations throughout the country.
The 839th Transportation Battalion is unique compared to most Army units. Along with Soldiers, it also employs two U.S. Army civilians and up to 10 local nationals per detachment. During port operations, the assigned detachment leads contract responsibilities, documentation and cargo handling, while the battalion sends military leadership to provide command oversight.
"Utilizing our local nationals is a huge asset," said VanFleet. "Some individuals have been doing this for more than 30 years. Their knowledge of the area of operations and relationships with host-nation authorities are critical to mission success."
In the first months of 2025 alone, the battalion supported missions in Poland, Turkey, Greece, Tunisia, Italy and Croatia, with additional deployments planned throughout the year.
“It's vital we keep exercising these ports and working with our partners,” said VanFleet. “It allows everyone to create that muscle memory that only makes our relationships stronger.”
AL25, U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual exercise, brings together more than 10,000 troops from over 40 nations to enhance interoperability and strengthen multinational readiness. But before the first formation steps into the training area, port operations like the one in Gabes must succeed.
Every stevedore handshake and each offloaded vehicle contributes to the larger picture: the ability to quickly and efficiently project lethality anywhere, anytime.
About the 839th Transportation Battalion
The 839th supports both U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, functioning as the single port manager for U.S. military cargo entering and exiting strategic seaports in both theaters. Its responsibilities include staging, reception, onward movement, customs clearance, agricultural inspections and overall integration of DoD assets at ports of embarkation and debarkation.
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.
| Date Taken: | 04.10.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.25.2025 09:02 |
| Story ID: | 496052 |
| Location: | GABES, TN |
| Web Views: | 100 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Stevedores, Soldiers set stage for successful African Lion 2025, by MAJ Joe Legros, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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