{"id":22058,"date":"2020-03-16T17:00:21","date_gmt":"2020-03-16T17:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/03\/16\/soldiers-in-europe-for-defender-2020-to-return-home-amid-pandemic\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:50:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:50:31","slug":"soldiers-in-europe-for-defender-2020-to-return-home-amid-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/training-sim\/2020\/03\/16\/soldiers-in-europe-for-defender-2020-to-return-home-amid-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Multinational African Lion exercise canceled amid coronavirus outbreak"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

U.S. Africa Command announced Monday that the upcoming, multinational exercise African Lion will be canceled to safeguard against the spread of COVID-19 \u2014 less than a week after the command announced plans to scale back the exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCancellation of this exercise is a preventative measure to ensure U.S. and partner force protection and to alleviate coronavirus concern,\u201d AFRICOM spokesman Air Force Col. Chris Karns told Military Times. \u201cIt does not lessen our resolve to our partners nor our commitment to countering common enemies and threats on the continent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exercise, the largest one organized by U.S. Army Africa, was scheduled to start on March 23 and involve roughly 3,800 U.S. troops from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Additionally, more than 5,000 troops from more than a dozen countries \u2014 including Morocco, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom \u2014 were slated to participate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally, AFRICOM was planning to modify the exercise and eliminate components that required troops to remain in close quarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exercise, which was supposed to occur in Morocco, is designed to foster interoperability among partner nations to counter transnational threats and threats from violent extremist organizations, according to AFRICOM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the exercise\u2019s cancelation, the command has stressed that it will keep working with partner nations to quash threats on the African continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn Africa, we will continue to work together to counter mutual threats and strengthen collective readiness via a collaborative and collective approach,\u201d Karns said. \u201cWhether it is preventing the potential of an infectious disease or preventing the spread of dangerous violent extremist ideologies and activities, cooperation and working together will reduce both in size, scope, and potential to do harm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are more than 150,000 cases of COVID-19 around the world, and more than 5,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The virus has infected multiple service members and dependents stationed worldwide, including a soldier in South Korea, a sailor in Italy, and a Marine in Virginia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soldiers in Europe for Defender 2020 to return home amid pandemic<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. officials are significantly reducing the size and scope of the long-awaited Defender 2020 exercise<\/a> intended to test the Army\u2019s ability to move a division-sized force <\/a>from U.S. seaports to European training grounds this spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exercise included 20,000 soldiers who were meant to conduct training across 10 European countries. Several linked exercises \u2014 Dynamic Front, Joint Warfighting Assessment, Saber Strike and Swift Response \u2014 will no longer be conducted, Army Europe officials said Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Approximately 6,000 soldiers had already deployed from the United States to Europe since January, including a division headquarters and an armored brigade combat team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe anticipate the armored brigade combat team already deployed to Europe will conduct gunnery and other combined training events with Allies as part of a modified Allied Spirit exercise,” Army officials said in a statement. “Forces already deployed to Europe for other linked exercises will return to the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exercise is being curtailed due to the outbreak of the novel form of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, which has made its way through Europe. As of Friday, all movement of personnel and equipment<\/a> from the United States to Europe were suspended.<\/p>\n\n\n\t