Members of Flintlock practice for a parachute drop during Flintlock 17, the largest annual special operations exercise held in the African continent. Flintlock strengthens security institutions, promotes mult More
Brig. Gen. Donald C. Bolduc, commander of Special Operations Command Africa, speaks to the Chadian Army during the opening ceremony of Flintlock 17 Feb. 27, 2017. Flintlock is an annual special operations exerc More
U.S. Army Special Operations soldier scans for the C-130 aircraft during a static line jump and airdrop in N'Djamena, Chad Mar. 4, 2017 as part of Flintlock 17. Flintlock is an annual special operations exerci More
Special Operations Command Africa hosted its first Women’s Leadership Forum on the eve of International Women’s Day in N'Djamena, Chad, Mar. 7, 2017, as a part of Exercise Flintlock 2017. This leadership discu More
Soldiers from the Burkina Faso Army load their gear onto a pallet April 10, 2018 at Diori Hamani International Airport, Niger. Approximately 1,900 service members from more than 20 African and western partner n More
NIAMEY, Niger - Special Operations Command Africa foreign policy advisor Randall Kaailau, speaks with representatives from Nigeria before the start of the Flintlock 2018 Senior Leadership Seminar in Niamey Nige More
Soldiers assigned to the Forces Armees Nigeriennes raise flags in preparation for an opening ceremony for Exercise Flintlock 2018 at the Joint Multinational Headquarters in Agadez, Niger, April 10, 2018. Flintl More
Sgt. Joel a U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment – Alpha communications sergeant in 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) teaches a medical class to the Senegalese Army April 11, 2018, Tahoua, Niger. A More
An Exercise Flintlock opening ceremony was held in Burkina Faso April 12, 2018. Flintlock 2018, hosted by Niger, with key outstations at Burkina Faso and Senegal, is designed to strengthen the ability of key pa More
TAHOUA, Niger - Col. Mohamed Toumba, Zone 4 Commander, Forces Armees Nigeriennes, or FAN, inspects international service members participating in Flintlock 2018 in Tahoua, Niger, April 11, 2018. Flintlock 2018, More
U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Mark, a civil affairs noncommissioned officer, discusses information operations with Maj. Sanogo, an operations officer with the Forces Armees Maliennes during an operational planning exercis More
Soldiers assigned to the Forces Armees Nigeriennes prepare to raise the Nigerien and U.S. flags during an opening ceremony at the Joint Multinational Headquarters for Flintlock 2018 at Agadez, Niger, April 11, More
Dignitaries arrive to the opening ceremony of Flintlock 2018 at Agadez, Niger on 11 April, 2018. Flintlock is an annual, African-led, integrated military and law enforcement exercise that has strengthened key p More
NIAMEY, Niger – Moutari Kalla, Nigerien Minister of Defense, inspects the troops to start off the opening ceremony of Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 11, 2018. Approximately 1,900 service members from mo More
Forces Armées Nigeriennes soldiers conduct close quarters combat training with U.S. Special Forces advisors during Flintlock 2018 April 13, 2018 in Agadez, Niger. Flintlock is an annual, African-led, integrated More
A Senegalese Soldier practices Close Quarters Combat techniques as part of Flintlock 2018 in Tahoua, Niger, April 13, 2018. Flintlock is an annual, African-led, integrated military and law enforcement exercise More
Nigerien soldiers practice urban assault movements while participating in a special forces training exercise during Exercise Flintlock 2018 in Agadez, Niger, April 14, 2018. Flintlock is an annual, African-led, More
Nigerien Armed Forces conduct a convoy movement, key leader engagement and ambush exercise during Flintlock 18 in Niger, Africa April 15, 2018. Flintlock is an annual, African-led, integrated military and law More
U.S. and partner forces simulate detaining a hostile individual for questioning during a Flintlock 18 training exercise in Niger, April 15, 2018. Approximately 1,900 service members from more than 20 African an More
Cameroonian soldiers practice aid and litter techniques as part of an exercise during Flintlock 2018 in Tahoua, Niger, April 16, 2018. Flintlock is an annual, African-led, integrated military and law enforcemen More
A Malian Soldier is awarded U.S. Jump wings on April 16, 2018, Two Malian soldiers jumped with a U.S forces team during a joint Airborne operation that was conducted near Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Approximatel More
A Forces Armees Nigeriennes soldier fixes a blank fire adapter to his AK-47 prior to embarking on a training mission during Exercise Flintlock 2018 at Agadez, Niger, April 17, 2018. Flintlock is an annual, Afri More
U.S. military personnel interact with children at Saint Vincent Orphanage of Niamey during Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 18, 2018. Flintlock is an annual, African-led, integrated military and law enfor More
Nigerien soldiers practice vehicle contact movements while participating in a special forces training exercise during Exercise Flintlock 2018 in Agadez, Niger, April 18, 2018. Flintlock is an annual, African-le More
Nigerien soldiers react to contact during tactical combat casualty care training as part of Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 19, 2018. The soldiers were trained by a team of the U.S. Air Force Special Ope More
Nigerien troops stand in formation prior to the start of the closing ceremony of Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 20, 2018. Flintlock is an annual, African-led, integrated military and law enforcement exe More
Senegalese Soldiers react to contact during training Apri 14,l 2018 at Tahoua during Flintlock 2018. Flintlock 2018, hosted by Niger, with key outstations at Burkina Faso and Senegal, is designed to strengthen More
An Airman from the Ohio Air National Guard's 179th Airlift Wing, marshalls a C-130 aircraft after the day's mission in support of Flintlock 17 military exercise, on Mar. 3, 2017. The Airmen are providing daily More
Soldiers of the Chadian Army raise the flags of partner nations participating in Flintlock 17 during the opening ceremony 17 Feb. 27, 2017. Flintlock is an annual special operations exercise involving more tha More
U.S. Army Special Operations soldiers plus their multinational partners parachute to a drop Zone during a static line jump and airdrop in N'Djamena, Chad Mar. 4, 2017 as part of Flintlock 17. Flintlock is an a More
NIAMEY, Niger - Special Operations Command foreign policy advisor Randall Kaailau, speaks with a Denmark special forces group member during a networking session at the Senior Leadership Seminar for Flintlock 18 More
Soldiers of the Forces Armiees Nigeriennes participate in the opening ceremonies of Flintlock 2018 at Agadez, Niger on 11 April, 2018. Flintlock is U.S. Africa Command's premier and largest annual Special Opera More
Soldiers assigned to the Forces Armees Nigeriennes raise the Nigerien and U.S. flags during an opening ceremony at the Joint Multinational Headquarters for Flintlock 2018 at Agadez, Niger, April 11, 2018. Flint More
TAHOUA, Niger - Col. Mohamed Toumba, Zone 4 Commander, Forces Armees Nigeriennes, or FAN, does a pass and review of the FAN participating in Flintlock 2018 in Tahoua, Niger, April 11, 2018. Flintlock 2018, host More
NIAMEY, Niger – U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Marcus Hicks, commander, Special Operations Command Africa, applauds during the opening ceremony of Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 11, 2018. Approximately 1,900 More
Two Senegalese Soldiers practice applying a tourniquet during a medical class as part of Flintlock 2108 April 11, 2018 in Tahoua, Niger. Approximately 1,900 service members from more than 20 African and western More
1st Sgt. Simon, with the Spanish Naval Special Warfare Force, takes notes alongside Lt. Yerima, with the Nigerian Special Boat Service, during an operational planning exercise at the Joint Multinational Headqua More
Forces Armées Nigeriennes soldiers wait for their turn to conduct close quarters combat training with U.S. Special Forces advisors during Flintlock 2018 April 13, 2018 in Agadez, Niger. Flintlock is an annual, More
Nigerien soldiers practice vehicle contact movements while participating in a special forces training exercise during Exercise Flintlock 2018 in Agadez, Niger, April 14, 2018. Flintlock is an annual, African-le More
U.S. Soldiers role play for detainee operations during a Flintlock 2018 training exercise with partner forces in Niger, April 15, 2018. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Nikia Harvey/Released)
Amb. Andrew Young, U.S. Ambassador to Burkina Faso, completes a tandem jump with partner nation during airborne operations held as part of Exercise Flintlock 2018 16, 2018 in Burkina Faso. Approximately 1,900 s More
Soldiers of the Belgium Special Operations Surgical Team render aid to a casualty as part of an exercise during Flintlock 2018 in Tahoua, Niger, April 16, 2018. Flintlock, hosted by Niger, with key outstations More
A Forces Armees Nigeriennes soldier clears an area in a training mission during Exercise Flintlock 2018 at Agadez, Niger, April 17, 2018. Flintlock is an annual, African-led, integrated military and law enforce More
A U.S. military member plays soccer with a child at Saint Vincent Orphanage of Niamey during Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 18, 2018. Flintlock, hosted by Niger, with key outstations at Burkina Faso and More
Nigerien soldiers react to contact as part of tactical combat casualty care training during of Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 19, 2018. The soldiers were trained by a team of the U.S. Air Force Special More
Col. Maj. Sani Mahamane Laminou, Flintlock Exercise Director, speaks during the closing ceremony of Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 20, 2018. Approximately 1,900 service members from more than 20 African More
Aircraft maintainers from the Ohio Air National Guard's 179th Airlift Wing, prepare their C-130 aircraft for the next day's mission in support of Flintlock 17 military exercise, on Mar. 3, 2017. The Airmen are More
Soldiers of the Chadian Army raise the flags of partner nations participating in Flintlock 17 during the opening ceremony Feb. 27, 2017. Flintlock is an annual special operations exercise involving more than 20 More
NIAMEY, Niger - Maj. Gen. Marcus Hicks, commander, Special Operations Command Africa, speaks with leaders from partner nation military leaders at the Flintlock 2018 Senior Leadership Seminar in Niamey Niger Apr More
Airmen from the West Virginia Air National Guard load pallets onto a C-130H Hercules April 10, 2018 at Diori Hamani International Airport, Niger. Approximately 1,900 service members from more than 20 African an More
Soldiers assigned to the Forces Armees Nigeriennes raise flags in preparation for an opening ceremony for Exercise Flintlock 2018 at the Joint Multinational Headquarters in Agadez, Niger, April 10, 2018. (U.S. More
Nigerien and American flags are raised at the opening ceremony of Flintlock 2018 at Agadez, Niger on 11 April, 2018. Flintlock is U.S. Africa Command's premier and largest annual Special Operations Forces exercise.
NIAMEY, Niger – Nigerien Col. Maj. Sani Mahamane Laminou, Flintlock Exercise Director, speaks during the opening ceremony of Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 11, 2018. Flintlock, hosted by Niger, with key More
U.S. Air Force Col. William K. Uhrag, director of communications for Special Operations Command Africa, speaks about the importance of interoperability between African and western militaries during an opening c More
A Nigerien Soldier poses for a photo during the Flintlock 2018 opening ceremony in Niamey, Niger April 11, 2018. Flintlock 2018, hosted by Niger, with key outstations at Burkina Faso and Senegal, is designed to More
TAHOUA, Niger - Col. Mohamed Toumba, Zone 4 Commander, Forces Armees Nigeriennes, or FAN, does a pass and review of the Nigerian detachment participating in Flintlock 2018 in Tahoua, Niger, April 11, 2018. Flin More
A Senegalese soldier applies a tournequet to Staff Sgt. Spencer a U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment – Alpha medical sergeant in 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) April 11, 2018 in Tahoua, Niger. More
A U.S. Special Operations Soldiers observes as a Senegalese Soldier shoots during close quarters battle training April 14, 2018 at Tahoua, Niger. Approximately 1,900 service members from more than 20 African an More
A Nigerien asks a question about urban assault tactics while participating in a special forces training exercise during Exercise Flintlock 2018 in Agadez, Niger, April 14, 2018. Flintlock is an annual, African- More
Nigerien Armed Forces provide overwatch security with a heavy machine gun with 20th Special Forces Group during Flintlock 2018 in Niger, Africa April 16, 2018. Flintlock 2018, hosted by Niger, with key outstat More
U.S. and partner forces conduct a search on a simulated enemy casualty during a react to contact scenario for a Flintlock 18 training exercise in Niger, 16 April 2018. Dynamic training exercises allow partner More
A member of the Burkinabe free fall team lands in front of local villagers after airborne operations conducted during Flintlock 2018 in Burkina Faso April 16, 2018. Flintlock is U.S. Africa Command's premier an More
Forces Armees Nigeriennes soldiers evacuate a casualty in a training mission during Exercise Flintlock 2018 at Agadez, Niger, April 17, 2018. Flintlock is an annual, African-led, integrated military and law enf More
Niger Soldiers conduct a simulated mounted patrol during exercise Flintlock in Agadez, Niger, April 18, 2018. (U.S. Army Photo by Pfc Eric Holman)
A U.S. military member interacts with orphans at Saint Vincent Orphanage of Niamey during Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 18, 2018. Approximately 1,900 service members from more than 20 African and weste More
A Nigerien soldier posts security while conducting tactical combat casualty care training during of Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 19, 2018. The soldiers were trained by a team of the U.S. Air Force Spe More
U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Marcus Hicks, commander, Special Operations Command Africa, gives remarks during the closing ceremony of Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 20, 2018. Flintlock, hosted by Niger, wit More
Soldiers of the Chadian Army raise the flags of partner nations participating in Flintlock 17 during the opening ceremony 17 Feb. 27, 2017. Flintlock is an annual special operations exercise involving more than More
Colonel Jean Paul Besse, the France's Operation Barkhane's medical directorate chief of staff, welcomes multinational attendees at the 1st Military Medical Symposium in N'djamena, Chad, on Mar. 1, 2017. The thr More
A C-130 aircraft from the Ohio Air National Guard's 179th Airlift Wing, sits on the flightline after a mission in support of Flintlock 17 military exercise, on Mar. 3, 2017. The C-130 and it's crew are providin More
NIAMEY, Niger - Special Operations Command foreign policy advisor Randall Kaailau, speaks with a Belgium special forces group member during a networking session at the Flintlock 2018 Senior Leadership Seminar i More
A loadmaster from the West Virginia Air National Guard watches the engines during startup April 10, 2018 at Diori Hamani International Airport, Niger. Approximately 1,900 service members from more than 20 Afric More
NIAMEY, Niger – Amb. Eric Whitaker, U.S. Ambassador to Niger, gives a speech during the opening ceremony of Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 11, 2018. Flintlock is an annual, African-led, integrated milit More
Col. Oumarou Aboubacar, commander of Zone 2, Forces Armees Nigeriennes, thanks Nigerien and partner forces for helping bring stability to Niger during an opening ceremony at the Joint Multinational Headquarters More
Senegalese soldiers practice treating chest wounds during a medical class as a part of Flintlock 2018, April 11, 2018 in Tahoua, Niger. Approximately 1,900 service members from more than 20 African and western More
TAHOUA, Niger - Col. Mohamed Toumba, Zone 4 Commander, Forces Armees Nigeriennes, or FAN, gives a speech to the dignitaries who attended the Tahoua opening ceremony for Flintlock 2018 in Tahoua, Niger, April 11 More
Col. Oumarou Aboubacar, Commander of Zone , Forces Armees Nigeriennes speaks at the opening ceremony of Flintlock 2018 in Agadez, Niger on 11 April, 2018. Approximately 1,900 service members from more than 20 A More
U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha Soldiers in 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) train Senegal Soldiers on how to clear a room in a glass house during Flintlock 2018 in Tahoua, Niger, April More
Nigerien Armed Forces conduct key leader engagement training with 20th Special Forces Group during Flintlock 2018 in Niger, Africa April 16, 2018. Flintlock 2018, hosted by Niger, with key outstations at Burki More
Soldiers of the Belgium Special Operations Surgical Team provide treatment to a casualty as part of an exercise during Flintlock 2018 in Tahoua, Niger, April 16, 2018. Approximately 1,900 service members from m More
Forces Armees Nigeriennes soldiers advane on a notional enemy position in a training mission during Exercise Flintlock 2018 at Agadez, Niger, April 17, 2018. Flintlock is an annual, African-led, integrated mili More
A U.S. military member shows an young boy how to use a camera at Saint Vincent Orphanage of Niamey during Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 18, 2018. Flintlock is an annual, African-led, integrated militar More
Nigerien soldiers carry a casualty as part of a tactical combat casualty care training exercise during of Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 19, 2018. The soldiers were trained by a team of the U.S. Air For More
Moutari Kalla, Nigerien Minister of Defense, speaks during the closing ceremony of Flintlock 2018 in Niamey, Niger, April 20, 2018. Approximately 1,900 service members from more than 20 African and western part More
A soldier in the Chadian Army stands with his country flag, Feb.27, 2017, during the opening ceremony of Flintlock 17. Flintlock is an annual special operations exercise involving more than 20 nation forces th More