African Lion 2024: King awards decorations to senior US military officials
King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, has awarded Royal wissams to US senior military officials.
The Royal wissams were awarded at a ceremony held at the headquarters of the South Zone General Staff in Agadir on Thursday to Army General Michael Langley, Commander of the US Africa Command (US AFRICOM), and to Major General Todd R. Wasmund, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)
Army General Michael Langley was decorated with the Order of Military Merit, “Grand Officer Class”, and Major General Todd R. Wasmund, was decorated with the Order of Military Merit, “Commander Class”.
During the ceremony, attended by US Ambassador to Morocco, Puneet Talwar, Sergeant Michael Woods, AFRICOM Officer of Superior Rank was decorated with the Order of Military Merit, “Knight Class”, and Warrant Officer Heidi Engel, Logistics Planner of the “African Lion 2024” exercise was awarded the medal of Military Merit Order, “Knight Class”.
Speaking at the awarding ceremony, Inspector General of FAR and Commander of the South Zone, Lieutenant General Mohammed Berrid, highlighted the contribution of these American officials to promoting cooperation with FAR.
“By awarding these Royal Wisssams, HM the King is also paying tribute to all those who, from near and far, contribute to the continuity and excellence of Morocco-American relations.”
On the sidelines of the ceremony, the Lieutenant General Mohammed Berrid and Army General Michael Langley inked a memorandum of understanding on the strengthening of military cooperation between FAR and the US Army.
The high-level Moroccan-American military delegation also visited the various departments of the Oued Eddahab military hospital in Agadir.
Subsequently, a photographic exhibition was inaugurated, retracing the highlights of the twenty editions of the combined Moroccan-American African Lion exercise, which has become an unmissable event where military executives come together to exchange procedures and experiences, particularly in terms of combined joint training.
Alongside the Moroccan and American armies, Some 7,000 armed forces personnel from some 20 countries, in addition to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), are taking part in the African Lion 2024 military maneuvers, which end this May 31.
This twentieth edition of “Africain Lion” attests to the enduring nature of the cooperation between FAR and the US Armed Forces, reflecting the strong long-standing ties between the two countries.
