From left to right, U.S. Army Sgt. William Larson, civil affairs team medic, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Hill, civil affairs team sergeant, U.S. Army Capt. Dru Simpson, civil affairs team leader, and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Tyrone Thompson, civil affairs sergeant, all assigned to the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), pose for a photo with Luana Pereira, a public affairs representative with U.S. Embassy Dakar, Senegal, during an engagement with the Forças Armadas Revolucionárias do Povo (FARP), the Armed Forces of Guinea Bissau, in Bissau, Sept. 2, 2024. The engagement was the introduction to a two-week civil-military operations course to familiarize the FARP with civil-military operations. (U.S. Army photo courtesy 478th Civil Affairs Battalion)
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BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau – U.S. Army civil affairs teams are working to strengthen partnerships and foster cooperation with African military forces across the continent. One such team, comprised of U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, has been embedded with Guinea-Bissau’s Forças Armadas Revolucionárias do Povo (FARP), collaborating on multiple civil affairs initiatives.
From left to right, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Hill, U.S. Army Capt. Dru Simpson, U.S. Army Sgt. William Larson and Staff Sgt. Tyrone Thompson, all assigned to the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), pose for a photo with Guinea-Bissau military leaders and hospital staff during a tour of the military hospital in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Sept. 2, 2024. The team discussed ways to improve civil-military medical operations in the region. (U.S. Army photo courtesy 478th Civil Affairs Battalion)
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Led by U.S. Army Capt. Dru Simpson, civil affairs team leader assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), the team worked alongside the FARP through community-based projects aimed at enhancing stability and building relationships.
U.S. Army Sgt. William Larson, civil affairs team medic, and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Tyrone Thompson civil affairs sergeant, both assigned to the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), participate in first-aid training with Guinea-Bissau soldiers in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Sept. 2, 2024. The training focused on improving combat casualty care and medical response capabilities. (U.S. Army photo courtesy 478th Civil Affairs Battalion)
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“These missions go beyond traditional military operations,” said Simpson. “We’re building relationships and fostering trust, not just with our counterparts in the military but with the communities we work with. It’s about providing support that has a lasting impact.”
Members of the Forças Armadas Revolucionárias do Povo (FARP), the Armed Forces of Guinea-Bissau, exchange gifts with civil affairs soldiers assigned to the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Tyrone Thompson, Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Hill, U.S. Army Capt. Dru Simpson, and U.S. Army Sgt. William Larson, in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Sept. 2, 2024. The gift exchange followed a successful civil-military engagement, highlighting the strong partnership between the two nations. (U.S. Army photo courtesy 478th Civil Affairs Battalion) (U.S. Army photo courtesy 478th Civil Affairs Battalion)
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Their recent efforts in Guinea-Bissau included medical readiness exercises, humanitarian activities and joint training sessions. In collaboration with the FARP, the team coordinated healthcare initiatives and training designed to strengthen local forces’ capacity to respond to health emergencies.
“This mission brings together our training and hands-on experience, blending strategic and practical elements to find effective solutions in diverse settings,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Tyrone Thompson, a civil affairs sergeant assigned to SETAF-AF. “Working with our FARP partners has underscored the importance of flexibility and cultural awareness in achieving shared goals.”
The team’s activities have not only provided immediate assistance but have also established frameworks for future cooperation.
“As a medic, it’s rewarding to see the direct impact we can have, both in providing care and equipping our partners to sustain these efforts long-term,” said U.S. Army Sgt. William Larson, the team’s medic.
The variety of civil affairs missions in Africa requires a high degree of adaptability, according to U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Hill, the team’s senior non-commissioned officer.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of this deployment has been adapting to the unique challenges and opportunities of each region. Working in Guinea-Bissau has shown how essential flexibility and cultural understanding are to mission success,” explained Hill.
From left to right, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Hill, civil affairs team sergeant, U.S. Army Capt. Dru Simpson, civil affairs team leader, U.S. Army Sgt. William Larson, civil affairs team medic, and Staff Sgt. Tyrone Thompson, civil affairs team sergeant, all assigned to the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), gather for a photo with members of the Guinea-Bissau Armed Forces at the conclusion of a civil-military operations engagement. The training fostered collaboration between the U.S. and Guinea-Bissau military forces. (U.S. Army photo courtesy 478th Civil Affairs Battalion)
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Deployed for a nine-month rotation, the team operates throughout Africa, conducting civil affairs activities that support SETAF-AF’s theater security cooperation initiatives. By collaborating with African military forces, the civil affairs team strengthens local capabilities, promotes regional security and reinforces partnership-based approaches across the continent.
From left to right, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Hill, civil affairs team sergeant, U.S. Army Sgt. William Larson, civil affairs team medic, Staff Sgt. Tyrone Thompson, civil affairs team sergeant and U.S. Army Capt. Dru Simpson, civil affairs team leader, all assigned to the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)pose for a photo with members of the Guinea-Bissau Armed Forces at the conclusion of a Civil Affairs Operations training in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Sept. 2, 2024. The training fostered collaboration between the U.S. and Guinea-Bissau military forces. (U.S. Army photo courtesy 478th Civil Affairs Battalion)
(Photo Credit: PHILIP REGINA)VIEW ORIGINAL
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.
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