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Utah National Guard’s State Partnership Program brings healthcare to underserved Moroccan people

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Utah National Guard’s State Partnership Program brings healthcare to underserved Moroccan people










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Service members from the State Headquarters Medical Readiness Detachment (MRD), Utah Army National Guard (UTARNG) and Moroccan Royal Armed Forces provide ophthalmological care to civilians at a field hospital during African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Akka, Morocco, May 25, 2024. The Utah National Guard has been partners with Morocco through the Department of Defense State Partnership Program for 21 years and led the effort to partner with the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces for a humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) operation during African Lion 2024 (AL24). The HCA event enables U.S. military personnel to work with their Moroccan counterparts to provide medical services to civilian populations who may lack access to medical care, while improving the operational readiness of participating service members. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Trenton Pallone)
(Photo Credit: Spc. Trenton Pallone)

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Utah National Guard’s State Partnership Program brings healthcare to underserved Moroccan people








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Moroccan Royal Armed Forces provide ophthalmological care to civilians at a field hospital during African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Akka, Morocco, May 25, 2024. The Utah National Guard has been partners with Morocco through the Department of Defense State Partnership Program for 21 years and led the effort to partner with the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces for a humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) operation during African Lion 2024 (AL24). The HCA event enables U.S. military personnel to work with their Moroccan counterparts to provide medical services to civilian populations who may lack access to medical care, while improving the operational readiness of participating service members. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Trenton Pallone)
(Photo Credit: Spc. Trenton Pallone)

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Back to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

AKKA, Morocco – The State Headquarters Medical Readiness Detachment (MRD), Utah National Guard (UTNG), based in Bluffdale, Utah and Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces (FAR) worked together to provide medical services to residents in Akka, Morocco, and the surrounding area, during African Lion 2024 (AL24).

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These services fall under the umbrella of humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) operations, in which the U.S. military conducts activities in one of four categories to promote the security interests of the U.S. and the participating nation while improving the operational readiness of participating service members.

“The HCA is an event that we’ve put on for the last 20 years,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mark Evans, officer-in-charge of the MRD. “We go to remote areas with limited access to medical care and, in conjunction with our Moroccan counterparts, build a hospital out of nothing. The hospital is quite advanced given the conditions.”

HCA events occur throughout the year, but this iteration coincided with the largest military exercise in Africa.

AL24 is U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, featuring over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the exercise series and the Utah National Guard’s state partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco. The National Guard began its State Partnership Program in 1993 and has grown to include 92 partnerships with 106 nations.

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Utah’s initial partnership was with the Republic of Belarus; however, that agreement came to an end in 2003. Beginning the same year, Utah transitioned to its current relationship with Morocco, bringing forth the first of many HCA programs.

With the help of FAR medical soldiers and Moroccan civilian medical professionals, Utah’s MRD provides services such as cardiology, dental surgery, lab work, X-ray services and more to hundreds of Moroccan people. Translators are assigned one or two service providers to help relay the needs of the patients and suggestions from the Moroccan specialist to the Soldiers handling their care.

“Everyone comes out a winner in this,” Evans said. “For the Moroccan people with limited healthcare, they have all of their medical concerns addressed in a timely manner. And for the military – both from Morocco and the U.S. – this is a chance to actually exercise what we do when conducting combat missions or humanitarian support elsewhere in the world.”

Keeping the field hospital running also comes with its fair share of challenges.


Moroccan Royal Armed Forces, Utah National Guard set up a field hopsital during African Lion 2024




Moroccan Royal Armed Forces and the State Headquarters Medical Readiness Detachment (MRD), Utah National Guard, set up a field hopsital during African Lion 2024 (AL24) to treat civilians in Akka, Morocco, May 25, 2024. The Utah National Guard has been partners with Morocco through the Department of Defense State Partnership Program for 21 years and led the effort to partner with the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces for a humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) operation during African Lion 2024 (AL24). The HCA event enables U.S. military personnel to work with their Moroccan counterparts to provide medical services to civilian populations who may lack access to medical care, while improving the operational readiness of participating service members. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Trenton Pallone)
(Photo Credit: Spc. Trenton Pallone)

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U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Robert Stevens, the senior enlisted advisor to Evans, said that Akka’s climate—where temperatures can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit on some days—forced them to adjust their pharmaceutical operations. Morocco primarily runs the pharmacy operations with resupply support from the UTNG. To gain some much needed relief from the heat, the facility offers a daycare area where U.S. and Moroccan soldiers entertain children while cooling down.


Utah National Guard’s State Partnership Program brings healthcare to underserved Moroccan people




U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mark Evans, State Headquarters Medical Readiness Detachment (MRD), Utah Army National Guard (UTARNG), entertains children at a field hospital during African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Akka, Morocco, May 25, 2024. The Utah National Guard has been partners with Morocco through the Department of Defense State Partnership Program for 21 years and led the effort to partner with the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces for a humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) operation during African Lion 2024 (AL24). The HCA event enables U.S. military personnel to work with their Moroccan counterparts to provide medical services to civilian populations who may lack access to medical care, while improving the operational readiness of participating service members. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Trenton Pallone) (This photo has been altered to blur the identity of the children in the photo.)
(Photo Credit: Spc. Trenton Pallone)

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“We had to relocate the pharmacy because of temperature control,” Stevens said. “We didn’t have the full capability to provide that for some of the medicine because if they go above or below a certain temperature, the meds are no good. They send the supply request to us and our staff, [then] we send a group out to go pick up the pharmacy supplies and bring them back here.”

Although the current HCA operations are temporary, there is a lasting impact on the MRD soldiers and the FAR. The MRD has provided over 70,000 services to the Moroccan people as of May 28, which puts them well on track to their goal of 91,000 medical treatments completed, according to Stevens.

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Evans also noted that years of operating the field hospital helped the FAR establish expeditionary medical forces in Jordan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

For a soldier like U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Nelson, the MRD’s clinical manager of the HCA exercise and a paramedic back in the U.S., the benefits of working on this mission are twofold.


Utah National Guard’s State Partnership Program brings healthcare to underserved Moroccan people




U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the State Headquarters Medical Readiness Detachment (MRD), Utah National Guard provide dental care to patients at a field hospital as part of a humanitarian civic assistance mission during African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Akka, Morocco, May 25, 2024. The Utah National Guard has been partners with Morocco through the Department of Defense State Partnership Program since 2003 and led the effort to partner with the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces for a humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) operation during African Lion 2024 (AL24). The HCA event enables U.S. military personnel to work with their Moroccan counterparts to provide medical services to civilian populations who may lack access to medical care, while improving the operational readiness of participating service members. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of the U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Trenton Pallone)
(Photo Credit: Spc. Trenton Pallone)

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“I’ve had the opportunity to learn from the emergency doctors here with the Moroccan military and other doctors how to treat patients in an austere environment,” Nelson said. “That knowledge is critical and crucial to my ability to be a better medic and treat more patients in the U.S.”

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Utah splits its yearly obligation to the HCA mission between its Army and Air National Guard, meaning the latter will take charge during African Lion 2025.

Improving partnerships and operational effectiveness through multinational collaboration is one of the primary tenets of the exercise and the Utah National Guard remains committed to doing its part to meet that objective.

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.

Follow SETAF-AF on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn & DVIDS

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Nina Dobrev Wears a Bathrobe While in Utah for Sundance Film Festival

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Nina Dobrev Wears a Bathrobe While in Utah for Sundance Film Festival


Nina Dobrev‘s bathrobe photo has fans checking in from Park City, Utah, during Sundance weekend. She posted it 18 hours ago, tagged Park City, and wrote, “Final Sundance in Park City, Utah? bittersweet doesn’t begin to describe it…” Nina’s carousel from the Sundance Film Festival reads like downtime between screenings. The post shows about 480.8K likes and 888 comments.

Nina Dobrev shares a bathrobe photo from Utah during Sundance Film Festival

Have a look at Nina Dobrev in a bathrobe:

Photo Credit: Nina Dobrev Instagram

The “Vampire Diaries” alum wears a plush white hotel robe, loosely cinched at the waist. It falls open at the neckline. Her hair looks half-done, pinned up at the crown, with loose lengths down.

The warm bathroom lighting highlights marble counters and polished wood doors. The photos also landed after she discussed recovering from a dirt bike injury. Fans replied fast, with one writing, “Such a cutie,” another said, “Gorgeous,” and a third added, “THE DIVA”.

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Originally reported by Santanu Das on Reality Tea





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State officials killed three wolves in northern Utah. Here’s why.

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State officials killed three wolves in northern Utah. Here’s why.


The killings took place in a region exempt from federal gray wolf protections.

(Dawn Villella |AP) A gray wolf is pictured in 2004 in Minnesota. Utah officials recently killed three wolves after they were seen near livestock in Cache County.

In a rural stretch of southwestern Cache County, state officials killed three wolves earlier this month after the animals were spotted near livestock, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources confirmed Tuesday.

The wolves were shot Jan. 9 by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, said DWR spokesperson Faith Jolley, a move allowed because the animals were found in a small corner of northeastern Utah exempt from federal gray wolf protections.

The region, which lies mostly east of Interstate 15 and extends roughly as far south as Ogden, is considered part of the greater Yellowstone region, where the predator is in recovery. It is the only part of Utah where the state is allowed to manage wolves.

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(Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune)

Across the rest of the state, the animal is considered an endangered species. It’s illegal to hunt, harass, trap, shoot or harm them without permission from the federal government.

Jolley said state law directs DWR to prevent wolves from breeding in the delisted area. While the animals were not considered a pack, she said they were believed to be traveling together.

“Lethal removals ensure they don’t establish breeding populations in Utah,” Jolley wrote in a text message.

Caroline Hargraves, a spokesperson for the state agriculture department, said the wolves were found near Avon, a small census-designated community in Cache County of about 500 residents, surrounded mostly by farmland.

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Utah leaders have long been hostile to wolves for preying on livestock and thwarting hunters. The state has doled out millions in taxpayer dollars in an effort to get gray wolves removed from the federal endangered species list.

Most confirmed wolf sightings in Utah have involved lone wolves, Jolley said, though small groups have been documented on a few occasions since the first confirmed sighting in 2002.

During the past year, she said, a handful of lone wolves have migrated into Utah from Wyoming and Colorado.

Wolves from Wyoming and Idaho have made their way into Utah at least 21 times since 2004, according to DWR. In September, the agency said it was aware of at least one lone male wolf present in the state.



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Utah family fights to bring children home after mother reportedly arrested in Croatia

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Utah family fights to bring children home after mother reportedly arrested in Croatia


Family members of four Utah children who disappeared with their mother in November are speaking out after the children were located in Croatia.

Now, the family is working through international legal channels to bring the children back home.

The children were last seen on surveillance video at Salt Lake City International Airport boarding a flight with their mother, 35-year-old Elleshia Seymour. Authorities say Seymour took the children without the permission of their fathers after posting what family members describe as “doomsday” claims on social media.

MORE | Missing Children

Seymour was arrested in Dubrovnik on January 15 after the family says news articles alerted people she was talking to in Croatia about the accused kidnapping. She now faces four felony counts of custodial interference. Since her arrest, the four children have been placed in a government-run children’s center in Croatia.

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Jill Seymour, the children’s aunt, has been in Croatia for nine days with her brother Kendall Seymour, who is three of the children’s fathers. They are trying to secure their release.

“We’re just kind of in limbo waiting to get them out,” Seymour said. “These are our kids, and we can’t get custody of them.”

She says the family is only allowed to see the children for two hours a day. Despite providing the requested documentation, the family has not yet been given a clear timeline for when the children can return home.

“They are most definitely trapped there, and they feel trapped,” Seymour said. “We don’t have a clear-cut answer. We’ve provided all the documents we’ve been asked to provide.”

The family has hired Croatian attorneys and is working with the U.S. Embassy to navigate the legal process. Utah-based attorney Skye Lazaro, who has experience with international custody cases, says Croatia’s participation in the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction could ultimately help the family.

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“In this case, it’s a good thing and a benefit that they are part of this Hague Convention,” Lazaro said.

However, Lazaro explained that the process can be slow due to translation requirements and court procedures in the foreign country.

“It requires retaining an attorney in that country who can translate the documents into Croatian and provide all the necessary information to a court,” Lazaro said. “That stuff just takes time.”

If local legal efforts stall, the family can formally petition under the Hague Convention, which may speed up the process, though it could still take several weeks.

“To have to continually say goodbye every day is very hard,” Seymour said. “It’s an emotional rollercoaster.”

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As the legal battle continues, the family is also facing mounting expenses, including short-term housing in Croatia and international legal fees. A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover costs and pay for the children’s flight home.

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