Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  News Features
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Georgia Guard Soldier returns to Africa for African Lion 21 By Capt. Bryant Wine,
                48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
 Now, Aikins has returned to the African continent as a participant in exercise African Lion 21. African Lion 2021 is U.S. Africa Command's largest premier joint annual exercise hosted by Morocco, Tunisia, and Senegal June 7-18. More than 7,000 participants from nine nations and NATO train together to enhance readiness. "It's great," said Aikins. "Getting back to your roots, getting back to the people you lived with, it's a pretty great feeling." Aikins' father frequently traveled to the U.S. for work. His father's connections eventually brought Aikins and his family to the United States as immigrants in 2013. "I was about 17 or 18 years old," said Aikins. Aikins enlisted in the Georgia Army National Guard as a medic in January 2017, attracted by the education benefits. He is a student at the University of Miami. Aikins aspires to be a neurosurgeon and believes becoming a medic will help him get a head start in his career field. Though Aikins has worked in the field plenty throughout his career, African Lion 21 is his first overseas deployment training mission. The Georgia Army National Guard has deployed 640 people and 200 vehicles, including nine M109A6 Paladin howitzers. "So far, it has been a great experience," said Aikins. "We've had to deal with adversity out here that we really never deal with on a day-to-day basis." Strengthening partnerships is another key focus of exercise African Lion 21. Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers live, train and interact with soldiers from Morocco and Senegal. "I've gotten a chance to interact with a little bit with Senegalese. My French is a little bit limited, so we use hand signals," said Aikins. "It's fun; it's interesting because we have a lot in common despite the speech barrier." Aikins said he's thrilled to return to his home continent to train alongside multinational partners and do the job he enlisted in the Army to do. One benefit of multinational exercises like African Lion 21 is the opportunity to travel the world. But for some, exercises almost become a homecoming. "I had to lose my citizenship when I immigrated to the United States, but I'll always be a citizen of Ghana in my heart," Aikins said.
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Georgia Army National Guard
 African Lion 2021
 NY Army Guard Band Performs for Netherlands King and Queen News Features • yesterday
 Chaplains Address Guard Soldiers’ Spiritual, Mental Health News Features • 6 days ago
 Guard General Retires After Final Watch at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier News Features • 7 days ago
 Young Cancer Patient Made Honorary 1st Sergeant in Illinois Guard News Features • 7 days ago
 80 Years Ago, National Guard Units Played Key Role in D-Day Landings News Features • 13 days ago
 2024 (47)  2023 (107)  2022 (121)  2021 (119)  2020 (203)  2019 (208)  2018 (165)  2017 (164)  2016 (109)  2015 (52)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil