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West Virginia National Guard military police personnel engage in a Subject Matter Expert Exchange with the Qatar Military Police Force at the QMPF Headquarters in Doha, Qatar, Sep. 17, 2025. This visit marks the 13th event between the WVNG and QMPF and focused on future bilateral priorities, including continuing support in building capabilities enhancing Qatar's NATO interoperability and integration Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC) Program.

Sept. 29, 2025

W.Va., Qatar Military Police continue bilateral training, interoperability development

At the invitation of Qatar Military Police Force (QMPF) Commander Maj. Gen. Rashid Al Hajri a West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) contingent visited QMPF Headquarters in Doha, Qatar on Sept. 12-18, 2025 as part of an ongoing series of Military Police (MP) Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) meant to reinforce and elevate the relationship built between the militaries since their National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program (SPP) pairing was formalized in 2018.  "The U.S. and Qatari militaries are already highly interoperable, even more so for the WVNG and QMPF, thanks to our SPP," said WVNG Adjutant General James “Jim” Seward.  "Visits like this build on our existing personal relationships to increase military cooperation and address shared regional and global challenges."

At the invitation of Qatar Emiri Land Force Commander Maj. Gen. Jassim Al Attiya, West Virginia National Guard Adjutant General James “Jim” Seward visited QELF Headquarters in Doha, Qatar, on Sept. 17, 2025, as part of a series of key leader engagements meant to reinforce and elevate the bilateral relationship built between the militaries since the National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program pairing was formalized in 2018. (U.S. Army National Guard courtesy photo by Cpt. Sebastian Clark)

Sept. 26, 2025

W.Va., Qatar Military Leaders Elevate Partnerships; NATO interoperability, global burden sharing, aviation platforms discussed

West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) Adjutant General James “Jim” Seward traveled to Doha, Qatar, this week to meet with Qatar Armed Forces (QAF) counterparts as part of a series of key leader engagements meant to reinforce and elevate the relationships built between the militaries since their National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program (SPP) pairing was formalized in 2018. “Qatar has been an anchor of U.S. friendship and presence in the region," Seward said. “West Virginia is honored to champion bilateral and multilateral priority efforts for our two nations as we share a common interest in prevailing against complex regional security challenges and increasing interoperability on a global stage.”

U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Daniel Quesada, CENTCOM J57 lead planner for Bright Star 25, left; Yemeni Maj. Gen. Ismail Zahzouh, commander of Special Operations Forces, center; and U.S. Army Col. Lee Breard, U.S. Central Command J57 Exercises Division chief, pose for a photo at Mohamed Naguib Military Base, Sept. 7, 2025. Bright Star 2025 is a multilateral U.S. Central Command exercise co-hosted with Egypt across air, land and sea domains. The exercise promotes regional security and cooperation and improves interoperability in irregular warfare against hybrid threats, with more than 40 countries participating this year. (U.S. Central Command photo by Maged Benjamin-Elias)

Sept. 19, 2025

Yemeni Commander Highlights Return to Bright Star 2025, Emphasizes Regional Security

MOHAMED NAGUIB MILITARY BASE, Egypt — Maj. Gen. Ismail Zahzouh, commander of Yemen’s Special Operations Forces, said his country’s participation in Bright Star 2025 marks both a return to international cooperation and a commitment to regional and maritime security. “Yemen’s participation in Bright Star means a lot — beyond gaining expertise and skills and working side by side with many friendly and brotherly nations,” Zahzouh said during an interview at the exercise. “It also means Yemen is emerging from the situation imposed on it in recent years and returning to its rightful place within the region and the international community.”

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Sept. 15, 2025) U.S. Navy explosive ordnance technicians assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s Commander, Task Force (CTF) 56, right, work with members of the Jordanian Armed Forces to set explosives to neutralize a simulated sea mine in the Gulf of Aqaba, Sept. 15, 2025, during exercise INFINITE DEFENDER 25. INFINITE DEFENDER 25 is an annual, bilateral explosive ordnance disposal and maritime security exercise between U.S. 5th Fleet and the Royal Jordanian Navy to enhance mutual capabilities and interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Hans Williams)

Sept. 19, 2025

U.S. and Jordan Conduct Bilateral Maritime Exercise Infinite Defender 25

MANAMA, Bahrain – Forces from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet (NAVCENT/C5F) and the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) participated in the annual, bilateral maritime exercise Infinite Defender 25, off the coast of Aqaba, Jordan, Sept. 14-18. The exercise focused on bilateral maritime infrastructure protection, explosive ordnance disposal, and anti-terrorism force protection, and provided a unique opportunity for U.S. and JAF armed forces to share knowledge and experience, expand levels of cooperation and enhance existing defensive capabilities.

Sept. 16, 2025

Qatar Assumes Command of Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined Task Force 152

MANAMA, Bahrain –The Qatar Emiri Navy assumed command of Combined Maritime Forces’ Arabian Gulf security and cooperation task force during a change of command ceremony, presided over by Vice Adm. George Wikoff, commander of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), Sept. 15. Commodore Mohammad Alarefi of the Kuwait Naval Force turned over command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 152 to Qatari Brigadier General Hamad Saleh Al-Ahwal.

U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Stephen Lightfoot, right, the commanding general of Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, gives opening remarks for the command post exercise during BRIGHT STAR 25 at Mohamed Naguib Military Base (MNMB), Egypt, Sept. 1, 2025. Exercise BRIGHT STAR 25 is a multilateral U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) command-post exercise, field training exercise and senior leader seminar, held in the Arab Republic of Egypt along with other partner nations. Participation strengthens military-to-military relationships between U.S. forces and our Egyptian partners in the USCENTCOM area of responsibility, as well as other participating nations. The exercise enhances regional security and stability by responding to modern-day security scenarios. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Angela Wilcox)

Sept. 12, 2025

Bright Star 25: Task Force 51/5 Kicks Off Command Post Exercise in Egypt

ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT — Mohamed Naguib Military Base, Egypt - U.S. Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (TF 51/5) launches a two-week multinational Command Post Exercise (CPX) as part of Exercise BRIGHT STAR 25.

ERSS 9 team members Lt. j.g. Erin Moore, Lt. Cmdr. Brent Buccine, CDR Jacob Adam’s, and CDR John Maddox demonstrate role 2 trauma and assessment capabilities during Operation Bright Star 25, Mohamed Najuib Military Base, Egypt, Sep. 4, 2025. The BRIGHT STAR exercise enhances readiness and builds our partners’ capacity to operate seamlessly together, while improving interoperability in a joint operations environment. (U.S. Central Command photo by Maged Benjamin-Elias)

Sept. 12, 2025

U.S. and Kyrgyz Medical Teams Sharpen Expeditionary Care Skills at Bright Star 25

MOHAMED NAGUIB MILITARY BASE, Egypt – U.S. Navy medical personnel and members of the Kyrgyz Republic Armed Forces conducted joint medical training during Exercise Bright Star 2025, focusing on expeditionary surgical techniques, blood transfusion programs, and field hospital operations.

Egyptian armed forces service members working shoulder-to-shoulder with U.S. Marines during Exercise BRIGHT STAR 25’s Command Post Exercise, Mohamed Naguib Military Base (MNMB), Egypt, Sept. 7, 2025. Bright Star 25 is a multilateral U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) command-post exercise, held in the Arab Republic of Egypt along with other partner nations. The exercise enhances regional security and stability by responding to modern day security scenarios. (U.S. Central Command photo by Maged Benjamin-Elias)

Sept. 12, 2025

Bright Star 2025 Command Post Exercise Strengthens U.S.-Egyptian Partnership and Readiness

MOHAMED NAGUIB MILITARY BASE, Egypt — U.S. Marines and sailors from Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, working alongside the Egyptian armed forces, stood shoulder to shoulder on the watch floor during the command post exercise of Bright Star 25. Together, they designed and war-gamed responses to a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenario in a notional country, sharpening crisis-response capabilities and strengthening interoperability. Each day, a brigadier general from both the Egyptian and U.S. sides received situational updates from the combined staff, who integrated modern planning tools such as information operations and unmanned aerial systems. These updates tested decision-making and ensured both militaries could seamlessly coordinate in responding to complex operational challenges.

Sept. 12, 2025

Rescue Ready: U.S. and Egyptian service members conduct CSAR SME Exchange

ALMAZA AIR BASE, EGYPT – U.S. Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialists, assigned to the Joint Personnel Recovery Center, took part in a combat search and rescue subject matter expert exchange with service members from partner nations during BRIGHT STAR 25 at Almaza Air Base, Egypt, Aug. 30-31, 2025.

Lt. Gen. Ahmed Khalifa, Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces, center, inspects the BRIGHT STAR 2025 preparations, at the Command Post Exercise, at Mohamed Naguib Military Base, Alexandria, Egypt, Aug 26, 2025. BRIGHT STAR 25 enhances joint readiness and reinforces partner nations’ ability to integrate seamlessly in complex operational environments. By aligning tactics, techniques and procedures, U.S. and partner forces increase their capacity to deter aggression, improving lethality, confidence, and cohesion among multinational service members. (Courtesy photo Department of Morale Affairs, Egyptian Armed Forces – Caption writer, U.S. Central Command Maged Benjamin-Elias)

Sept. 2, 2025

Bright Star 25: U.S. and Egypt Launch One of the World’s Largest Multinational Military Exercises

EGYPT — Bright Star 25, the multinational military exercise co-hosted by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Egyptian Armed Forces through the Egyptian Training Authority, officially commenced today with a ceremonial opening at Mohamed Naguib Military Base. The exercise brings together forces from across the globe, underscoring the United States’ enduring commitment to working alongside Egypt and partner nations to strengthen collective security and promote regional stability.