B-ROLL: Tunisians teach desert survival to US troops at African Lion 2025

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Video by Sgt. Mariah Gonzalez

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

April 23, 2025 | 2:35

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade participate in a desert survival training course led by the Tunisian Armed Forces during exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25), Ben Ghilouf Training Area, Tunisia, April 22, 2025. The course covered essential desert survival techniques, including methods for sourcing food, water and shelter in austere environments. AL25 is set to be the largest annual military exercise in Africa, bringing together over 40 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Army video by Sgt. Mariah Y. Gonzalez)

Shot List
(00:00:00.00) MEDIUM SHOT: A Tunisian instructor teaches US service members about about various desert survival techniques
(00:00:06:22) MEDIUM SHOT: A projector shows a slideshow about desert survival techniques
(00:00:12:15) MEDIUM SHOT: US and Tunisian soldiers listen to a Tunisian instructor as he gives a class on desert survival techniques
(00:00:20:00) MEDIUM SHOT: A Tunisian instructor demonstrates how to wrap a desert scarf over one's head in order to shield from the sun in the desert
(00:00:35:18) MEDIUM SHOT: US, Tunisian, and Nigerian (?) troops listen to a Tunisian instructor speak as he gives a class on desert survival techniques
(00:00:40:13) MED-CLOSE SHOT: A Tunisian Col. doctor stands beside a board showing medicinal herbs that can be found and used in the desert. In the background, the voice of a Tunisian interpreter can be heard explaining the board to the class.
(00:00:47:21) CLOSE SHOT: A US Marine takes notes during a desert survival class.
(00:00:52:04) CLOSE SHOT: A U.S. Army paratrooper holds a reference sheet provided by Tunisian forces, listing native Sahara Desert plants
(00:00:56:04) A Nigerian soldier holds a reference sheet provided by Tunisian forces, listing native Sahara Desert plants
(00:01:00:14) MED-LONG SHOT: A Tunisian interpreter explains to the class which reptiles and animals can be used as food sources for survival in the desert
(00:01:14:21) MED-CLOSE SHOT: A Tunisian instructor holds up a venomous Saharan horned viper to demonstrate its dangers to the class and explain how it can also be used as a food source
(00:01:26:04) CLOSE SHOT: A Tunisian instructor holds the head of a venomous Saharan horned viper to demonstrate its dangers to the class and explain how it can also be used as a food source
(00:01:30:04) MED-CLOSE SHOT: A U.S. Army paratrooper assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade holds up a reptile during a desert survival class, where instructors explain which animals can be used as food sources in survival situations
(00:01:34:15) MEDIUM SHOT: A Tunisian instructor demonstrates how to prepare various types of bread and food in desert conditions.
(00:01:42:09) MEDIUM SHOT: A Tunisian instructor demonstrates how to prepare various types of bread and food in desert conditions.
(00:01:48:01) MEDIUM SHOT: Tunisian instructors demonstrate to U.S. service members how to prepare bread in desert conditions.
(00:01:53:05) CLOSE SHOT: Tunisian instructors demonstrate to U.S. service members how to prepare bread in desert conditions.
(00:01:57:22) MEDIUM SHOT: A US Army paratrooper assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade eats a piece of bread made by Tunisian instructors
(00:02:02:21) CLOSE SHOT: Blankets hand made by Tunisians
(00:02:06:12) CLOSE SHOT: Handmade Tunisian blankets serve as interior walls for a handcrafted shelter.
(00:02:10:21) MEDIUM SHOT: US, Tunisian, and Nigerian troops sit under a handcrafted desert shelter to pose for a photo
(00:02:14:02) MED-LONG SHOT: A Tunisian interpreter explains how to navigate in the desert
(00:02:19:22) MEDIUM SHOT: A Tunisian instructor explains how to navigate in the desert
(00:02:29:16) US Army and Nigerian Armed Forces soldiers listen to a Tunisian instructor speak during a desert survival class