SETAF-AF celebrates 70 years of multinational readiness

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VICENZA, Italy - U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) commemorated its 70th anniversary with a ceremonial cake cutting at Caserma Del Din, Oct. 23, 2025, honoring seven decades of commitment and service alongside allies and partners across Europe and Africa.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Andrew C. Gainey, commanding general, SETAF-AF, and U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Chad B. Harness, senior enlisted advisor, SETAF-AF, joined the youngest and most senior Soldiers in the formation to cut the anniversary cake-symbolizing the unit's enduring legacy and the continued bond between generations of Soldiers who have served with the command.

"Seventy years of SETAF-AF history reflect the strength of multinational readiness and the dedication of Soldiers, civilians, and families who have served here," said Gainey. "From the early days during the Cold War, to today's missions across two continents, our people have embodied readiness, professionalism and trust."

SETAF, formally activated October 25, 1955, became a symbol of a growing U.S.-Italian defense at the height of the Cold War. The U.S. and Italy formally established SETAF through a bilateral agreement, underscoring a shared commitment to collective security and stability in Southern Europe.

From its earliest years, SETAF played a critical role in NATO's southern flank, providing logistical support, command capabilities and forward presence in the Mediterranean region. Over time, its mission evolved to reflect changing global priorities and operational demands.

"This milestone is more than a celebration of history-it's a tribute to the people who have carried this mission forward for 70 years," said Harness. "Our story is about evolution and enduring preparedness. As we move forward, SETAF-AF remains committed to strengthening alliances, building readiness and delivering excellence wherever our mission takes us."

In 2008, SETAF-AF's mission expanded to include operations on the African continent, transforming into U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) and serving as the Army component for U.S. Africa Command. This transition marked a new era of engagement, emphasizing security cooperation, training and burden sharing with African nations to strengthen regional stability and counter transnational threats.

In 2020, the U.S. Army re-designated USARAF as SETAF-AF, aligning the headquarters under both U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). This alignment strengthened the command's ability to serve as a Joint Task Force-certified headquarters-capable of scaling to lead joint and combined operations anywhere in Africa or Europe. Today, SETAF-AF stands as a vital link between the two combatant commands, synchronizing Army activities across Africa while maintaining readiness to respond rapidly to crises, support allies, and enable theater-level operations across both continents.

"Throughout its history, SETAF-AF has supported a wide range of missions - from humanitarian assistance and disaster response to multinational training and crisis response operations," said Gainey. "The command's enduring presence in Vicenza stands as a testament to the U.S.-Italian alliance and decades of cooperation that have advanced shared security goals."

As SETAF-AF celebrates its 70th anniversary, the command honors its legacy while adapting to future requirements by remaining agile and innovative to pivot operational focus wherever its expeditionary skillset is needed most.

About SETAF-AF

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

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