Photo By Staff Sgt. Ian Valley | U.S Army Staff Sgt. Christa Glass, a medical logistics noncommissioned officer...... read more read more
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AGADIR, Morocco — In the sweltering heat of North Africa, with lives potentially hanging in the balance, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christa Glass faced a critical challenge—a compromised blood shipment that threatened the medical readiness of U.S. forces.
Working against the clock in unfamiliar territory, the medical logistics noncommissioned officer assigned to the 172nd Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 330th Medical Brigade, a U.S. Army reserve unit under the 807th Theater Medical Command, exemplified the Army value of selfless service during African Lion 2025 (AL25), the largest annual U.S. military exercise on the African continent.
The incident began when a batch of blood designated for Senegal was compromised during transport through multiple countries, as temperatures fluctuated beyond the safe 1-6°C range required for maintaining viability. With more than 10,000 U.S. and partner nation troops participating in high-risk training operations across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia, the need for emergency blood supplies was non-negotiable. Recognizing the critical need, Glass coordinated efforts with medical logistics teams in Europe to re-pack and transport fresh supplies across 1,500 miles of challenging terrain and multiple international borders.
“I went to Tan Tan [Morocco] to collect the blood and I had to go through customs,” Glass explained. “Thankfully, the blood was repackaged that morning, so I didn’t need to open or re-ice it. I held onto it until the next day, when someone from the FRSD [Forward Resuscitative and Surgical Detachment] team arrived to pick it up.”
Her role extended beyond transportation. Glass took on responsibilities outside her usual job, including repackaging blood and coordinating its transfer in a complex logistics chain. She also helped bring in additional medical supplies from Tunisia, ensuring all units received what they needed for the exercise.
“Dealing with blood isn’t in my normal job description,” said Glass. “I usually just transport packages from point A to point B, so repacking blood and handling it properly was nerve-wracking at first. After learning on my own and doing some research, I gained confidence. I’ve dealt with similar situations before during previous African Lion exercises, so I knew I could help.”
Glass, who joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 2007 after being inspired to serve her country during the height of the Iraq war, had to navigate complex international customs procedures, language barriers and the pressure of handling temperature-sensitive medical supplies that could mean the difference between life and death in an emergency scenario.
Her efforts culminated in successfully holding the blood at the right temperature until the FRSD team arrived to take custody — a process critical for maintaining the integrity of the blood prior to high-risk surgical procedures.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. George Abboud, chief of medical logistics at U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), emphasized the importance of her initiative.
“Glass’ proactive approach ensured our medical teams had the necessary supplies, preventing potentially costly delays and maintaining the continuity of life-saving missions,” said Abboud.
Abboud further explained the critical nature of blood supply in these operations.
"We're talking about hundreds of thousands, sometimes even millions of dollars invested in planning, soldier movement, housing and resources for these exercises,” Abboud said. “In these austere environments, we can't rely on emergency services like we do back home where you can call 911 and get care within hours. We must have those forward surgical capabilities on hand with blood ready. Without it, in training events in remote locations, we simply can't proceed. It's a show-stopper."
Reflecting on her experience, Glass expressed pride in stepping outside her typical duties to support the mission. Her story underscores the vital role of adaptable, motivated logistics personnel in ensuring the success of complex military exercises.
“It’s about making sure our medics have what they need. When lives are on the line, every detail matters,” she said.
This is exactly the type of experience which prepares service members for the rigors of ever-changing battlefield scenarios, which many exercise participants could encounter in future operations.
About African Lion
AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 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.
| Date Taken: | 05.15.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.22.2025 11:10 |
| Story ID: | 498418 |
| Location: | AGADIR, MA |
| Web Views: | 32 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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