{"id":447443,"date":"2025-05-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=447443"},"modified":"2025-05-15T09:19:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T09:19:10","slug":"embrace-the-process-master-sgt-preston-lewis-reflects-on-service-leadership-legacy-at-african-lion-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=447443","title":{"rendered":"Embrace the process: Master Sgt. Preston Lewis Reflects on service, leadership, legacy at African Lion 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n U.S. Army Master Sgt. Preston Lewis, assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), poses for a picture during African Lion 2025 (AL25) at Agadir, Morocco on May 8, 2025. African Lion 25 (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\u2014preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Mallett)
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Back to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

AGADIR, Morocco \u2013 On the surface, U.S. Army Master Sgt. Preston Lewis\u2019s role in African Lion 2025 (AL25) might seem procedural\u2014coordinating accountability, awards and human resource (HR) operations across four countries, including 50 multinational partner nations. But behind the spreadsheets, manifests and morning reports is a leader nearing the end of a 20-year journey through some of the most defining environments in the modern U.S. Army.<\/a><\/p>\n

For Lewis, currently serving as the Plans, Operations and Personnel Accountability (G1) noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) for U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)<\/a>, AL25 has been both a capstone assignment and a full-circle reflection of what service means.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was assigned to assist in human resource operations, particularly personnel accountability for the entire area of responsibility,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cThis is my first time supporting African Lion<\/a>, and it\u2019s been a great experience\u2014setting the HR conditions and procedures across all spokes of the exercise.\u201d<\/p>\n

A global career, rooted in purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lewis enlisted from Akron, Ohio, in 2005, beginning a career that would span the globe and multiple operational domains. From fueling helicopters in Korea, to serving as a gunner in Iraq, an inspector general at Fort Knox, and now a senior HR planner in Italy\u2014his breadth of assignments reflects a generation of service shaped by war, reform and transformation.<\/p>\n

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\n U.S. Army Master Sgt. Preston Lewis, assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), poses for a photo during African Lion 2025 (AL25) at Agadir, Morocco, May 8, 2025. African Lion 25 (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\u2014preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Mallett)
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\u201cI\u2019ve been fortunate to serve all over the world,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cI\u2019ve deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan, and Atlantic Resolve-Poland. I\u2019ve served as a fueler, a drill sergeant and now as an HR professional. It\u2019s been a journey.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He joined SETAF-AF in April 2023 after serving as an inspector general with U.S. Army Cadet Command<\/a>, then quickly integrated into one of the most operationally agile staff directorates in the theater. At AL25, his work enabled the personnel functions that make a 10,000-troop, 50-nation exercise succeed: accountability, essential personnel services and award recognition planning.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuccess for the G1 team during AL25 is 100% accountability, timely and accurate HR support and appropriate awards recognition,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s a team effort\u2014from my leadership to our junior NCOs [noncommissioned officers].\u201d<\/p>\n

Interoperability through friction<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a joint and multinational environment, personnel accountability is not just a checklist; it is a dynamic, evolving challenge. Working alongside units like the 646th Regional Support Group, U.S. Army Reserve unit under the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, and coordinating across language and procedural barriers, Lewis and his team had to balance doctrinal processes with real-world adaptability.<\/p>\n

\u201cInteroperability is a daily goal, but the friction it creates is also where the most meaningful growth happens,\u201d he said. \u201cIt forces you to communicate better, plan tighter and adjust faster.\u201d<\/p>\n

He credited U.S. Army Lt. Col. Bridgette Bell, G1 division chief, SETAF-AF, and Staff Sgt. Alessandra Johnson, an HR operations NCO with the same unit, for creating an environment where clarity and initiative are standard.<\/p>\n

Leadership, legacy and the long view<\/strong><\/p>\n

For Lewis, who will soon transition to serve as the brigade human resources NCOIC for the 207th Military Intelligence Brigade<\/a>, the pace has not slowed. But he is increasingly aware of his next chapter, especially as he watches his son, a newly minted geospatial engineer, begin his own Army career.<\/p>\n

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\n U.S. Army Master Sgt. Preston Lewis, right, stands proudly beside his son, Pfc.Tristin D. Griffin, following Griffin\u2019s Advanced Individual Training graduation at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, April 16, 2025. The moment marked a generational milestone as one Soldier nears the end of a 20-year career, and another begins his own journey in uniform. The image accompanies Lewis\u2019 African Lion 2025 (AL25) feature story on leadership, legacy and service. African Lion 25 (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\u2014preparing forces to deploy, fight and win. (Courtesy photo)
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\u201cMy son just graduated AIT [advanced individual training] and wants to become a warrant officer,\u201d he shared proudly. \u201cAt the same time, my daughter was inducted into the National Honor Society at Vicenza High School. Seeing them grow reminds me that I\u2019m at the point where legacy matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

That legacy is shared closely with his wife, Teresha, who also serves in the SETAF-AF community as a human resources specialist, Civilian Personnel Division. Together, they have raised a family and built a life anchored in purpose, service and resilience.<\/p>\n

“Preston is the kind of leader who shows up for his people, even when no one’s watching.” said Teresha. “He’s devoted to his team, to our family, and to building something that lasts beyond the uniform.”<\/p>\n

To those who wear a military uniform, including his children, he gives the following advice.<\/p>\n

\u201cEmbrace the process. We live in a world of instant gratification, but the journey is the gift,\u201d he said. \u201cThe most valuable lessons I\u2019ve learned have come through struggle, reflection and the grind.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

About SETAF-AF<\/strong><\/h5>\n

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

Follow SETAF-AF on:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> & DVIDS<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

U.S. Army Master Sgt. Preston Lewis, assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), poses for a picture during African Lion 2025 (AL25) at Agadir, Morocco on May 8, 2025. African Lion 25 (AL25), the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":447445,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-447443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/447443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=447443"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/447443\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":447449,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/447443\/revisions\/447449"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/447445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=447443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=447443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=447443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}