962nd Mortuary Affairs sharpens recovery skills at Exercise Croix du Sud 25
U.S. Army Spc. Cruz, assigned to the 962nd Mortuary Affairs Detachment, prepares to descend a hillside during rappelling training led by the French armed forces in Noumea, New Caledonia, April 23, 2025. The training, designed to build confidence and interoperability, included participants from the Australian Defence Force and U.S. Marine Corps. It marked the beginning of hands-on multinational engagement during Exercise Croix du Sud 2025, or "Southern Cross," the biennial joint and multilateral exercise focused on disaster relief, crisis response, and enhancing partnership among the United States, France, and Oceania partner nations. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brady Ellis)