U.S. and French service members fill the back of light medium tactical vehicle assigned to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa as they embark into the desert at dawn to execute blackout operations as part of the French Desert Commando Course (FDCC) at the Djiboutian Range Complex, Djibouti, Sept. 13, 2021. During FDCC, U.S. forces serve under a French battalion commander and are evaluated on mountain confidence, knot tying, night obstacle courses, aquatic obstacle courses and battle maneuver tactics. The U.S. and French regularly exchange expertise, ideas and tactics to become a more integrated combined force with the ability to respond to crises or threats in East Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Kobialka)

U.S. service members hone battle tactics and maneuvering during an overnight field training exercise at the Djiboutian Range Complex, Djibouti, Aug. 28-29, 2021. The exercise prepares service members for the French Desert Commando Course (FDCC) scheduled for mid-September. The course consists of knot tying, mountain confidence, basic infantry skills and night operations. The French Army invites a select number of U.S. service members to participate in the course where participants compete to earn the FDCC qualification badge upon successful completion of the course. (U.S. Air Force video by Senior Airman Andrew Kobialka)

U.S. loadmasters assigned to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, remove a HEMOCOOL Freezer System containing Moderna COVID-19 vaccines from a C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft on the flight line at Camp Simba, Kenya, Aug. 19, 2021. The HEMOCOOL Freezer System maintained the temperature of the vaccines between 2 degrees Celsius and 8 degrees Celsius for preservation. COVID-19 vaccines were provided as a joint effort between the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, U.S. Naval Forces Africa and U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command under the direction of the U.S. Africa Command. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Dwane R. Young)

U.S. Army infantrymen with Task Force Iron Gray, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), take aim before providing suppressive fire during a live-fire training exercise at the Djiboutian Range Complex, Djibouti, Aug. 24, 2021. Live-fire exercises validate a platoon’s proficiency to take command and control through reinforcing concepts like supporting fire, base of fire and synchronization of fires. CJTF-HOA, operating from Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, is a dynamic operational headquarters that ensures strategic partnership with Djibouti, responds to crises, supports operations and protects U.S. interests in East Africa in order to enhance regional stability and prosperity. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Kobialka)

Maj. Gen. Williiam Zana, Commanding General, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, tours a KC-130J Super Hercules assigned to the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron - 234rd, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, August 12, 2021. Camp Lemonnier enables U.S., allied and partner nation forces to support operational and crisis response missions in Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Kobialka)

Across the world, building strong relationships takes good communication. But what happens when you don't speak the same language? Fatouma Omar Guedi is an interpreter for Civil Affairs Functional Specialty Team, Southern European Task Force – Africa. Fatouma speaks four languages fluently (English, Somali, Afar and French) and is learning more. Fatouma uses her knowledge to aid U.S. military humanitarian missions within Djibouti, Africa. The ability to overcome the language barrier between the U.S. and African partners is critical to building trust and goodwill between the U.S. and the Djiboutian community and governing officials. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Kobialka)

U.S. Navy petty officer third class Bryan Reed, hospital corpsman, Civil Affairs Functional Specialty Team, Southern European Task Force – Africa (SETAF-AF), performed chest compressions with Djiboutian healthcare providers during an exchange of CPR best practices at Ali Sabieh Hospital, Djibouti, Aug. 19, 2021. The engagement served to reinforce proper CPR practices on adults, adolescents and infants through an exchange of techniques, experiences and hands-on demonstrations. Civil Affairs Soldiers stationed at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, regularly conduct civil-military operations within the region. Civil Affairs Soldiers engage and partner with communities around the world to reduce the root causes of instability, enable local governments and improve the quality of life for civilians caught in crisis zones. SETAF-AF is responsible for achieving U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Campaign Plan objectives while conducting all U.S. Army operations, exercises and security cooperation on the African continent. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Kobialka)

U.S. service members visit and play games with children at Caritas Orphanage, Djibouti, Aug. 05, 2021. U.S. military Chaplains bring service members to the orphanage as an opportunity to support staff members and identify future needs in the community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Kobialka)

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to various companies from Task Force Iron Gray, in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), and French Soldiers assigned to the 5th Overseas Interarms Regiment (5e RIAOM) participated in a joint combined arms live-fire exercise at the Djiboutian Range Complex, Djibouti, Aug. 11, 2021.

On Aug. 11, 2021, U.S. Army Sgt. Stovall Volanta, a dental hygienist with the functional specialty team, and her team partnered with teachers with the Association des Femmes de We’a to conduct an oral hygiene class for Djiboutian schoolchildren. The class is part of the Department of Defense’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) initiative, which aims to promote the safety, equality and meaningful contributions of women around the world, and positively affect local community organizations while enriching foreign relationships.