U.S. Army soldiers receive French National Defense Medal (Silver Level)
U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Hames, Sgt. Rawan Abudahrieh and Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Bright receive the French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) June 11, 2015, for providing life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in Feb. 27, 2015. The French National Defense Medal is awarded on three levels—bronze, silver and gold. Silver and gold-level medals are usually reserved to French individuals who have served in the French military for several years, and it is rare for U.S. service members to receive this award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
*Note: to see previous story, visit https://www.hoa.africom.mil/story/11651/training-for-reality-army-civil-affairs
By Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of AfricaDjibouti, AfricaJun 12, 2015
View Gallery
Gallery contains 9 images
×
Photo 1 of 9
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Hames, Sgt. Rawan Abudahrieh and Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Bright receive the French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) June 11, 2015, for providing life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in Feb. 27, 2015. The French National Defense Medal is awarded on three levels—bronze, silver and gold. Silver and gold-level medals are usually reserved to French individuals who have served in the French military for several years, and it is rare for U.S. service members to receive this award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
U.S. Air Force Col. James Kriesel, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa chief of staff, and French Marine Col. Jean-Bruno Despouys, 5th Marines commanding officer, conduct a Pass and Review during a ceremony at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015. During the ceremony, three U.S. Army personnel received a French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) for saving the life of a French service member during a motor vehicle accident Feb. 27, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Hames, Sgt. Rawan Abudahrieh and Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Bright wait to receive a French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) June 11, 2015, for providing life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in Feb., 2015. The French National Defense Medal, created in 1982, is awarded on three levels—bronze, silver and gold. It is rare for U.S. service members to receive this decoration, and general officers are the usual recipients. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
French Marine Col. Jean-Bruno Despouys, 5th Marines commanding officer, addresses French and U.S. troops during an award ceremony at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015. Three U.S. Army soldiers received the French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) for saving the life of a French service member during a motor vehicle accident Feb. 27, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
French Marine Col. Jean-Bruno Despouys, 5th Marines commanding officer, pins a National Defense Medal on U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Hames during an award ceremony at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015, due to his life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in February. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Bright receives a National Defense Medal during an award ceremony at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015, due to his life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in February. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
The French National Defense Medal is pinned on a soldier at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015. The French National Defense Medal, created in 1982, is awarded on three levels—bronze, silver and gold. It is rare for U.S. service members to receive this decoration, and general officers are the usual recipients. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
U.S. Army Sgt. Rawan Abudahrieh receives a National Defense Medal during an award ceremony at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015, due to his life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in February. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
404th Civil Affairs Battalion members from Camp Lemonnier attend an award ceremony for three Army soldiers at a French naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015. The French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) recipients saved the life of a French service member during a motor vehicle accident Feb. 27, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
Cyber, radio exchange deepens US, Djibouti military cooperation
U.S. Africa Command, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, and the Kentucky Army National Guard teamed up with Djiboutian forces for a cybersecurity and radio communications fundamentals skills-sharing initiative that blended instruction, live demonstrations, and practical exercises.
US, partner nations exercise multinational crisis response to bolster readiness in African theater
The Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Multinational Coordination Cell hosted a tabletop exercise with French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and South Korean partners June 23-26 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.
Humans of HOA:Vehicle management plays a vital role in CJTF-HOA operations
I joined the U.S. Army at 18 years old, straight out of high school. In fact, I enlisted while I was still a senior. My decision was driven by more than a sense of duty — it was deeply personal.
Fast forward to today, I am proudly serving my country overseas with the Arizona Army National Guard. I am in an administrative role for the Transportation Motor Pool unit, which is in charge of managing a large fleet of vehicles, most of which are sourced from local Djiboutian contractors.
Cyber, radio exchange deepens US, Djibouti military cooperation
U.S. Africa Command, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, and the Kentucky Army National Guard teamed up with Djiboutian forces for a cybersecurity and radio communications fundamentals skills-sharing initiative that blended instruction, live demonstrations, and practical exercises.
US, partner nations exercise multinational crisis response to bolster readiness in African theater
The Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Multinational Coordination Cell hosted a tabletop exercise with French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and South Korean partners June 23-26 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.
Humans of HOA:Vehicle management plays a vital role in CJTF-HOA operations
I joined the U.S. Army at 18 years old, straight out of high school. In fact, I enlisted while I was still a senior. My decision was driven by more than a sense of duty — it was deeply personal.
Fast forward to today, I am proudly serving my country overseas with the Arizona Army National Guard. I am in an administrative role for the Transportation Motor Pool unit, which is in charge of managing a large fleet of vehicles, most of which are sourced from local Djiboutian contractors.
Cyber, radio exchange deepens US, Djibouti military cooperation
U.S. Africa Command, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, and the Kentucky Army National Guard teamed up with Djiboutian forces for a cybersecurity and radio communications fundamentals skills-sharing initiative that blended instruction, live demonstrations, and practical exercises.
US, partner nations exercise multinational crisis response to bolster readiness in African theater
The Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Multinational Coordination Cell hosted a tabletop exercise with French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and South Korean partners June 23-26 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.
Humans of HOA:Vehicle management plays a vital role in CJTF-HOA operations
I joined the U.S. Army at 18 years old, straight out of high school. In fact, I enlisted while I was still a senior. My decision was driven by more than a sense of duty — it was deeply personal.
Fast forward to today, I am proudly serving my country overseas with the Arizona Army National Guard. I am in an administrative role for the Transportation Motor Pool unit, which is in charge of managing a large fleet of vehicles, most of which are sourced from local Djiboutian contractors.