Fundamentals of Global Health, Engagement course offered for first time on African continent

Service members from Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa attended a Fundamentals of Global Health Engagement (FOGHE) course at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 11-13.



By Senior Master Sgt. Janeen Miller U.S. Air Force CJTF-HOA Jun 21, 2019
View Gallery
fallback
Gallery contains 4 images

COMBINED JOINT TASK FORCE – HORN OF AFRICA, Djibouti – Service members from Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa attended a Fundamentals of Global Health Engagement (FOGHE) course at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 11-13.

The three-day course centered on establishing and improving the awareness level and understanding of U.S. Department of Defense global health engagements. 

“Over the past year alone, there have been more than 20 health related engagements with our African partners, in collaboration with other U.S. Government agencies, both long and short term,” said U.S. Army Maj. Joe Pena, CJTF-HOA deputy surgeon general. “Another 10 health engagements are anticipated through the end of the fiscal year in the CJTF-HOA combined joint operations area, and area of interest.” 

During the course, the service members discussed the strategic, operational and civil-military considerations in the DoD global health engagements, and how these engagements support national security strategies and regional security objectives. Additionally, attendees gained an understanding of how to identify the complex components, such as social, economic and cultural considerations, of DoD health engagements.

“Global health engagements directly contribute to CJTF-HOA’s mission and lines of effort, advancing operational readiness, protecting our troops and building interoperability in order to improve the effectiveness of CJTF-HOA working with our African partners,” said Pena. 

A team of three instructors from the Center for Global Health Engagement, Uniformed Services University in Maryland were on board to present the course for the first time on the continent of Africa.

U.S. Army Spc. Bryan Weathers, a combat medic and healthcare specialist medic for the 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Warrior, New Jersey National Guard, assigned to CJTF-HOA, attended the FOGHE course. 

“I've done a lot of work with various organizations through my church back home, most of them working in Africa,” said Weathers. “Looking at how the DoD can support medical activities like this, and how we can support and build up partner nations medical capacities, brought the worlds of the military and humanitarian assistance together for me so I jumped at the opportunity to enroll in this course. I thought it was excellent. The instructors were incredibly knowledgeable and the class discussion was fantastic.”

CJTF-HOA hopes to host the course again in the future, expanding the invitation to other agencies across the African continent.

“CJTF-HOA is an enabler to regional stability and security through global health engagement,” said Pena. “It reduces risks to CJTF-HOA personnel while fostering the mission capability of our African partners’ forces, directly supporting U.S. Africa Command’s strategic themes.”

More in Media Room
One team: CJTF-HOA leaders visit troops in Kismayo, Somalia
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Brian Cashman, far right, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general, met with various personnel during a Battlefield Circulation visit May 1-2, 2025, at Cooperative Security Location, Kismayo, Somalia. Cashman routinely visits forward-deployed troops to meet with key leaders, check on the morale and welfare of service members and ensure overall mission readiness throughout the CJTF-HOA area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Allison Payne)
Read more
US Army engineers enhance medical capabilities at Baledogle Military Airfield, Somalia
The 152nd Engineer Support Company deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) is playing a pivotal role in enhancing both military operations and the quality of life for service members stationed at Baledogle Military Airfield (BMA), Somalia, through various construction projects, to include a recent build of a medical aid station.
Read more
Humans of HOA: From pulpit to battlefield
The air was heavy that day - not just from the summer heat, but from the weight of loss that clung to everyone in the room. Families sat close together, shoulders brushing, as if physical proximity could offer some small measure of comfort. Outside the chapel, the faint hum of military vehicles was a distant reminder of the larger conflict at hand. Inside, however, time felt suspended. It was just us, the grieving, and the silence.
Read more
More in Media Room
One team: CJTF-HOA leaders visit troops in Kismayo, Somalia
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Brian Cashman, far right, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general, met with various personnel during a Battlefield Circulation visit May 1-2, 2025, at Cooperative Security Location, Kismayo, Somalia. Cashman routinely visits forward-deployed troops to meet with key leaders, check on the morale and welfare of service members and ensure overall mission readiness throughout the CJTF-HOA area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Allison Payne)
Read more
US Army engineers enhance medical capabilities at Baledogle Military Airfield, Somalia
The 152nd Engineer Support Company deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) is playing a pivotal role in enhancing both military operations and the quality of life for service members stationed at Baledogle Military Airfield (BMA), Somalia, through various construction projects, to include a recent build of a medical aid station.
Read more
Humans of HOA: From pulpit to battlefield
The air was heavy that day - not just from the summer heat, but from the weight of loss that clung to everyone in the room. Families sat close together, shoulders brushing, as if physical proximity could offer some small measure of comfort. Outside the chapel, the faint hum of military vehicles was a distant reminder of the larger conflict at hand. Inside, however, time felt suspended. It was just us, the grieving, and the silence.
Read more
More in Media Room
One team: CJTF-HOA leaders visit troops in Kismayo, Somalia
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Brian Cashman, far right, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general, met with various personnel during a Battlefield Circulation visit May 1-2, 2025, at Cooperative Security Location, Kismayo, Somalia. Cashman routinely visits forward-deployed troops to meet with key leaders, check on the morale and welfare of service members and ensure overall mission readiness throughout the CJTF-HOA area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Allison Payne)
Read more
US Army engineers enhance medical capabilities at Baledogle Military Airfield, Somalia
The 152nd Engineer Support Company deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) is playing a pivotal role in enhancing both military operations and the quality of life for service members stationed at Baledogle Military Airfield (BMA), Somalia, through various construction projects, to include a recent build of a medical aid station.
Read more
Humans of HOA: From pulpit to battlefield
The air was heavy that day - not just from the summer heat, but from the weight of loss that clung to everyone in the room. Families sat close together, shoulders brushing, as if physical proximity could offer some small measure of comfort. Outside the chapel, the faint hum of military vehicles was a distant reminder of the larger conflict at hand. Inside, however, time felt suspended. It was just us, the grieving, and the silence.
Read more