U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), speaks to a group of service members during an award ceremony, at an airfield in East Africa, Jan 15, 2021. Townsend traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)

U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), meets with Lt. Col. Nicholas Wabeke, commander, 776th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron, at an airfield in East Africa, Jan. 15, 2021. Townsend traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz, in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)

Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher, command senior enlisted leader, Africa Command (AFRICOM), congratulates a service member during an award ceremony at Camp Lemonnier Djibouti, Jan. 15, 2021. Thresher was part of a five-day visit to East Africa with U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command. During the trip, Thresher recognized U.S. forces and spoke with partner military leadership about training possibilities. (U.S. National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)

Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher, command senior enlisted leader, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), greets by a Military Working Dog during an award ceremony at Camp Lemonnier Djibouti, Jan. 15, 2021. Thresher traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz, in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)

U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commanding general, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher, command senior enlisted leader, AFRICOM, recognizes top performers at an award ceremony, Jan. 15, 2021, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Townsend traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz, in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)

U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commanding general, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher, command senior enlisted leader, AFRICOM, recognizes top performers at an award ceremony, Jan. 15, 2021, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Townsend traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz, in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)

U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), meets with U.S. Air Force Col. Ryan Bohner, commander, 449th Air Expeditionary Group, at an airfield in East Africa, Jan. 15, 2021. Townsend traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz, in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)

U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), speaks to a group of service members during an award ceremony, at an airfield in East Africa, Jan 15, 2021. Townsend traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz, in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)