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Task Force Iron Gray concludeds security mission in East Africa
Lt. Col. Frank Tantillo, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Morgan, senior enlisted leader, 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), case the battalion flag during a transfer of authority ceremony, Jan. 8, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The furling of the regimental colors signifies the conclusion of the battalion's responsibilities and official transfer of the mission to the incoming battalion, 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon. The task force serves as the standing security force element for CJTF-HOA, providing security, crisis response capabilities and building partnerships throughout East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements
Photo 2 of 14
Task Force Iron Gray concludeds security mission in East Africa
Lt. Col. James Tierney, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Duane Wolfe, senior enlisted leader, 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), unfurls the battalion flag during a transfer of authority ceremony, Jan. 8, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The uncasing of the regimental colors signifies the battalion's assumption of responsibility and official transfer of the security force mission from the outgoing 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray. The task force serves as the standing security force element for CJTF-HOA, providing security, crisis response capabilities and building partnerships throughout East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements
Photo 3 of 14
Task Force Iron Gray concludeds security mission in East Africa
Lt. Col. Frank Tantillo, commander, 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force
Iron Gray, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), addresses attendees during a transfer of authority ceremony, Jan. 8, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The transfer of authority signifies the official transfer of the security force mission from the outgoing 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray, to the incoming battalion, 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon. The task force serves as the standing security force element for CJTF-HOA, providing security, crisis response capabilities and building partnerships throughout East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements
Photo 4 of 14
Task Force Iron Gray concludeds security mission in East Africa
Lt. Col. Frank Tantillo, commander, 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), cases the battalion flag during a transfer of authority ceremony, Jan. 8, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The furling of the regimental colors signifies the conclusion of the battalion's responsibilities and official transfer of the mission to the incoming battalion, 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon. The task force serves as the standing security force element for CJTF-HOA, providing security, crisis response capabilities and building partnerships throughout East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements
Photo 5 of 14
Task Force Iron Gray concludeds security mission in East Africa
Maj. Gen. William Zana, commanding general, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), addresses attendees during a transfer of authority ceremony, Jan. 8, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The transfer of authority signifies the official transfer of the security force mission from the outgoing 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray, to the incoming battalion, 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon. The task force serves as the standing security force element for CJTF-HOA, providing security, crisis response capabilities and building partnerships throughout East Africa.
(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements
Photo 6 of 14
Task Force Iron Gray concludeds security mission in East Africa
Lt. Col. Frank Tantillo, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Morgan, senior enlisted leader, 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), case the battalion flag during a transfer of authority ceremony, Jan. 8, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The furling of the regimental colors signifies the conclusion of the battalion's responsibilities and official transfer of the mission to the incoming battalion, 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon. The task force serves as the standing security force element for CJTF-HOA, providing security, crisis response capabilities and building partnerships throughout East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements
Photo 7 of 14
Task Force Iron Gray concludeds security mission in East Africa
Lt. Col. James Tierney, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Duane Wolfe, senior enlisted leader, 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), unfurls the battalion flag during a transfer of authority ceremony, Jan. 8, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The uncasing of the regimental colors signifies the battalion's assumption of responsibility and official transfer of the security force mission from the outgoing 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray. The task force serves as the standing security force element for CJTF-HOA, providing security, crisis response capabilities and building partnerships throughout East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements
Photo 8 of 14
Task Force Iron Gray concludeds security mission in East Africa
Capt. David Porter, chaplain, 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), leads the benediction during a transfer of authority ceremony, Jan. 8, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The transfer of authority signifies the official transfer of the security force mission from the outgoing 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray, to the incoming battalion, 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon. The task force serves as the standing security force element for CJTF-HOA, providing security, crisis response capabilities and building partnerships throughout East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements
Photo 9 of 14
Task Force Iron Gray concludeds security mission in East Africa
Lt. Col. James Tierney, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Duane Wolfe, senior enlisted leader, 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), unfurls the battalion flag during a transfer of authority ceremony, Jan. 8, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The uncasing of the regimental colors signifies the battalion's assumption of responsibility and official transfer of the security force mission from the outgoing 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray. The task force serves as the standing security force element for CJTF-HOA, providing security, crisis response capabilities and building partnerships throughout East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements
Photo 10 of 14
Task Force Iron Gray concludeds security mission in East Africa
U.S. Army Soldiers with the 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray and the 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), stand together during a transfer of authority ceremony, Jan. 8, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The transfer of authority signifies the official transfer of the security force mission from the outgoing 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray, to the incoming battalion, 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon. The task force serves as the standing security force element for CJTF-HOA, providing security, crisis response capabilities and building partnerships throughout East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements
Photo 11 of 14
Task Force Iron Gray concludeds security mission in East Africa
Lt. Col. James Tierney, commander, 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), addresses attendees during a transfer of authority ceremony, Jan. 8, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The transfer of authority signifies the official transfer of the security force mission from the outgoing 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray, to the incoming battalion, 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon. The task force serves as the standing security force element for CJTF-HOA, providing security, crisis response capabilities and building partnerships throughout East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements
Photo 12 of 14
Task Force Iron Gray concludeds security mission in East Africa
Lt. Col. James Tierney, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Duane Wolfe, senior enlisted leader, 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), unfurls the battalion flag during a transfer of authority ceremony, Jan. 8, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The uncasing of the regimental colors signifies the battalion's assumption of responsibility and official transfer of the security force mission from the outgoing 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray. The task force serves as the standing security force element for CJTF-HOA, providing security, crisis response capabilities and building partnerships throughout East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements
Photo 13 of 14
Task Force Iron Gray concludes security mission in East Africa
U.S. Army Soldiers with the 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray and the 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), salute during a transfer of authority ceremony, Jan. 8, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The transfer of authority signifies the official transfer of the security force mission from the outgoing 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray, to the incoming battalion, 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon. The task force serves as the standing security force element for CJTF-HOA, providing security, crisis response capabilities and building partnerships throughout East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Gauret Stearns)
Photo by: Spc. Gauret Stearns
Photo 14 of 14
Task Force Iron Gray concludes security mission in East Africa
Lt. Col. Frank Tantillo, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Morgan, senior enlisted leader, 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), case the battalion flag during a transfer of authority ceremony, Jan. 8, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The furling of the regimental colors signifies the conclusion of the battalion's responsibilities and official transfer of the mission to the incoming battalion, 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon. The task force serves as the standing security force element for CJTF-HOA, providing security, crisis response capabilities and building partnerships throughout East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Gauret Stearns)
Photo by: Spc. Gauret Stearns
The U.S. Army National Guard’s 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain) and the 1-116th Infantry Regiment have a shared past. Throughout history, the two U.S. Army battalions have fought both alongside and even against one another. From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, and reuniting during WWI, the two battalions have once again met, this time in Africa, passing the torch of responsibility for the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa’s (CJTF-HOA) security forces mission.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Frank Tantillo, 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray commander, cased the battalion’s flag to signify the unit handing mission responsibility over to the 1-116th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon, during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Jan. 8, 2022.
“We are here to recognize the tremendous efforts of Task Force Iron Gray... and welcome the Task Force Red Dragon team to East Africa,” said Maj. Gen. William Zana, CJTF-HOA commander.
During their time in the Horn of Africa, Zana said, Task Force Iron Gray exceeded expectations, including achieving unprecedented levels of engagement with many foreign partners.
“Our relationships with our Djiboutian, French, Japanese, Italian, Spanish and many African nation partners are stronger than ever largely as a result of Task Force Iron Gray’s focused engagement, effort and teamwork across all of our joint services,” Zana said. “You’ve made a tremendous impact and left an extremely positive legacy.”
As Africa’s largest single tactical unit on continent, this task force makes up more than two-thirds of the CJTF-HOA force and is critical to providing security, crisis response capabilities and building partnerships throughout East Africa in support of U.S. Africa Command.
“We have been the multi-tool of the U.S. Africa Command,” Tantillo said. “Executing anything asked of us to a high standard.”
The battalion, with approximately 1,000 Soldiers mostly operating from Camp Lemonnier, worked to maintain and strengthen relationships with allied and partner nations.
“We could not have done this without our partners,” Tantillo said. “Our exchanges and partnerships have enriched our mission and have prepared us for the future.”
The incoming unit, Task Force Red Dragon, is primarily comprised of Soldiers from the Virginia Army National Guard with an additional company from the Kentucky Army National Guard.
While preparing for this overseas mission, the Citizen Soldiers continued to support domestic operations including natural disaster relief, COVID-19 response and assisting law enforcement with security operations. The culmination of these experiences – coupled with an extensive pre-mobilization training schedule – has prepared Task Force Red Dragon for the “incredibly challenging and rewarding mission” ahead, Zana said.
Lt. Col. James Tierney, Task Force Red Dragon commander, thanked Task Force Iron Gray and leadership for their commitment to improving the mission for both their Soldiers and for Task Force Red Dragon.
“The exceptional achievements from Task Force Iron Gray over the past year have established a solid foundation for Task Force Red Dragon to build upon,” Tierney said. “We stand ready to execute all assigned missions as we move ever forward.”
