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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, commanding general of the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), delivers comments during a transfer of authority ceremony between the 1st Battalion, 107th Aviation Regiment (Airfield Operations Battalion) to the 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment (AOB) at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 15, 2022. The 1-107th AOB arrived to Djibouti in October 2021 and managed three critical sites across East Africa during their deployment. The 1-58th AOB assumed their mission June 15, now providing support to CJTF-HOA. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lynette M. Rolen)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Lynette Rolen
Photo 2 of 8
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Lodes, battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 107th Aviation Regiment (AOB), delivers comments during the Air Operations Battalion (AOB) transfer of authority ceremony from the 1-107th AOB to the 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment (AOB) at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 15, 2022. The 1-107th AOB conducted over 12,500 aircraft movements and throughput of over 2,400 passengers without incident during their deployment in support of CJTF-HOA. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lynette M. Rolen)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Lynette Rolen
Photo 3 of 8
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Travis Betz (left), battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment (AOB) and U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Shane Kester (right), senior enlisted leader of the 1-58th AOB, uncase the regiment colors during the Air Operations Battalion (AOB) transfer of authority ceremony from the 1st Battalion, 107th Aviation Regiment (AOB) to the 1-58th AOB at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 15, 2022. The uncasing of the colors signifies the battalion’s arrival and preparedness to assume its role within the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lynette M. Rolen)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Lynette Rolen
Photo 4 of 8
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Lodes (left), battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 107th Aviation Regiment (AOB), and U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. John Maison, senior enlisted leader of the 1-107th AOB, case the colors during the Air Operations Battalion (AOB) transfer of authority ceremony from the 1-107th AOB to the 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment (AOB) at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 15, 2022. The casing of the colors signifies mission completion and that the battalion is prepared to redeploy back home. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lynette M. Rolen)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Lynette Rolen
Photo 5 of 8
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Travis Betz (left), battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment (AOB) and U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Shane Kester (right), senior enlisted leader of the 1-58th, uncase the regiment colors during the Air Operations Battalion (AOB) transfer of authority ceremony from the 1st Battalion, 107th Aviation Regiment (AOB) to the 1-58th AOB at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 15, 2022. The uncasing of the colors signifies the battalion’s arrival and preparedness to assume its role within the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lynette M. Rolen)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Lynette Rolen
Photo 6 of 8
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Travis Betz (left), battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment (AOB) and U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Shane Kester (right), senior enlisted leader of the 1-58th AOB, uncase the regiment colors during the Air Operations Battalion (AOB) transfer of authority ceremony from the 1st Battalion, 107th Aviation Regiment to the 1-58th AOB at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 15, 2022. The uncasing of the colors signifies the battalion’s arrival and preparedness to assume its role within the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lynette M. Rolen)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Lynette Rolen
Photo 7 of 8
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, commanding general of the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), delivers comments during the Air Operations Battalion (AOB) transfer of authority ceremony from the 1st Battalion, 107th Aviation Regiment (AOB) to the 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment (AOB) at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 15, 2022. The 1-107th AOB first arrived to Djibouti in October 2021, managing three critical sites across East Africa. The 1-58th AOB assumed their mission June 15, now providing support to CJTF-HOA. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lynette M. Rolen)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Lynette Rolen
Photo 8 of 8
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Travis Betz, battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment (AOB), delivers comments during the Air Operations Battalion (AOB) transfer of authority ceremony from the 1st Battalion, 107th Aviation Regiment (AOB) to the 1-58th AOB at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 15, 2022. The 1-58th AOB will assume the 1-107th AOB mission, providing support to CJTF-HOA’s warfighters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lynette M. Rolen)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Lynette Rolen
Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 107th Aviation Regiment, Airfield Operations Battalion (AOB), transferred authority of the air operations here to the 1st Battalion, 58th AOB June 15, 2022.
The AOB provides air traffic control and airfield management functions at airfields throughout East Africa in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, commander of the CJTF-HOA, presided over the ceremony.
“Wherever you went the airfields became sturdier, air traffic control operations more streamlined and, yes, the wildlife a bit more manageable,” said Shawley. “While cleaning and refurbishing critical areas for our forward deployed assets, you also took care of necessities to get the mission done. You successfully conducted over 12,500 aircraft movements and throughput of over 2,400 passengers without incident.”
The 1-107th AOB first arrived to Djibouti in October 2021, managing critical sites across East Africa.
Safety officers from the 1-107th AOB conducted airfield training for over 800 military and U.S. contractors as well as leading numerous pre-accident plan drills, increasing airfield mishap response readiness.
The standardization element of the AOB, combined with the Future Crisis Management Element and the East African Response Force, helped maintain a high degree of readiness to support embassies and crises response throughout the continent.
“The 1-107th has truly left its mark here in Eastern Africa, and I appreciate all of the efforts,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Lodes, battalion commander of the 1-107th AOB. “It’s now our time to come off the field and hand the ball off to the 1st-58th AOB. I wish Lt. Col. Betz and his team continued success and look forward to hearing what you’ve accomplished here in Eastern Africa.”
The battalion maintained operational movements in austere environments, continuously maintained critical runways, and de-conflicted with host nation aviation authorities.
“What you did mattered,” said Shawley. “CJTF-HOA provided support to operations and activities across our area of interest because of your commitment, diligence and success. I know the 1st-58th AOB will follow your example and continue to support our warfighters. I will always be here as your greatest supporter.”
The 1-58th AOB comes to CJTF-HOA from Fort Rucker, Alabama.
“We’re more than ready for the challenge,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Travis Betz, battalion commander of the 1-58th Aviation Regiment. “When we got here and we got on the ground, we started seeing the teamwork and support was there from the 1-107th. I couldn’t ask for any better. We’re excited to be here, ready to go, excited to be part of the team and doing everything we can to support the mission.”
