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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Harry Jenkins, left, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa physical therapist, conducts a physical therapy consultation for Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Arriola, CJTF - HOA force protection liaison officer, at Cooperative Security Location, Kismayo, Somalia, May 21, 2025. Members of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa surgeon cell make regular visits to forward-deployed troops at outstations to support the mental and physical well-being of service members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerman)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerma
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Harry Jenkins, right, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa physical therapist, performs corrective therapy on 1st Lt. Austin Eby, Cooperative Security Location Kismayo security forces officer in charge, at CSL Kismayo, Somalia, May 20, 2025. Battlefield circulations to outstations ensure forward-deployed personnel receive essential care necessary to maintaining unit readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerman)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerma
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Arriola, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa force protection liaison officer, receives corrective therapy at Cooperative Security Location, Kismayo, Somalia, May 21, 2025. In-theater physical therapy care maximizes service member’s time by reducing the need to travel for care, returning them to the mission sooner. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerman)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerma
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Austin Eby, Cooperative Security Location Kismayo security forces officer in charge, performs physical therapy stretches at Cooperative Security Location Kismayo, Somalia, May 20, 2025. Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa physical therapists are force multipliers, ensuring personnel receive in-theater care, shortening their return to duty time and ultimately maintaining readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerman)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerma
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Arriola, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa force protection liaison officer, performs physical therapy stretches at Cooperative Security Location, Kismayo, Somalia, May 21, 2025. CJTF-HOA physical therapists are force multipliers, ensuring personnel receive in-theater care, shortening their return to duty time and ultimately maintaining readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerman)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerma
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Harry Jenkins, right, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa physical therapist, explains at-home physical therapy exercises to U.S. Army 1st Lt. Austin Eby, Cooperative Security Location Kismayo security forces officer in charge, at CSL Kismayo, Somalia, May 20, 2025. At-home exercise programs enable continued rehabilitation beyond the initial consultation, supporting long-term recovery. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerman)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerma
Members of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Surgeon Cell conducted a battlefield circulation visit to Cooperative Security Location, Kismayo, to provide members with physical therapy care, along with other medical resources, May 19-24.
Battlefield circulations are a way for leaders and support agencies to visit troops forward-deployed to outstations, such as CSL. During this visit, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Harry Jenkins, CJTF-HOA physical therapist, conducted consultations with service members to evaluate and address physical concerns and injuries.
“Personnel forward-deployed to outstations are regularly on the go, getting after all kinds of missions, so oftentimes what I see are a lot of job-related injuries,” said Jenkins. “That’s really the basis of why I’m here, to treat those individuals and get them back out there doing the mission.”
Troops assigned to CSL Kismayo work relentlessly, driving the CJTF-HOA mission. Their work enhances partner nation capacities, promotes regional stability and protects U.S. commercial interests, so it’s important to keep them ready and functioning, to keep the mission moving forward.
“You can imagine the lost man hours and expenses to units losing their people for prolonged periods of time,” said Jenkins. “Having physical therapy at the outstations, where they’re getting after unique missions, keeps Soldiers in the theater and gets them back to duty in a faster time frame.”
Ensuring service members have access to these physical therapy resources is essential to maintaining the physical well-being of the fighting force - though the road to recovery can extend beyond a single appointment. Recovery requires buy-in from each member to continue working towards being healthy.
“Recovery is a team effort,” said Jenkins. “The vast majority of patients receive a home exercise program, so the Soldier, Airman, Marine, or Sailor needs to be dedicated to the program. They have to take ownership and responsibility for their care if they come into the clinic.”
The work physical therapists do as force multipliers is essential to the CJTF-HOA mission. Jenkins understands the importance of his role, using his extensive medical background to keep troops fit to fight to support CJTF-HOA’s responsibility of supporting ongoing operations across East Africa.
“I am proud to be a physical therapist carrying out the Army concept of sports medicine on the battlefield,” said Jenkins. “It’s an honor to support these service members in their recovery and help them return to the mission.”
