The 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation, Airfield Operations Battalion (AOB) transferred authority of the air operations mission to 2nd Battalion, 130th Aviation AOB during a ceremony at Camp Lemmonier, Djibouti, Feb. 20, 2023. The Airfield Operations Battalion is tasked with ensuring safe air passage throughout challenging airspace in the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) area of interest. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Phuong Au)
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Travis Betz, commander of the 1-58th Air Operations Battalion (AOB), and Command Sgt. Maj. Brice Jackson, the senior enlisted leader of the 1-58th AOB, cased their unit’s colors to signify the end of the unit’s authority and the completion of their mission during a ceremony at Camp Lemmonier, Djibouti, Feb. 20, 2023. The AOB is tasked with ensuring safe air passage throughout challenging airspace in the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) area of interest. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Phuong Au)
Lt. Col. Patrick J. Szvetitz, commander of the 2-130th Airfield Operations Battalion (AOB), and Command Sgt. Maj. Melodie Hunt, the senior enlisted leader of the 2-130th AOB unfurl their unit’s colors to signify the start of their mission during a ceremony at Camp Lemmonier, Djibouti, Feb. 20, 2023. CJTF-HOA provides dependable, tactical and strategic support to operations across East Africa. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Phuong Au)
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Travis Betz, commander of the 1-58th Air Operations Battalion expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to command the air operations mission at Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Lemmonier, Djibouti, Feb. 20, 2023. CJTF-HOA provides dependable, tactical and strategic support to operations across East Africa. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Phuong Au)
1-58th AOB transfers air operations mission to 2-130th AOB
3/17/2023
The 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation, Airfield Operations Battalion (AOB), transferred authority of the air operations mission to 2nd Battalion, 130th Aviation (AOB) during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Feb. 20, 2023.
U.S. Army Service Members are presented with the French Desert Commando Badge during a ceremony following the completion of the French Desert Commando Course Feb. 02, at the Centre Dentrainment Au Combat Djibouti. Participants who successfully completed the training, which was hosted by the hosted by the French 5th Overseas Interarms Regiment, received the prestigious desert commando badge. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Emily Held)
U.S. Army Service Members stand in formation during a ceremony following the completion of the French Desert Commando Course Feb. 02, at the Centre Dentrainment Au Combat Djibouti. Participants who successfully completed the training, which was hosted by the hosted by the French 5th Overseas Interarms Regiment, received the prestigious desert commando badge. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Emily Held)
U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Jeffrey Dorvee, the Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, senior enlisted leader, crawls across a rope during the French Desert Commando Course Feb. 01, at the Centre Dentrainment Au Combat Djibouti. Participants who successfully completed the training, which was hosted by the hosted by the French 5th Overseas Interarms Regiment, received the prestigious desert commando badge. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Rector)
U.S. Army Spc. Rafael Ramos, a signal support system specialist assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, traverses a rope bridge during the French Desert Commando Course from Feb. 01, at the Centre Dentrainment Au Combat Djibouti. Participants who successfully completed the training, which was hosted by the hosted by the French 5th Overseas Interarms Regiment, received the prestigious desert commando badge. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Rector)
U.S. Army Spc. Barry Lindenoll, an infantryman assigned to Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, traverses a cable during the French Desert Commando Course Jan. 29, at the Centre Dentrainment Au Combat Djibouti. Participants who successfully completed the training, which was hosted by the hosted by the French 5th Overseas Interarms Regiment, received the prestigious desert commando badge. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Rector)
A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, scales a water obstacle during the French Desert Commando Course Jan. 30, at the Centre Dentrainment Au Combat Djibouti. Participants who successfully completed the training, which was hosted by the hosted by the French 5th Overseas Interarms Regiment, received the prestigious desert commando badge. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Rector)
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Brendan Kalaf, the Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, executive officer, leaps from a water obstacle during the French Desert Commando Course Jan. 30, at the Centre Dentrainment Au Combat Djibouti. Participants who successfully completed the training, which was hosted by the hosted by the French 5th Overseas Interarms Regiment, received the prestigious desert commando badge. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Rector)
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Brendan Kalaf, the Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, executive officer, overcomes a water obstacle during the French Desert Commando Course Jan. 30, at the Centre Dentrainment Au Combat Djibouti. Participants who successfully completed the training, which was hosted by the hosted by the French 5th Overseas Interarms Regiment, received the prestigious desert commando badge. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Rector)
U.S. Service Members deployed to Horn of Africa complete grueling French Desert Commando Course
2/28/2023
Thirty-one U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers and one U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) earned the prestigious French Desert Commando Badge after completing the arduous French Desert Commando Course (FDCC) in Djibouti, Africa, Feb. 3.
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Timothy Harford, first sergeant for the 475th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron located at Manda Bay, Kenya poses next to his unit's welcome sign. A former F-15 aircraft crew chief and current first sergeant with the 159th Maintenance Squadron, Louisiana Air National Guard back home in New Orleans, Harford is the only member from his unit deployed to Manda Bay
(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Toby Valadie)
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Timothy Harford, first sergeant for the 475th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron located at Manda Bay, talks to U.S. Army Spc. Emily Held, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa while she visited Manda Bay on Feb. 20, 2023. A first sergeant’s responsibilities include the readiness, health, morale, welfare and quality of life of their Airmen to ensure a mission-ready force. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Master Sgt. Toby Valadie)
Military deployments can be stressful. Military deployments to a remote base in East Africa can be even more stressful. Fortunately, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Timothy Harford, first sergeant for the 475th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron located at Manda Bay, Kenya is there to assist his Airmen and tenant units and provide them with the resources needed to accomplish their mission.
U.S. Army security personnel organize a perimeter around a KC-130 as its U.S. Marine Corps crew members unload supplies in support of a simulated Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) exercise at Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti, Feb. 22, 2023. The ability of a Joint Force Commander to move their forces fluidly across the theater to seize, retain and utilize initiatives against an adversary is key to ensuring readiness and resilience, and protecting assets and personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jayson Burns)
A U.S. Marine Corps KC-130 crew member prepares to conduct a refueling operation in support of a simulated Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) exercise at Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti, Feb. 22, 2023. The FARP mission makes it possible to quickly refuel and rearm because aircraft supporting combat operations can refuel much closer to their area of operation, saving a significant amount of time. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jayson Burns)
U.S. Marine Corps KC-130 crew members load supplies in support of a simulated Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) exercise at Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti, Feb. 22, 2023. The FARP mission makes it possible to quickly refuel and rearm because aircraft supporting combat operations can refuel much closer to their area of operation, saving a significant amount of time. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jayson Burns)
