U.S. Army Col. Wilson Rutherford, right, U.S. Military Coordination Cell Mogadisu, discusses support requirements for a pending Burundi National Defense Force offensive during a visit to the African Union Mission in Somalia Sector 5 Headquarters located in northern Mogadishu. AMISOM forces have been instrumental in helping Somali National Security Forces push the Al Qaeda-affiliated terror group, al Shabaab, out of much of southern Somalia including most major towns and cities. (BNDF Courtesy Photo)
U.S. Army Col. Wilson Rutherford, center, U.S. Military Coordination Cell Mogadisu, addresses Burundi National Defense Forces staff on the U.S. commitment to support BNDF serving in the African Union Mission in Somalia during a visit to the AMISOM Sector 5 Headquarters located in northern Mogadishu. The MCC is a prime component of the Combined Joint Task Force –Horn of Africa whose mission is to help build the defense capability, capacity, and coordination among its East African partners to improve capacity to neutralize violent extremist organizations. (BNDF Courtesy Photo)
Col. Bibonimana, right, Burundi National Defense Forces, jokes with U.S. Army Col. Wilson Rutherford, U.S. Military Coordination Cell Mogadishu, during a visit to the African Union Mission in Somalia Sector 5 Headquarters located in northern Mogadishu. The MCC provides planning and advisory support to the AMISOM and Somali security forces to increase their capabilities and promote peace and security throughout Somalia and the region. (BNDF Courtesy Photo)
U.S. Army Col. Wilson Rutherford, U.S. Military Coordination Cell Mogadishu and Col. Bibonimana, Burundi National Defense Forces right, receive an Operations and Intelligence update from the BNDF staff offensive during a visit to the African Union Mission in Somalia Sector 5 Headquarters located in northern Mogadishu. The MCC’s mission is to increase defense capability, capacity, and coordination among its East African partner in their pursuit to neutralize violent extremist organizations. (BNDF Courtesy Photo)
Military Coordination Cell Mogadishu meets with BNDF
10/3/2015
The Burundi National Defense Force is a member of the African Union Mission in Somalia. U.S. Army Col. Wilson Rutherford, Military Coordination Cell Mogadishu, met with BNDF representatives in Mogadishu prior to a Burundi offensive. The MCC’s mission is to increase defense capability, capacity, and coordination among its East African partner in their pursuit to neutralize violent extremist organizations. (Courtesy photos)
U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians conduct a routine anti-terrorism force protection dive off the coast of Djibouti, Africa, Sept. 22, 2015. Assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, EOD technicians are trained to disarm explosive devices and clear underwater obstructions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nesha Humes)
U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians signal before going underwater during a routine anti-terrorism force protection dive off the coast of Djibouti, Africa, Sept. 22, 2015. They can carry out these missions in any operational environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nesha Humes)
U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians perform a buddy check during a routine anti-terrorism force protection dive off the coast of Djibouti, Africa, Sept. 22, 2015. They can carry out these missions in any operational environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nesha Humes)
A U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician prepares for a routine anti-terrorism force protection dive off the coast of Djibouti, Africa, Sept. 22, 2015. Assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, EOD technicians are trained to disarm explosive devices and clear underwater obstructions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nesha Humes)
EOD technicians perform anti-terrorism force protection dives
10/2/2015
U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, operate off the coast of Djibouti, Africa, during routine anti-terrorism force protection dives. EOD technicians are trained to disarm explosive devices and clear underwater obstructions.
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Heather Wright, gives a salute during a pinning ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 16, 2015. Wright was the only Army soldier to attend the Navy Chief Petty Officer 365 Phase Two season at the camp, which teaches leadership and resiliency skills to senior noncommissioned officers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Heather Wright, receives an anchor, symbolizing her status as an honorary member of Camp Lemonnier's Chief Petty Officers Mess, during a pinning ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 16, 2015. The two-month Navy Chief Petty Officer 365 Phase Two season develops new chief petty officers through challenging mental and physical activities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Heather Wright, receives an anchor, symbolizing her status as an honorary member of Camp Lemonnier's Chief Petty Officers Mess, during a pinning ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 16, 2015. The two-month Navy Chief Petty Officer 365 Phase Two season develops new chief petty officers through challenging mental and physical activities. (U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Drae Parker)
New chief selectees who go through CPO-365 Phase Two are given charge books to carry during their final stages. The book is kept inside an ornate wooden box or "vessel" as a keepsake of their transition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Heather Wright, Army Command Element NCO in charge, sings the Navy song, Anchors Aweigh, during a pinning ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 16, 2015. Wright was the only Army soldier to attend the Navy Chief Petty Officer 365 Phase Two at the camp, which teaches leadership skills to senior noncommissioned officers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment flag is rolled, and the 2nd BN, 124th Infantry Regiment flag is unrolled during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 24, 2015. The regimental colors are a physical symbol of a unit’s pride. The casing of the 1st BN, 77th AR colors signify it’s mission completion, while the uncasing of the 2nd BN, 124th IR colors signifies its preparedness to assume its role within Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
Soldiers listen to Lt. Col. Tommy Cardone, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment commander, during a ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 24, 2015. The ceremony signified the transfer of authority from the 1st BN, 77th AR to the 2nd BN, 124th Infantry Regiment. Upon completion of their tour, 1st BN, 77th AR soldiers will return to Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
Lt. Col. Jerry Glass, 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment commander, addresses service members during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 24, 2015. The 2nd BN, 124th IR has more than 800 soldiers and is one of the largest battalions in the Florida Army National Guard. The incoming soldiers are replacing 1st BN, 77th Armor Regiment soldiers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
The 2nd Battalion. 124th Infantry Regiment soldiers stand in formation during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 24, 2015. The soldiers will take over the responsibilities and tasks that the 1st BN, 77th Armor Regiment performed during their time assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
