U.S. Air Force Col. James Kriesel, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa chief of staff, and French Marine Col. Jean-Bruno Despouys, 5th Marines commanding officer, conduct a Pass and Review during a ceremony at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015. During the ceremony, three U.S. Army personnel received a French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) for saving the life of a French service member during a motor vehicle accident Feb. 27, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Hames, Sgt. Rawan Abudahrieh and Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Bright receive the French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) June 11, 2015, for providing life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in Feb. 27, 2015. The French National Defense Medal is awarded on three levels—bronze, silver and gold. Silver and gold-level medals are usually reserved to French individuals who have served in the French military for several years, and it is rare for U.S. service members to receive this award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
U.S. Army soldiers receive French National Defense Medal (Silver Level)
6/12/2015
U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Hames, Sgt. Rawan Abudahrieh and Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Bright receive the French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) June 11, 2015, for providing life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in Feb. 27, 2015. The French National Defense Medal is awarded on three levels—bronze, silver and gold. Silver and gold-level medals are usually reserved to French individuals who have served in the French military for several years, and it is rare for U.S. service members to receive this award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
*Note: to see previous story, visit https://www.hoa.africom.mil/story/11651/training-for-reality-army-civil-affairs
The Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) Marching Band performs during the FAD’s 38th anniversary celebration June 6, 2015 at Camp Cheik Osman, Djibouti,. The FAD invited leadership from their partner nations in honor of their independence day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nesha Humes)
From left, William P. West, Combined Joint Task Force- Horn of Africa deputy commander, Col. James Kreisel, CJTF-HOA chief of staff, and Maj. Gen. Edward Tonini, Kentucky National Guard adjutant general, wait for the Djiboutian Armed Forces’ (FAD) 38th anniversary celebration to begin at Camp Cheik Osman, Djibouti, June 6, 2015. Tonini attended the event after representing the KNG in ratifying a state partnership agreement with the FAD days earlier. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nesha Humes)
The Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) Marching Band performs during the Djiboutian Armed Forces’ (FAD) 38th anniversary celebration June 6, 2015 at Camp Cheik Osman, Djibouti. The FAD was created June, 6, 1977, 21 days before becoming an independent country. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nesha Humes)
Gen. Zakaria Cheikh Ibrahim, Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) chief of defense, salutes his troops during the FAD’s 38th anniversary celebration at Camp Cheik Osman, Djibouti, June 6, 2015. Zakaria gained command in 2013 and is responsible for 6500 Djiboutian military personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nesha Humes)
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, listen to a speaker during the Djiboutian Armed Forces’ (FAD) 38th anniversary celebration June 6, 2015 at Camp Cheik Osman, Djibouti. The FAD invited its partner nations to celebrate the creation of the FAD while observing the pride and professionalism of Djibouti’s service members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nesha Humes)
Djiboutian Army members march during the Djiboutian Armed Forces’ (FAD) 38th anniversary celebration June 6, 2015 at Camp Cheik Osman, Djibouti,. The FAD is comprised of 6500 Army, Air Force and Navy personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nesha Humes)
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa leaders joined Djiboutian military service members in celebration of the Djiboutian Armed Forces' 38th anniversary.
Brig. Gen. William P. West, Combined Joint Task Force- Horn of Africa deputy commander, speaks to public information officers during an African Union Mission in Somalia and Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa PIO Conference at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 2, 2015. CJTF-HOA hosted the three-day conference to educate and encourage the free flow of information between AMISOM partner nations.
Lt. Col. Paul Njuguna Muiru, African Union Mission in Somalia force spokesperson, asks a question during a Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa Public Information Officer Conference at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 2, 2015. Twenty-eight military public information officers met together to collaborate and discuss public affairs strategic communication and information operations.
East African military public information officers gathered for the third annual African Union Mission in Somalia and Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa Public Information Officer Conference at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 2-4, 2015.
Djibouti, Kentucky National Guard sign historic partnership agreement
6/4/2015
The Kentucky National Guard and the Republic of Djibouti signed a State Partnership Program agreement June 2, 2015. The SPP is a program that pairs a state’s National Guard with the armed forces of a partner country in a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
Djibouti, Kentucky National Guard sign historic partnership agreement
6/4/2015
Maj. Gen. Zakaria Cheik Ibrahim, (left), Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) chief of defense and Maj. Gen. Edward Tonini, Kentucky National Guard (KNG) adjutant general, sign a State Partnership Program agreement at the Kempinski Hotel, Djibouti, June 2, 2015. The agreement means a long term cooperative agreement between the KNG and FAD that will foster mutually beneficial exchanges between the two at all levels of the military as well as the civilian world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Maysonet)
Djibouti, Kentucky National Guard sign historic partnership agreement
6/4/2015
Representatives of the Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) attend the Kentucky National Guard and FAD State Partnership Program agreement signing ceremony at the Kempinski Hotel, Djibouti, June 2, 2015. The Republic of Djibouti is the 11th African country to join a SPP and the first in East Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Maysonet)
Djibouti, Kentucky National Guard sign historic partnership agreement
6/4/2015
National Guard Bureau Joint Chief of Staff Gen. Frank Grass speaks at the Kentucky National Guard and the Republic of Djibouti State Partnership Program signing ceremony at the Kempinski Hotel, Djibouti, June 2, 2015. Grass spoke about the need for state’s National Guard to continue to build close and lasting personal relationships with U.S. partner nations around the world through agreements like the SPP. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Maysonet)
Djibouti, Kentucky National Guard sign historic partnership agreement
6/4/2015
Maj. Gen. Zakaria Cheik Ibrahim, Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) chief of defense, speaks at the Kentucky National Guard and FAD State Partnership Program agreement signing ceremony at the Kempinski Hotel, Djibouti, June 2, 2015. Zakaria spoke about the strong partnership between the U.S. and Djibouti that began with both countries’ commitment to fight terrorism after 9/11, which led to the American presence at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Maysonet)
Djibouti, Kentucky National Guard sign historic partnership agreement
6/4/2015
From left, Maj. Gen. Zakaria Cheik Ibrahim, Djiboutian Armed Forces chief of defense, National Guard Bureau Joint Chief of Staff Gen. Frank Grass, Maj. Gen. Edward Tonini, Kentucky National Guard adjutant general and U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti Thomas Kelly, stand during the American and Djiboutian national anthems during the Kentucky National Guard and the Republic of Djibouti State Partnership Program signing ceremony at the Kempinski Hotel, Djibouti, June 2, 2015. The SPP provides host countries with a skilled force capable of helping to train and develop the host nation’s defenses and security, disaster response, crisis management, and interagency cooperation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Maysonet)
Djibouti, Kentucky National Guard sign historic partnership agreement for East Africa
6/4/2015
For 22 years, the National Guard has partnered with the armed forces of allied countries to build and strengthen military, political, economic and societal relationships. In a historic first for East Africa, Representatives from the Kentucky National Guard (KNG) and the Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) ratified a state partnership agreement in a signing ceremony held at the Kempinski Hotel in Djibouti City, June 2, 2015.
