CJTF-HOA strengthens personnel recovery mission in East Africa
11/22/2021
The PRCC at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), conducts personnel recovery and casualty evacuation for U.S. and joint partners in East Africa.
To test their response time and demonstrate their capabilities, the PRCC conducted a full casualty evacuation exercise from start to finish. More importantly, the exercise served to examine their system for deficiencies.
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Michael Matthews, crew chief, 75th Expeditionary Air Squadron, takes in the views as he returns to Kenya for this first time in 20 years as part of the aircrew for a C-130 Hercules that landed at Camp Simba, Oct. 25, 2021. Matthews was born in Kenya and fled to the U.S., with the help of the U.S. Embassy, from an abusive father at the age of 5. As an adult, he joined the U.S. Air Force and was attached to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa where he has the opportunity to return to Kenya, with a mission to partner with Kenyan’s to bring stability and prosperity to his Homeland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Kobialka)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Michael Matthews, crew chief, 75th Expeditionary Air Squadron, takes in the views as he returns to Kenya for this first time in 20 years as part of the aircrew for a C-130 Hercules that landed at Camp Simba, Oct. 25, 2021. Matthews was born in Kenya and fled to the U.S., with the help of the U.S. Embassy, from an abusive father at the age of 5. As an adult, he joined the U.S. Air Force and was attached to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa where he has the opportunity to return to Kenya, with a mission to partner with Kenyan’s to bring stability and prosperity to his Homeland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Kobialka)
A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules, 75th Expeditionary Air Squadron, lands at Camp Simba, Oct. 25, 2021. On the flight was Airman 1st Class Michael Matthews, 75th EAS, who was born in Kenya and fled to the U.S., with the help of the U.S. Embassy, from an abusive father at the age of 5. As an adult, he joined the U.S. Air Force and was attached to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa where he has the opportunity to return to Kenya, with a mission to partner with Kenyan’s to bring stability and prosperity to his Homeland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Kobialka)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Michael Matthews, crew chief, 75th Expeditionary Air Squadron, smiles as he returns to Kenya for this first time in 20 years as part of the aircrew for a C-130 Hercules that landed at Camp Simba, Oct. 25, 2021. Matthews was born in Kenya and fled to the U.S., with the help of the U.S. Embassy, from an abusive father at the age of 5. As an adult, he joined the U.S. Air Force and was attached to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa where he has the opportunity to return to Kenya, with a mission to partner with Kenyan’s to bring stability and prosperity to his Homeland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Kobialka)
CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – The saying; ‘There’s no place like home’ doesn’t mean the same to everyone. Airman 1st Class Michael Matthews was born in Kenya, but had to flee at the age of five with his nine other siblings. Twenty years later, he returned as a C-130 Hercules crew chief in the U.S. Air Force.
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Dagger Company, 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), conduct weapons capabilities training and demonstrations to Japanese service members at the Djiboutian Range Complex, Djibouti, Oct. 23, 2021.
The Dagger Company Soldiers explained the capabilities of the M2 .50 caliber machine gun and M240L machine and demonstrated a mounted gunnery exercise using the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) mounted to a mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) all-terrain vehicle (M-ATV). The CROWS system allows a Soldier to remotely engage targets without leaving the protection of the vehicle.
CJTF-HOA, operating from Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, regularly trains with and works alongside allied and partner nations, coalition forces and interagency/intergovernmental organizations to achieve a unified effort in East Africa.
(U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Amanda Stock)
Yasushi Noguchi, Director General for International Affairs for Japan, and other Japanese leaders meet with Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) leadership at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 21, 2021. During the meeting they discussed future plans for combined cooperation in Djibouti. CJTF-HOA, operating from Camp Lemonnier, regularly trains with and works alongside allied and partner nations, coalition forces and interagency/intergovernmental organizations to achieve a unified effort in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Gauret Stearns)
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Zana, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) commander, addresses Japanese leadership at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 21, 2021. Yasushi Noguchi, Director General for International Affairs for Japan, and other Japanese leaders met with CJTF-HOA leadership to discuss future plans for combined cooperation in Djibouti. CJTF-HOA, operating from Camp Lemonnier, regularly trains with and works alongside allied and partner nations, coalition forces and interagency/intergovernmental organizations to achieve a unified effort in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Gauret Stearns)
Japanese Ambassador to Djibouti, Umio Otsuka, is greeted by U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Zana, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), commander, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 21, 2021. Otsuka was joined by Yasushi Noguchi, Director General for International Affairs for Japan, and other Japanese leaders, to meet with CJTF-HOA leadership to discuss future plans for combined cooperation in Djibouti. CJTF-HOA, operating from Camp Lemonnier, regularly trains with and works alongside allied and partner nations, coalition forces and interagency/intergovernmental organizations to achieve a unified effort in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Gauret Stearns)
Japanese and U.S. military service members compare medical aid bag contents during a Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) training at the Djiboutian Police Range, Djibouti, Sept. 29, 2021. The training provided CJTF-HOA leadership deeper insight into JSDF capabilities and training techniques. CJTF-HOA, operating from Camp Lemonnier, regularly trains with and works alongside allied and partner nations, coalition forces and interagency/intergovernmental organizations to achieve a unified effort in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Gauret Stearns)
U.S. leadership from Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) observe a Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) training at the Djiboutian Police Range, Djibouti, Sept. 29, 2021. The live fire exercise provided CJTF-HOA leadership deeper insight into JSDF capabilities and training techniques. CJTF-HOA, operating from Camp Lemonnier, regularly trains with and works alongside allied and partner nations, coalition forces and interagency/intergovernmental organizations to achieve a unified effort in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Gauret Stearns)
U.S. leadership from Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) observe a Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) training at the Djiboutian Police Range, Djibouti, Sept. 29, 2021. The live fire exercise provided CJTF-HOA leadership deeper insight into JSDF capabilities and training techniques. CJTF-HOA, operating from Camp Lemonnier, regularly trains with and works alongside allied and partner nations, coalition forces and interagency/intergovernmental organizations to achieve a unified effort in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Gauret Stearns)
Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) service members fire pistols during a training at the Djiboutian Police Range, Djibouti, Sept. 29, 2021. The live fire exercise provided Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) leadership deeper insight into JSDF capabilities and training techniques. CJTF-HOA, operating from Camp Lemonnier, regularly trains with and works alongside allied and partner nations, coalition forces and interagency/intergovernmental organizations to achieve a unified effort in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Gauret Stearns)
U.S. leadership from Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) observe a Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) training at the Djiboutian Police Range, Djibouti, Sept. 29, 2021. The live fire exercise provided CJTF-HOA leadership deeper insight into JSDF capabilities and training techniques. CJTF-HOA, operating from Camp Lemonnier, regularly trains with and works alongside allied and partner nations, coalition forces and interagency/intergovernmental organizations to achieve a unified effort in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Gauret Stearns)
On Nov. 11, 2021, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) celebrated Allied Appreciation Day at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Onlookers peered to the sky as Japan's P-3 Orion joined nine other U.S., U.K. and France aircraft in a low approach mission over Djibouti’s Ambouli International Airport. The event showcased the combined military presence in Djibouti and served to honor the shared partnerships, history and devotion to peace celebrated during Veterans, Armistice and Remembrance days.
Increased military activity expected at Camp Lemonnier
11/9/2021
Djibouti City residents will experience increased base activity over the coming days due to U.S. and partner nations' Allied Appreciation Day air operations from Nov. 9-11, 2021.
Burial Honors in Djibouti, Africa, remembers U.S. WWII Veteran over 60 years later
11/8/2021
U.S. service members assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) honor World War II veteran Arthur Lewis during a burial honors ceremony at the New European Cemetery in Djibouti City, Djibouti, Oct. 28, 2021. The cemetery is the final resting place for World War II veteran Arthur Lewis, who died in 1959 while at sea aboard the S.S. Steel Vendor in the Gulf of Tadjoura. Due to the nature and location of his death, the U.S. Merchant Marine was buried in Djibouti without rightfully earned military honors. CJTF-HOA, in coordination with Djiboutian leadership, cleaned up the cemetery, installed the new headstone to identify his grave and conducted a dedication ceremony complete with military honors.
Burial Honors in Djibouti, Africa, remembers U.S. WWII Veteran over 60 years later
11/8/2021
U.S. service members assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) honor World War II veteran Arthur Lewis during a burial honors ceremony at the New European Cemetery in Djibouti City, Djibouti, Oct. 28, 2021. The cemetery is the final resting place for World War II veteran Arthur Lewis, who died in 1959 while at sea aboard the S.S. Steel Vendor in the Gulf of Tadjoura. Due to the nature and location of his death, the U.S. Merchant Marine was buried in Djibouti without rightfully earned military honors. CJTF-HOA, in coordination with Djiboutian leadership, cleaned up the cemetery, installed the new headstone to identify his grave and conducted a dedication ceremony complete with military honors.
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Zana, commander, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), speaks with Soldiers during a transfer of authority ceremony for CJTF-HOA’s engineering company at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Oct. 20, 2021. The ceremony highlighted the transfer of the mission from the 377th Engineer Vertical Construction Company to the 712th Engineer Support Company. The engineering company works on a variety of construction projects with partner nations throughout CJTF-HOA’s area of responsibility. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Gauret Stearns)
