U.S. service members speak with Ugandan forces providing base security in Somalia Jan. 28, 2021. AFRICOM forces continue to train, advise and support Somali and other East African partners in their fight against violent extremism.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Hannah Strobel)
AFRICOM forces conduct first engagements in Somalia since repositioning
2/3/2021
U.S. Africa Command forces completed the first engagement into Somalia since the successful repositioning of U.S. forces under Joint Task Force - Quartz Jan. 30.
Two U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender crew chiefs, assigned to the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, board the aircraft during pre-flight operations before an in-air refueling mission supporting Operation Octave Quartz at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 5, 2021. The KC-10 delivers a global reach aerial refueling capability to Joint Task Force-Quartz demonstrating the U.S. military's flexible, precise and lethal force that is capable of rapidly responding anywhere on the globe. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. DoD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while supporting partner forces and maintaining pressure on violent extremist groups. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBride)
U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft based in the Central Command area of operations conduct armed aerial patrols in Somalia in support of Operation Octave Quartz, Jan. 12, 2020. The F-16s support to OOQ demonstrates the U.S. military's reach and power projection across vast distances to hold adversaries such as al-Shabaab at risk with flexible, precise and lethal force that is capable of rapidly responding anywhere on the globe. The mission of OOQ is to reposition U.S. Department of Defense personnel from Somalia to other locations in East Africa. (U.S. Air Force video by Staff Sgt. Sean Carnes)
201222-M-UY835-1027 BALEDOGLE MILITARY AIRFIELD, Somalia (Dec. 22, 2020) – U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit establish security positions at Baledogle Military Airfield. Makin Island, flagship if the Amphibious Ready Group, and the 15th MEU are conducting operations under Joint Task Force - Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. Department of Defense forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Patrick Crosley)
201222-M-UY835-1049 BALEDOGLE AIRFIELD, Somalia (Dec. 22, 2020) – U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Conor O’Brien, left, a platoon commander and Staff Sgt. Alan Craft, a platoon sergeant, both with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to board an MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th MEU. Makin Island, flagship if the Amphibious Ready Group, and the 15th MEU are conducting operations under Joint Task Force - Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. Department of Defense forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Patrick Crosley)
210109-M-JX780-1296 BALEDOGLE MILITARY AIRFIELD, Somalia (Jan. 9, 2021) – U.S. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit run to an MV-22 Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th MEU, for extraction. The 15th MEU is conducting operations under Joint Task Force – Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. Department of Defense forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brendan Mullin)
U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster loadmasters from the 435th Contingency Response Group offload supplies that are delivered on behalf of Joint Task Force - Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ) Dec. 24, 2020, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Peter Thompson)
U.S. Service members load pallets in a C130J Super Hercules to be airlifted out of Somalia under Joint Task Force-Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz Dec. 23, 2020, in Somalia. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)
U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster loadmasters from the 435th Contingency Response Group offload supplies that are delivered on behalf of Joint Task Force - Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ) Dec. 24, 2020, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Peter Thompson)
U.S. service member load a pallet into a C-130J Super Hercules during an operation under Joint Task Force-Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ) in Somalia Dec. 18, 2020. The OOQ mission is to reposition U.S. Department of Defense personnel from Somalia to other locations in East Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)
A U.S. Army soldier protects a C130J Super Hercules while others load a vehicle into a C-130J during an operation under Joint Task Force-Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ) in Somalia Dec. 18, 2020. The OOQ mission is to reposition U.S. Department of Defense personnel from Somalia to other locations in East Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)
A U.S. Service member protects a C130J Super Hercules while its being loaded under Joint Task Force-Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ) in Somalia Dec. 23, 2020. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)
Joint Task Force Quartz repositions U.S. forces in East Africa
2/3/2021
Joint Task Force-Quartz successfully repositioned U.S. forces and equipment within East Africa prior to the Jan. 15 target date while maintaining support to partners and continuing to strike al Shabaab.
Abraham Kipligat in the Horn of Africa, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 9, 2020. Kipligat, a Iowa National Guard Soldier and Red Bull, is currently serving an a infantryman with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment. (Minnesota National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Sirrina Martinez)
Julius Kiplagat, Abrahams father, in his police uniform when he worked for the Municipal Council of Eldoret, Eldoret, Kenya, circa 1998. Julius worked for the council from 1998-2009 before moving his family to the United States. (Photo courtesy of Abraham Kiplagat)
Julius Kiplagat, Abrahams father, in his police uniform when he worked for the Municipal Council of Eldoret, Eldoret, Kenya, circa 1998. Julius worked for the council from 1998-2009 before moving his family to the United States. (Photo courtesy of Abraham Kiplagat)
Abraham Kipligat (center) with his father Julius and sister Mercy after Kiplagat’s graduation from One Station Unit Training, Fort Benning, Georgia, Jan. 10, 2018. Kipligat joined the Iowa National Guard in 2017 as an infantryman. (Photo courtesy of Spc. Abraham Kipligat)
Kenyan-born Red Bull Soldier reflects on deployment journey to the Horn of Africa
2/3/2021
Spc. Abraham Kiplagat, a infantryman with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, immigrated to the United States at the age of 10-years-old. Kipligat has now returned to the region of his birth during his deployment to the Horn of Africa.
U.S. Army Soldiers from the East African Response Force (EARF) assigned to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) board a C-130J Super Hercules Jan. 20, 2021, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The EARF exercise demonstrates the ability to respond across a wide range of military operations, including crisis response, protection of U.S. personnel and diplomatic facilities, disaster relief, personnel recovery, humanitarian assistance, and other missions as directed by U.S. Africa Command as well as a continued commitment to U.S. partners in Somalia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)
