U.S. Marine Corp. General Michael Langley speaks at the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa change of command ceremony, Camp Lemonnier Djibouti Apr 27, 2024. CJTF-HOA is a dynamic; joint and multinational operational headquarters; ensuring a strategic partnership with Djibouti; responds to crises; and supports operations throughout East Africa in order to enhance stability and prosperity.(U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Senior Airman John Macera)

Soldiers from Impact Company, 328th Forward Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment belonging to Task Force Paxton, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Pennsylvania National Guard deliver medical equipment to Djibouti Adventist Health Center, April 7, 2024, Djibouti City, Djibouti.

Soldiers from Impact Company, 328th Forward Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment belonging to Task Force Paxton, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Pennsylvania National Guard deliver medical equipment to Djibouti Adventist Health Center, April 7, 2024, Djibouti City, Djibouti.

Soldiers from Impact Company, 328th Forward Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment belonging to Task Force Paxton, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Pennsylvania National Guard deliver medical equipment to Djibouti Adventist Health Center, April 7, 2024, Djibouti City, Djibouti.


CJTF-HOA & Camp Lemonnier Host K9 Veterans Day 5K & Military Dog Demonstrations By SSgt Juan Paz Date: March 23, 2024 DJIBOUTI, East Africa – Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and Camp Lemonnier Working Dogs commemorated K9 Veterans Day on March 16, 2024, with a series of impactful demonstrations highlighting the invaluable role of military working dogs (MWDs) in East Africa. Service members stationed at Camp Lemonnier engaged in a spirited 5K run, setting the stage for a showcase of precision and discipline by the highly trained K9 units. From detection training to patrol work and obedience drills, attendees witnessed the unwavering dedication and readiness of these canine teams. "Maintaining operational readiness is paramount in this dynamic environment," remarked Senior Airman Tessa Spare, a seasoned military working dog handler with CJTF-HOA. "Our continuous training ensures that we are prepared to face any threat, anywhere." Integral to their readiness is the capability of handlers to administer immediate medical care to their K9 partners in the field. Trained in K9 Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), handlers play a critical role in ensuring the well-being of their canine companions and optimizing force posture and capabilities. The event also served as a solemn tribute to K9 Veterans Day, honoring the service and sacrifice of military working dogs past and present. “We as handlers know the sacrifices our K9s make” Spare reflected. “They do everything they can do to protect us. So when they retire, it's our turn to take care of them and give them the best retirement they can and K9 Veterans Day is one way we get to honor them.” As the event concluded, the resounding message echoed: readiness is non-negotiable, and the bond between service members and their K9 counterparts is unbreakable. Together, they stand as a testament to the commitment to peace and security in the Horn of Africa. CJTF-HOA's presence in East Afric

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa commanding general, places a patch on Command Sgt. Maj. Jed Lundell during the transfer of authority in Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, on April 4, 2024. This ceremony marks the transfer of 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade to 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade at Combined Joint Task Force- Horn of Africa. (U.S. Army photo by Specialist Miriam Esparza)

U.S. Army Soldiers from 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and 111th Brigade Signal Company from South Carolina National Guard stand for transfer of authority to 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Utah National Guard at Camp Lemonnier,Djibouti, on April 4, 2024. This ceremony marks the transfer from the 218th MEB to 204th MEB in the Combined Joint Task Force- Horn of Africa. (U.S. Army photo by Specialist Miriam Esparza)

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general, speaks during a Transfer of Authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, April 1, 2024. Shawley highlighted the accomplishments of the outgoing 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, South Carolina National Guard, and welcomed the incoming 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Utah National Guard. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Kamisha Jordan)

U.S. Army Col. Kenneth Snow, 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade commander and outgoing Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa chief of staff, speaks during a Transfer of Authority at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, April 1, 2024. The 218th MEB was the fifth Maneuver Enhancement Brigade to assume authority over the CJTF-HOA mission. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Kamisha Jordan)

Leaders from the 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Utah National Guard, case their brigade colors during a Transfer of Authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, April 1, 2024. The Transfer of Authority ceremony is a time-honored event which signifies the changing of deployed units in the field. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Kamisha Jordan)

(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jalen Miller)

Soldiers from Task Force Tomahawk sit in the crowd during their transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti Feb. 10, 2024. This ceremony marks the end of Task Force Tomahawk's tenure in the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, the outgoing security forces brigade turned over control to the incoming Task Force Paxton. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jalen Miller)

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Eric Ponzek, Task Force Paxton commander, welcomes his Soldiers to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti Feb. 10, 2024. Soldiers from Task Force Tomahawk relinquished command security forces to Task Force Paxton. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jalen Miller)

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general, wishes a heartfelt goodbye to the outgoing security forces Task Force, Task Force Tomahawk, and welcomes the incoming Task Force Paxton Soldiers during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti Feb. 10, 2024. During their tenure Task Force Tomahawk partnered manned security posts across the Horn of Africa and conducted in exercises and engagements with CJTF-HOA's partner forces. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jalen Miller)

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Eric Ponzek of the 2-112th, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Barclay, the 2-112th Infantry senior enlisted leader, unfurl their unit's colors during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti Feb. 10, 2024. This act represented Pennsylvania National Guard's Task Force Paxton assumption of control over the SECFOR unit in CJTF-HOA. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jalen Miller)

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brent Weece, commander of Task Force Tomahawk, speaks to a mixed crowd of distinguished guests and service members from Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti Feb. 10, 2024. Weece highlighted some of the major accomplishments of his task force and thanked his soldiers for their servitude in the security posts across the Horn of Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jalen Miller)

A goat stares through a hole in the fence during the Herd Health Vaccination Engagement at Ali Oune, Djibouti Jan. 31, 2023. The Herd Health Vaccination Engagement effort took place across the three villages of Negad, Chabelly, and Ali Oune. (Department of Defense photo by Sgt. Joshua Durant)

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Erica Himes, Southern European Task Force Africa (SETAF-AF) Herd Health Vaccination Engagement veterinarian officer in charge, sprays a herd of local goats with wound spray in Negad, Djibouti on Jan. 29, 2023. Himes led a team of SETAF-AF and Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa volunteers in providing healthcare for local livestock in villages around Djibouti. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jalen Miller)

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Erica Himes, Southern European Task Force Africa (SETAF-AF) Herd Health Vaccination Engagement veterinary officer in charge, and Dr. Elmi Ali Ahmed, a local veterinarian, examine a small group of camels in the village of Ali Oune, Djibouti. The Herd Health Vaccination Engagement aimed to provide medical care and the PPR vaccine to herds of camels, goats, and donkeys in villages across Djibouti. (Department of Defense photo by Sgt. Joshua Durant)

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Katherine Scott, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa medical logistics non-commissioned officer in charge, calls over a herd of goats during the Herd Health Vaccination Engagement in the village of Ali Oune, Djioubti on Jan. 31, 2023. The Herd Health Vaccination Engagement aimed to provide medical care and the PPR vaccine to herds of camels, goats, and donkeys in villages across Djibouti. (Department of Defense photo by Sgt. Joshua Durant)

A Djiboutian woman passes her goat to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) service members in Negad, Djibouti on Jan 29, 2024. CJTF-HOA service members teamed up with the Southern European Task Force - Africa for the Herd Health Vaccination Engagement event to provide medical care to livestock in three villages across Djibouti. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jalen Miller)

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa service members prepare to vaccinate goats in Negad, a local village in Djibouti on Jan 29, 2024. CJTF-HOA service members participated in the Herd Health Vaccination Engagement effort to prevent the spread of the PPR virus. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jalen Miller)

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Erica Himes, Southern European Task Force Africa (SETAF-AF) Herd Health Vaccination Engagement veterinary officer in charge, and Dr. Elmi Ali Ahmed, a local veterinarian, examine a herd of goats in the village of Negad in Djibouti on Jan. 29, 2024. The Herd Health Vaccination Engagement sought to provide medical care for local goats, camels, and other livestock in the Djiboutian villages of Negad, Chabelly, and Ali Oune. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jalen Miller)

U.S. Army Sgt. Russell Helma, Southern European Task Force Africa Herd Health Vaccination Engagement non-commissioned officer in charge, gives a medical demonstration for a group of volunteers in Negad, Djibouti on Jan. 29, 2023. Helma was instrumental in the success of the HHVE mission and assisted in both teaching proper vaccination procedure and engaging with local Djiboutian villagers. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jalen Miller)

CJTF-HOA Chief of Staff Biography

CJTF-HOA Chief of Staff Biography

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Second Class Abenicio Chavez, a member of the blood depot section of Sigonella’s Naval Training Readiness Medical Center, stands alongside CJTF-HOA soldiers and a lab technician from the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti on Jan. 11, 2024 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Chavez led a class on the blood deglycerization process to help service members and U.S. Embassy technicians refine their process. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jalen Miller)

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Second Class Abenicio Chavez, a member of the blood depot section of Sigonella’s Naval Training Readiness Medical Center, visited Djibouti to test the mission readiness of medical personnel stationed in the Horn of Africa on Jan. 11, 2024 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Chavez conducted a walkthrough on the blood deglycerization process to help service members and U.S. Embassy technicians effectively extract glycerin from frozen blood samples. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jalen Miller)

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Second Class Abenicio Chavez, a member of the blood depot section of Sigonella’s Naval Training Readiness Medical Center, instructs a Djiboutian lab technician on the machines used in the deglycerization process on Jan. 11, 2024 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Training events like these help promote collaboration across different military organizations and the Horn of Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jalen Miller)

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Second Class Abenicio Chavez, a member of the blood depot section of Sigonella’s Naval Training Readiness Medical Center, visited Djibouti to test the mission readiness of service members and medical personnel stationed in the Horn of Africa on Jan. 11, 2024 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Chavez led a class on the blood deglycerization process to help service members and U.S. Embassy technicians refine their process. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jalen Miller)

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Second Class Abenicio Chavez, a member of the blood depot section of Sigonella’s Naval Training Readiness Medical Center, demonstrates the deglycerization process to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa U.S. Army Sgt. Zoe Horton, CJTF-HOA medical lab specialist, on Jan. 11, 2024 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Horton was joined by other members of the joint force as well as a civilian lab technician from the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jalen Miller)

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Public Affairs Photojournalist U.S Army Spc. Emily Held sits alongside her brother CJTF - HOA Communications Executive Assistant U.S. Army Sgt. Justin Held on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, July 6, 2023. Being able to celebrate, work, and serve as a family helped Emily Held feel a little less homesick during her stay on Camp Lemonnier. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Emily Held)

A Task Force Tomahawk platoon maneuvers across the desert during Exercise Wakri near Dikhill, Djibouti on Dec. 6, 2023. Land navigation was one of multiple practical skill sets that Soldiers applied throughout the exercise. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan Gentile)

Task Force Tomahawk Soldiers return fire during a simulated ambush on a mountainside during Exercise Wakri near Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Dec. 5, 2023. The ambush took place as Soldiers left their bed-down location to head to a waypoint. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan Gentile)

Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley stops to speak to Soldiers during Exercise Wakri near Ali Sabieh, Djibouti, Dec. 5, 2023. Shawley spoke with the service members about the exercise and the multinational training environment. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan Gentile)