3:09 PM11/14/2022

The Illinois Army National Guard’s 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) poses for a photo after a Transfer of Responsibility ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022. The 404th MEB will return to Illinois following their nine-month deployment to East Africa. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)

3:09 PM11/14/2022

U.S. Army Col. Eric Leckel, commander of the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and incoming Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa chief of staff, speaks during a Transfer of Responsibility at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022. The 157th MEB is the first U.S. Army National Guard brigade-level unit from Wisconsin to deploy to Africa. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)

3:09 PM11/14/2022

Leaders from the Illinois Army National Guard’s 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB), right, and the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th MEB, left, case the outgoing 404th MEB’s unit colors as they uncase the incoming 157th MEB’s unit colors during a Transfer of Responsibility ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022. The Transfer of Responsibility ceremony is a time honored event which signifies the changing of deployed units in the field. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)

3:09 PM11/14/2022

U.S. Army Col. Justin Towell, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) commander, speaks during a Transfer of Responsibility ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022. The Illinois Army National Guard’s 404th MEB relinquished responsibility of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa headquarters staff mission to the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th MEB. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)

3:09 PM11/14/2022

Members of the Illinois Army National Guard’s 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB), left, and the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th MEB, right, stand at attention during a Transfer of Responsibility ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022. A MEB groups a variety of dispersed functions in order to provide critical multifunctional support for a force commander. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)

3:09 PM11/14/2022

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, speaks during a Transfer of Responsibility ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022. During her speech, Shawley highlighted the accomplishments of the outgoing Illinois Army National Guard’s 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB), and welcomed the incoming Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th MEB. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)

3:09 PM11/14/2022

The Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) official party stands at attention prior to a Transfer of Responsibility ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022. During the ceremony, the Illinois Army National Guard’s 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) relinquished responsibility of the CJTF-HOA headquarters staff mission to the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th MEB. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)

3:09 PM11/14/2022

A guidon bearer from the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade holds the unit's colors during a Transfer of Responsibility ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022. During the ceremony, the 157th MEB assumed responsibility for the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa headquarters staff mission. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)

3:09 PM11/14/2022

The Illinois Army National Guard’s 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) transferred responsibility of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) headquarters staff mission to the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th MEB on Nov. 5, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.

10:21 AM11/11/2022

U.S. and coalition service members participated in a Partnership Appreciation Day event at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 10, 2022. The event celebrated the 20th anniversary of the landfall of U.S. service members in Djibouti after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and gave partners and allies a chance to mingle, and learn about one anothers militaries and cultures. (Department of Defense video by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)

10:52 AM11/5/2022

6:53 AM10/31/2022

Books line the shelves in a new Library at the Balbala 7 School built and furnished by coalition partners from the U.S. Military, U.S. State Department, Japanese, Italian, and Spanish militaries at Balabala, Djibouti, Oct. 4 2022. Spanish military members provided books and reading materials, and the Japanese and Italian military members provided furniture for the interior. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)

6:53 AM10/31/2022

The international team that contributed to building and furnishing the Library at the Balbala 7 School poses together for a photo after an opening ceremony at Balbala, Djibouti, Oct 4, 2022. The Balbala 7 Library will allow Djiboutian students to learn and grow, and give them a place to excel in reading skills and other educational pursuits. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)

6:53 AM10/31/2022

Japanese Takio Drummers bow after a performance during the opening ceremony of a Library at the Balbala 7 School in Balabala, Djibouti, Oct. 4, 2022. The opening ceremony consisted of many multinational speeches and events. (Department of Defense photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)

6:53 AM10/31/2022

Andrea Tomaszewicz, U.S. Embassy Djibouti Deputy Chief of Mission, speaks during an opening ceremony for a Library at the Balbala 7 School in Balbala, Djibouti, Oct. 4, 2022. The project took four weeks to complete, with the 319th Engineer Support Company, assigned to CJTF-HOA, building the structure, Spanish military members providing books and reading materials, and the Japanese and Italian military members providing furniture for the interior. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)

6:53 AM10/31/2022

Japanese Self-Defense Force Col. Takahiro Yoshida, Japanese installation commander, shakes hands with a member of the Djiboutian Ministry of Education at an opening ceremony for a Library at the Balbala 7 School in Balbala, Djibouti, Oct. 4, 2022. The Library was built and furnished through collaborative support from U.S. partners and allies. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)

6:53 AM10/31/2022

Brig. Gen. Steven Case, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa deputy commanding general, speaks at an opening ceremony for a Library at the Balbala 7 School in Balbala, Djibouti, Oct. 4, 2022. The Library is the first of many construction projects Civil Affairs, CJTF-HOA Army Engineers and U.S. partners and allies will work on across Djibouti and East Africa. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)

6:53 AM10/31/2022

Adbi Dirir, Djibouti Ministry of Education secretary general, speaks during an opening ceremony for a Library at the Balbala 7 School in Balbala, Djibouti, Oct. 4, 2022. The Balbala 7 Library is a combined project that provides education opportunities to local children and gives thanks to the local community. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)

12:15 PM10/17/2022

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, left, commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), speaks to U.S. Air Force Chaplain (Capt.) Latisa Steele the Cooperative Security Location-Manda Bay Kenya Norwegian Foot March, near Camp Simba, Kenya, July 23, 2022. For the first time, our Kenyan partners and U.S. service members assigned to CJTF-HOA came together to participate in foot march.