The Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Multinational Coordination Cell hosted a tabletop exercise with French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and South Korean partners June 23-26 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.
I joined the U.S. Army at 18 years old, straight out of high school. In fact, I enlisted while I was still a senior. My decision was driven by more than a sense of duty — it was deeply personal.
Fast forward to today, I am proudly serving my country overseas with the Arizona Army National Guard. I am in an administrative role for the Transportation Motor Pool unit, which is in charge of managing a large fleet of vehicles, most of which are sourced from local Djiboutian contractors.
U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 152nd Engineer Support Company build a sunshade structure over the Joint Theater Forensic Analysis Center at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 5, 2025.
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command, presided over the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa change of command from U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Brian Cashman, outgoing CJTF-HOA commanding general, to U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Matthew Brown, incoming CJTF-HOA commanding general, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 19, 2025.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Andrew Morgan, left, incoming 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment commander, stands by during the 1-58th assumption of command ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 9, 2025.