Combined Joint Task Force Conducts Crisis Response – Rehearsal of Concept with Military Partners and Allies
6/16/2024
Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa (June 3, 2024) – Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, regional Allies and partners including France, United Kingdom, Japan, and several U.S. Embassies located across the African continent conducted a planned Crisis Response – Rehearsal of Concept event at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, Africa, on May 31, 2024.
CJTF-HOA works with U.S. Embassy in Burundi in exercise to maintain regional readiness
5/7/2024
The East Africa Response Force (EARF), comprised of members from Task Force Paxton under the direction of CJTF-HOA, conducted an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise (EDRE) on April 3, 2024, assessing their capacity to effectively deploy, reinforce, and subsequently support any potential needs of the U.S. Embassy in Bujumbura, Burundi.
Change of Command at CJTF-HOA: A New Chapter Begins with General Cashman
5/3/2024
On Saturday, April 27, 2024, after nearly two years as commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, Maj. Gen. Jamelle Shawley transfers command to Brigadier General Brian T. Cashman. The ceremony, presided by US Marine Corps General Michael Langley, commander US Forces AFRICOM, was held at 11 Degrees North in Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.
Bringing the Heat during Medical Cold Load Training
4/9/2024
DJIBOUTI- U.S. Army combat medics from Task Force Paxton, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Pennsylvania National Guard assembled on the tarmac to conduct joint medical evacuation cold-load training aboard a KC-130J aircraft at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, March 5, 2024. Medics participated in casualty evacuation operations by working with flight medical personnel and aircraft crew-members in the event that life saving measures and medical evacuation are requested.
The purpose of the training is to ensure interoperability with key U.S. military assets to expedite patient transfers to and from an aircraft in the event life saving measures and medical evacuation are requested.
Soldiers and Marines come together for Corporals Course
11/24/2023
The Corporals Course is a standard leadership training course for Marines new to the grade of E-4, the first tier in the non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank structure. While every Marine is expected to be able to lead, NCOs are expected to lead the junior enlisted while setting the standard of performance and behavior.
CJTF-HOA works with U.S. Embassy in Tanzania to maintain regional readiness
11/9/2023
On Oct. 10, 2023, CJTF-HOA performed an EDRE that tested their ability to successfully reach, augment and ultimately evacuate the U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in a simulated natural disaster situation.
Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa celebrates Partner Appreciation Day
11/9/2023
The Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and partners from Djibouti alongside seven other allied nations celebrated Partner Appreciation Day Nov. 8, 2023, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.
The Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa is, in every sense of the word, diverse. Service members and civilian employees of all different ages, hailing from every corner of the world with different outlooks and experiences are here serving a single mission. Among them is Hassan Ali, a resident of Virginia, a U.S. citizen since 2012, a member of CJTF-HOA, and a native of Djibouti.
CLDJ Chief Petty Officers invite Joint service members into CPO Initiation
10/5/2023
The latest CPO Initiation at Camp Lemonnier Djibouti, included not only Sailors, but two Soldiers, an Airman, and a Marine. The top noncommissioned officers from each U.S. military branches were afforded the opportunity to participate in the traditional Navy training and be inducted into the CPO Mess upon completion. The candidates will be recognized as Chief Petty Officers not just at Camp Lemonnier, but across the entire Navy.
The Secretary of Defense visited members of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa and service members stationed at Camp Lemonnier to highlight the importance of the U.S. Department of Defense's focus on advancing partnerships and security on the African continent.
CJTF-HOA Remembers 9/11, Service Members Share their Stories
9/12/2023
September 11, 2001 is a date that has lived in infamy in the minds of the American people for over 20 years now. Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa service members took the day to commemorate the lives lost during the terrorist attacks, reflect on where they were when the World Trade Center fell, and how their memory of the tragedy drives their service.
U.S. AFRICOM commander visits CLDJ, patches 218th MEB
8/21/2023
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael E. Langley, U.S. Africa Command commander, visited Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti on Aug. 16, 2023, as part of his official visit to the East Africa region.
The Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa team consists of a diverse fusion of different teams all coming together to accomplish the same mission and each individual team member also brings their own diverse experiences and outlooks to the team.
Military working dog handlers from U.S. Navy Camp Lemonnier security and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa partnered with the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians for an MWD training event at Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti, July 25, 2023.
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Katie Theusch, the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) Public Affairs productions noncommissioned officer in charge, and her brother, Master Sgt. Daniel Eggers, CJTF-HOA strategy and plans senior enlisted leader, are both deployed to Camp Lemonnier in support of the CJTF-HOA mission to promote defense, diplomacy, and development within the Horn of Africa.
157th MEB transfers authority of CJTF-HOA mission to 218th MEB
7/17/2023
The 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB), Wisconsin National Guard, transferred authority of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) headquarters staff mission to the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, South Carolina National Guard, on July 14, 2023, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.
Their responsibilities to CJTF-HOA include ensuring strategic partnerships with Djibouti and other partner nations, responding to crises, and enhancing stability and peace in the region by acting as a headquarters support unit to coordinate and facilitate mission accomplishment.
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA)’s mission is to conduct operations to enhance partner nation capacity, promote regional stability, dissuade conflict, and protect U.S. and Partner interests. The CJ-32 Air Operations team is at the center of this being responsible for, among other things, coordinating all air support operations across the east African area of responsibility.
CJTF-HOA conducts first simulated joint FARP demonstration on African continent
2/28/2023
Elements of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and the 449th Air Expeditionary Group recently conducted a simulated joint branch Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) exercise. Not only was this a first for U.S. forces in the African continent, but it also provided an opportunity to practice Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concepts as well.
From Red Dragon to Wolfhound: National Guard infantry units support East Africa Mission
9/22/2022
The Virginia Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, turned over control of an East Africa security mission to the New York Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, during a transfer-of-authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 19.
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and Camp Lemonnier Public Affairs Directorates conducted a knowledge exchange from Aug. 29-31, 2022, with Djib-Live TV, RTD: Téĺé Djibouti, Agence Djiboutienne d'Information - ADI, and Journal La Nation, in coordination with U.S. Embassy Djibouti and Ministère de la Communication, chargé des Postes et des Télécommunications.
Members of Alpha company 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion collaborated with the 353rd Civil Affairs Functional Specialty Team, and other volunteers, to conduct a Herd Health Veterinarian Engagement in the village of Chabelley, August 3-4, 2022.
Japan-U.S. conduct first-ever combat care knowledge exchange in Djibouti
6/3/2022
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) soldiers conducted a Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3) medical knowledge exchange with Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), for the first time at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 27, 2022.
US Military tracks, fights pathogens in East Africa
5/23/2022
COVID-19 reminded the world of the danger unknown pathogens can present to the world, as the disease swept across the globe, shutting down entire societies in the early days of the pandemic.
For many of us, pathogens are not a common consideration, or at least not at the microscopic level. There are however a select few people and organizations dedicated to identifying, observing, and analyzing this very topic.
Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca Pavlicek, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. – 3 (NAMRU-3) director of the microbiology laboratory at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, is one of those people.
Coalition competition builds camaraderie in Djibouti
1/12/2022
The silence is broken with the distinct cry of a horn cutting through the morning air. As if commanded by the sound, Djiboutian, French, Japanese and American Soldiers all leap from the starting line, sprinting across the arid desert.
This dash across the Djiboutian desert was part of a rifle marksmanship competition held on Dec. 11, 2021, and hosted by Soldiers from B Company, 1-157th Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Task Force Iron Gray (TFIG), Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA).
A job well done: Djibouti, U.S. Army repair village’s water supply
1/6/2022
In December 2021, U.S. Army Soldiers and Chabelley villagers worked hand-in-hand moving large rocks, digging trenches and replacing a damaged coupling. Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) engineers, including Soldiers from the 712th Engineer Support Company (712th ESC), helped village residents fix a leak in their only source of drinking water.
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.
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.
377th Engineers complete mission in Horn of Africa
11/4/2021
Soldiers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 377th Engineer Vertical Construction Company (EVCC), from Pennsylvania, transferred the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) engineering mission over to the 712th Engineering Support Company (ESC), from South Carolina, during a ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Oct. 20, 2021.
Soldiers from Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) completed a 10-day RQ-11 Raven unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators qualification course at Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti, Oct.13, 2021, to increase the number of trained Raven operators within the command.
U.S. Soldiers conduct Live-Fire Training in Djibouti, Africa
8/27/2021
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Doremus, company fire support noncommissioned officer, Task Force Iron Gray, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), retrieves an M4 carbine from the armory at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Aug. 24, 2021, in preparation for a live-fire exercise. Live-fire exercises validate a platoon’s proficiency to take command and control through reinforcing concepts like supporting fire, base of fire and synchronization of fires.
CJTF-HOA, operating from Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, is a dynamic operational headquarters that ensures strategic partnership with Djibouti, responds to crises, supports operations and protects U.S. interests in East Africa in order to enhance regional stability and prosperity. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Andrew Kobialka)
U.S. military medical teams work to reach full vaccination goals in East Africa
8/27/2021
U.S. Army medical personnel with Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) traveled to Camp Simba, Kenya, to administer COVID-19 vaccines in accordance with Department of Defense policy and guidance to help reduce the burden of COVID-19 in high-risk populations and simultaneously mitigate risk to military operations.
Djiboutian Army commander appoints newly promoted U.S. Army Major as elder
6/11/2021
U.S. Army Capt. Steven Kornegay, a team leader with the 2nd Security Forces Assistance Brigade, was promoted to the rank of major by Djiboutian Army Lt. Col. Mohamed Assoweh, the commander of the Battalion Intervention Rapide.
Medical personnel administer COVID-19 vaccine at Camp Lemonnier Djibouti
3/4/2021
Approximately 600 Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ), residents volunteer to receive the first round of the COVID-19 vaccine Feb. 27, 2021. After this round, the total vaccinated personnel at CLDJ has risen to more than 1,100.
Nearly 200 Soldiers from the 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB), of Sioux Falls, South Dakota Army National Guard became the new headquarters staff after arriving at Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), Sept. 25, 2020.
Manda Bay, BMA name facilities for fallen service member
5/29/2020
Two contingency locations within CJTF-HOA's combined joint operations area recently named facilities in honor of U.S. Army Spc. Henry J. “Mitch” Mayfield Jr.