French Armed Forces alongside U.S. service members with Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) participates in the French Desert Commando Course (FDCC) in Djibouti.

The FDCC is a long-enduring icon of the French Armed Forces. Established by the French around 1974 in Djibouti, FDCC became a staple expectation and accomplishment for French Soldiers. The tough and austere environment of Djibouti provides the perfect training ground to raise the physical and mental capabilities of service members who complete the rigorous training. For the French soldiers, this is just the desert phase of the training; jungle, forest and combat phases also have to be completed.

For years, the French forces in Djibouti (FFDJ) has invited U.S. service members with CJTF-HOA to participate in the competition. The course acts as a platform for U.S. - French strategic partnership in Djibouti. French instructors teach how the course plays out and how to complete it.