Saada Said, carrying her 3-month-old baby Nad Seho, looks at a photograph of them both taken five minutes earlier by U.S. Service members from Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa March 18 in Ali Oune, Djibouti. The village has no mirrors, and the only other photos available are on their Djiboutian identification cards. Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett

With their lives filled with hardships and nomadic living, the people of the remote Djiboutian desert village Ali Oune welcome the help of a U.S. Army Civil Affairs team. But on one particular recent visit, CA teams from the 478 and 418 Battalion, accompanied by other U.S. service members, left a particularly lasting impression with the villagers.

It was the debut of a new photo project, which enabled the villager’s picture to be taken, printed on site with a battery-powered, high-quality printer, and presented on photo paper with a goodwill message on the backside—all within a few moments of it being taken.

No one knew exactly how the people would respond. Although CA teams have built a rapport with the village, the scheduled visit was originally focused on movie night—a time to watch an American-made, action movie powered by a generator. The photography started while the movie projector was being set up and members of the CA team played soccer with the Djiboutians.

Many avoided the cameras because they fear the worst. “At first they were hesitant,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Wayne Teegardin, 478 CA team sergeant. “They are scared that taking that photo means we might take that person away.”

With the help of an interpreter and Village Chief Djama Said Guedi, the first picture was taken. Moments later, the photo was handed to the chief. More than 100 children and their parents watched in wonder to see what was going on. More photos were printed of families.

According to Guedi, the people’s main method of seeing what they look like is the identification cards they have as Djibouti citizens. This is the first visual record. “Ali Oune has no mirrors,” he explained. “The photos make the village feel better. It is like having a soccer game or a movie night. It’s a good thing for the village. It reunites them.”

The expressions and mood of many of the Ali Oune residents turned noticeably from wonder to excitement. Within an hour, dozens of families and children received photographs, each with a sticker of the U.S. and Djibouti flags side-by-side on the back.

“It gives them a keepsake. It gives them something back,” said U.S. Army Maj. Michael Guiles, CA team leader for Charlie Company, 418 Battalion. “I explained to the headmaster of the school, that it’s something we do in America. We take pictures of our kids. That way we have a memory of our children as they grow up…when you can give somebody something back that’s immediate, that’s a nice relationship builder. It opens up new avenues of communication. A picture’s worth a thousand words,” Guiles said.

As dusk settled in, the villagers gathered in one of their few buildings—an open room with tables and chairs—to watch Ninja Assassin on the wall.

Ultimately the action in Ninja Assassin was unable to defeat the new photos. The normally packed movie room lost the majority of its audience, who chose to watch the printer and get their photos instead. They returned to the movie when it became too dark to continue printing.

“I know what a photograph means to me when I have one taken of my family or my self, so I figured this has to really mean something to these people who may have never even seen a camera before, or a photo of themselves,” said U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Larry Foos, who introduced the program. “With this new portable technology, I thought it might be a great way to give them something they’ll hold onto for years, and help them remember we’re their friends. Maybe that’ll help them not be swayed to thinking something else as they grow older.”

The 478 and 418 CA Battalions are attached to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, which has an overall mission to help East African countries improve their stability and increase their security. The U.S. Command works in partnership with the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Agency for International Development to Djibouti to assist in health and education.

Situated less than 10 miles from the Somalian border, the village is made up of about 500 Somalian and Ethiopian nomad people, who originated from the nearby mountain ranges. They settled in Ali One about eight years ago with the discovery of water. The buildings were added in 2008. The village is about 15 miles from Camp Lemonnier, home to CJTF-HOA, making it an important place to build relations, especially because it is near the porous border of Somalia.

It is believed the on-location photos will go a long way to building long term relationships and shaping the attitudes of the people—at least in Ali Oune. The program is considered a success and the 418 CA Team plans to acquire more printers and expand the program.

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Story by: Petty Officer 1st Class Larry Foos, Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Carlo Noid and U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Danielle Pier dance while skating at Camp Lemonnier's first ever 70-80s Skating Jam, May 21. The event was coordinated by Noid as a way to boost morale and promote physical fitness in a friendly environment. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Wilson

This idea started three months ago when U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Carlo Noid started skating around the basketball court as a personal way of exercising, and has grown into a camp wide event.

“I was really just looking for a way to exercise and stay out of trouble,” said Noid. “Three months ago I started skating by myself, and then each Friday there would be more people showing up to join me skating, and this is what we have now.”

The event wasn’t just for those with skates; a large group came out to enjoy the music and support those skating.

“Everybody loves the idea,” said U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Danielle Pier, skater. “We’re getting people who don’t know how to skate or who don’t have skates still coming out and enjoying each other’s company and the music. It’s like a block party back at home.”

Part of the appeal of the skating jam is its tie to loved ones back at home said Noid.

“At home we all skate as a family,” said Noid. “And in order to keep that connection with them while I’m deployed here in Djibouti I practice and try to skate as often as possible so I can rejoin them when I get back and it will be like I never left.”

At the end of the day, many deployed service members are just looking for an escape from the working day and the skate jam provides that.

“This whole event just makes me feel free,” said Noid. “I work long hours here in a forward deployed area and it can get pretty stressful, but because of skating I have something fun every week to look forward to that brings a little bit of home here.”

DVIDS
Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Wilson

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Tonya Wright colors with Iosroe, age 6, at the Guelleh Battal school in Djibouti on Feb. 13. The Community Assistance volunteers from Camp Lemonnier spend time with the students to build better relations with the local community. Photo by Master Sgt. Carlotta Holley

Volunteers from Camp Lemonnier spent time playing sports, making beaded bracelets and necklaces, coloring pictures and handing out shoes to students at the Guelleh Battal school in Djibouti, Feb. 13.

The 50 volunteers who went out to this school are known as the Community Assistance Volunteers or CAV; this is the second time they’ve gone to the Guelleh Battal school to spend time with the children.

Mahamed Ahmed Abdillahi, Camp Lemonnier’s Community Relations advisor, thinks CAV is a program beneficial to both the Djiboutians and the volunteers.

“From a Djiboutian perspective this is an important organization,” said Abdillahi. “It makes the people of Djibouti aware of the American presence, and shows them that Americans are here for stability, peace and development. That includes helping the community.”

Volunteer work like this, is one that transcends the language and culture barrier that often hinder American and local relations.

“The relationship we’re building with these projects is one that breaks the language barrier. Through art and sport there is a type of communication that’s just as powerful and important as spoken word. That’s what we’ve created here.” said Abdillahi.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class Jerrod Jerrolds, CAV board member, hopes the children, whose ages ranged from five to 12, will enjoy the donations and time spent with the service members.

“These kids don’t have the same things we (U.S. service members) had growing up,” said Jerrolds. “So we’re here trying to help the community by giving out necessities and dedicating some of our time to the students.”

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Lance Simmons plays volleyball with the students at the Guelleh Battal school in Djibouti on Feb. 13. Photo by Master Sgt. Carlotta Holley

For each member of CAV, the reason for volunteering is different, for CAV event leader U.S. Navy Second Class Petty Officer Norman Otters, it gives him a chance to work with the community and have some stress-free fun with the kids.

“It’s all about engaging with the kids and building better relations with the local community all while having fun,” said Otters. “Being on camp can make some service members feel stressed, but when you come and play with the kids and you see their smiling faces, you can’t help but feel good and have a good time.”

As CAV’s role continues to grow in the community, Otters’ ambitions grow with it.

“This school here (Guelleh Battal) has a garden club, where students can work the ground and grow their own food,” said Otters. “We’re looking to get involved with that as well, purchasing some seeds and soil and trying to help their club grow. We also plan on visiting the local orphanages and maternity centers to help in any way that we can.”

At the end of the day, it’s about helping the local community to become better than it was before.

“It makes you feel good spending time with the kids and helping the community,” said Jerrolds. “Anyone can sacrifice a few hours, and the feeling you get from their smiles is one that is priceless.”

DVIDS
Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Wilson