Volunteers from Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Randy Neihart, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa operations specialist, and U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Glenn Hart, CJTF-HOA senior watch officer, shove brush into a controlled fire at the Discover and Aid Nature Animal Refuge in Djibouti, Djibouti Feb. 19, 2012. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Andrew Caya

The soldier wiped perspiration off his face after battling spindly plants and dodging large fires, all while under the predatory gaze of lions pacing only a few yards away.

It may seem U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mark Vaughn, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa deputy director of civil military operations, was lost in East Africa or enduring survival training, but he was volunteering his time at the DECAN Animal Refuge in Djibouti, Djibouti, January 19, 2012. The name DECAN stands for “Découvrir et Aider la Nature,” which is French for “Discover and Aid Nature.”
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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Grace Enriquez, a communications specialist with Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, received the Navy Expeditionary Warfare Badge at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sept. 28. Photo by Senior Airman Kaitlyn Johnson

Beyond the pride one carries by simply being a member in today’s all-volunteer U.S. military, there is no greater honor for a service member than accomplishing a challenge in an expeditionary environment, especially when that achievement is normally accomplished by a different branch than the one you serve.

This statement holds especially true when attached in support of Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa, a forward-deployed base comprised of airmen, sailors, soldiers and Marines, all sharing in the responsibility of strengthening defense capabilities and stability in the region.

On Sept. 28, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Grace Enriquez, a native of Baguio City in the Philippines, became the first non-Navy service member assigned to CJTF-HOA to receive the Navy Expeditionary Warfare Badge. The award of the warfare device, first introduced Navy-wide in 2006, attests to a sailor’s proficiency of combat tactics, expeditionary fundamentals and core Navy knowledge. At CJTF-HOA only 79 sailors have received this pin since it was re-introduced in April of 2011. The distinction and honor of wearing the device is now shared by an airman here.

“Being in a diverse unit and a joint environment showcases many interesting bits of tradition from the Air Force, Navy, Army and the Marine Corps,” said Enriquez. “I felt this was a fascinating part of Navy culture and I really wanted to be a part of it.”

The EXW badge is not an easy device to achieve. To begin this process, a service member must make a special request through their chain of command. After being approved and committing to complete the necessary training and qualifications, prospects must complete Personal Qualifications Standards of core Navy knowledge, unit-specific corps training and practical knowledge of communication radios. After passing a written exam and practical exercise with a M16A2 semi-automatic rifle and Portable Radio Communication series field radios, there are two oral boards among peers to test all EXW knowledge.

Enriquez’s decision to achieve the EXW device did not go unnoticed among her co-workers.

“Here at CJTF-HOA, we are faced with a unique mission and an opportunity to work closely with all services, militaries, coalition partners and civilians,” said U.S. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Josh Hildreth, Enriquez’s senior enlisted leader. “By Enriquez embracing that jointness and stepping up to the challenge of completing a Navy-centric warfare qualification, I believe that she has set a new standard here. With that, perhaps she has inspired others to follow in her path to have a better understanding of our mission as a whole and how each service is part of that mission.”

Enriquez was not alone in the pursuit of the warfare device. Her shop supervisor, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Haupt, an electronics technician, studied and tested alongside Enriquez and was awarded the badge at the same time.

“I’m ecstatic for her,” said Haupt. “There was no doubt, even early on, that she had the necessary study habits down. She definitely made the Air Force – and all of us – proud.”

Enriquez’s impact at CJTF-HOA goes beyond the EXW device. Day to day, she shares responsibility for ensuring vital communications equipment is functional and ready for any mission. When the workday is over, she doesn’t simply go home for the day; she volunteers at multiple locations in the Djibouti City area.

“We are guests of Djibouti and it’s important that we give back to our hosts,” said Enriquez. “I find it to be a very rewarding experience. The most important part of volunteering is loving what you do for others.”

Enriquez spends time weekly caring for orphaned babies at a church in Djibouti City, and she also teaches English three days a week to Djiboutian students, policemen, and members of the Japanese military.

She began teaching English at her home station at Misawa Air Base, Japan, where she is a communications specialist with the 35th Communications Squadron. She began working with the Japanese two years ago, when she decided she wanted to learn Japanese. Members of the Japan’s military offered to teach her Japanese in exchange for English lessons.

By day, Enriquez ensures smooth communications, and when the workday is through, she selflessly donates her time to help others. Now, she holds to her name the first non-sailor to achieve an Expeditionary Warfare Device, setting the bar for others at CJTF-HOA to step up and go the extra mile.

Story by Senior Airman Kaitlyn Johnson
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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 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.”

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Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Wilson

The construction site of the Walela Culvert Bridge, where a crew of U.S. Navy Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion-11, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa work along side with counterpart engineers from the Uganda People Defense Force on May 5 during the final construction phase of the bridge. Funded by CJTF-HOA,the $375,000 bridge was constructed by 25 U.S. Navy construction engineers partnered and worked side-by-side with counterpart engineers from the Uganda People Defense Force. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Dawn Price

Sailors from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 Detachment Horn of Africa from Gulfport, Miss., have completed work on a concrete bridge of major importance to villagers here and continue to work on a second one nearby.

The crew of Seabees built the Aromo low-water crossing bridge over a small river, replacing a lighter bridge that washed out during the last seasonal high floods and heavy rainfall. The bridge will once again connect the village of Aromo with the road leading to the city of Lira and other local areas, such as the public school.

“The Seabees’ strong work ethic and extensive technical skills are providing Ugandans with two bridges that will be able to withstand the seasonal flooding and provide transportation solutions to the largest vehicles used in the region,” explained Lt. Garth Pertersen, Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa country planner for Uganda. CJTF-HOA is based at camp Lemonier, Djibouti, and operates in 13 East African countries. NMCB 11 Det. HOA is currently on a six-month deployment to CJTF-HOA’s area of responsibility, working in four of those nations. One of CJTF-HOA’s missions is to foster regional security through infrastructure projects like this bridge.

In order to work at the remote project site efficiently, the Seabees set up a small tent camp only 50 yards away from the bridge. The camp was designed to be self-sufficient, giving the Seabees their own power and was where they lived and kept supplies for the project. It was also on the edge of local farmland, with goats and cattle constantly grazing next to the camp. The living conditions give the crew a unique chance to grow, according to Petty Officer 3rd Class John Johnston, project crew member.

“No one wants to live the way we do,” Johnston said. “But it gives you such a great understanding of what the people we are helping have to endure on a daily basis. I have definitely developed a greater appreciation for the little things in life,” said Johnston.

“By living in the vicinity of local Ugandans,” said Pertersen, “the Seabees are able to interact on a daily basis with Ugandan civilians and build goodwill between our two countries. The efforts of the Seabees of NMCB 11 outside Lira will provide benefits for both the people of Uganda and the United States for years to come.”

NMCB 11 also had the opportunity to work with engineers from the Ugandan People’s Defense Force, allowing more growth for relationships as well as cross-training.

“It’s been an amazing experience working with the Ugandan engineers,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Peter A. Belcastro, a builder and project crew leader. “They have such a strong desire to learn and their work ethic is incredible. I would be happy to serve side by side with them anytime.”

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Peter A. Belcastro, Crew Leader, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion-11, poses with a local boy May 5, 2009, after learning the boy had been accepted to a private school, as a result of PO2 Belcastro's financial sponsorship. Belcastro is currently working in the area on the Walela Culvert bridge and has almost daily interaction with the locals. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Dawn Price

The villagers, mostly children, watched the work daily, waiting for the Seabees to finish working each day before interacting with the crew. This was also the highlight of the day for the Seabees.

“Handing out our extra water bottles and throwing the football with the kids is by far the best part of the day,” explained Johnston. “No matter how exhausted you are, those kids can always bring a smile to your face.”

“The people around here are genuinely nice, too,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Trent Thurnhorst, an equipment mechanic. “One guy came to my shop and began to cut the high grass. He told me ‘I do this for friendship’.”

Johnston said the work was draining and living conditions were below what they considered normal, but mission progress and success came from prospect of improving the lives of Ugandan youth.

“Some days,” he said, “I don’t feel like getting out of bed and going to work. On those days, I remind myself that this project will ensure the local kids can cross the river during the rainy season in order to get to school. Knowing my work has such a tremendous impact on the local community is enough motivation in itself. There is no project I’d rather be on.”

The service members of CJTF-HOA employ an indirect approach to counter violent extremism. The task force helps build the internal capacities of countries at risk to help them prevail against extremists exploiting instability.

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Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Erick Holmes