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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
CAMP CHEIK OSMAN, Djibouti – U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Shelton, U.S. Army Regionally Aligned Forces instructor, throws dirt at a Humvee to simulate a roadside detonation causing immobility during Area Logistics Training final with Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) soldiers, May 16, 2016, at Camp Cheik Osman, Djibouti. The FAD soldiers tested combat skills they learned throughout the five month course demonstrating their reactions to various mock situations from convoying through a road block, identifying mock roadside bombs, medical care, and vehicle recovery. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tiffany DeNault)
Photo by: Staff Sgt Tiffany DeNault
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
CAMP CHEIK OSMAN, Djibouti – Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) Soldiers prepare their Humvee for the final test after completing a five-month training course instructed by the U.S. Army Regionally Aligned Forces Soldiers, May 16, 2016, at Camp Cheik Osman, Djibouti. The FAD soldiers tested the skills they learned by demonstrating their reactions to various mock situations from convoying through a road block, identifying mock roadside bombs, medical care, and vehicle recovery. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tiffany DeNault)
Photo by: Staff Sgt Tiffany DeNault
Photo 3 of 6
Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
CAMP CHEIK OSMAN, Djibouti – Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) Soldiers prepare their convoy for the final test after completing a five-month training course instructed by the U.S. Army Regionally Aligned Forces Soldiers, May 16, 2016, at Camp Cheik Osman, Djibouti. The three-phased training was completed demonstrating their reactions to various mock situations from convoying through a road block, identifying mock roadside bombs, medical care, and vehicle recovery. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tiffany DeNault)
Photo by: Staff Sgt Tiffany DeNault
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
CAMP CHEIK OSMAN, Djibouti – Djiboutian Armed Forces(FAD) Soldiers demonstrate the collective skills they learned from a five month area logistics training instructed by U.S. Army Regionally Aligned Forces Soldiers at their training graduation, May 19, 2016, at Camp Cheik Osman, Djibouti. Beginning in January 2016, the FAD Soldiers learned basic logistics functions, supply, economy, warehouse operations, maintenance along with rifle marksmanship, convoy operations and heavy weapons. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tiffany DeNault)
Photo by: Staff Sgt Tiffany DeNault
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
CAMP CHEIK OSMAN, Djibouti – Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) Soldiers graduate after completing a five month Area Logistics Training instructed by U.S. Army Regionally Aligned Forces Soldiers, May 19, 2016, at Camp Cheik Osman, Djibouti. The FAD Soldiers learned basic logistics functions, supply, economy, warehouse operations, maintenance along with rifle marksmanship, convoy operations and heavy weapons. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tiffany DeNault)
Photo by: Staff Sgt Tiffany DeNault
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image
CAMP CHEIK OSMAN, Djibouti – U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Richard Keaton, U.S. Army Regionally Aligned Forces instructor, tests a Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) soldier on identifying a mock roadside bomb during a road block test, May 16, 2016, at Camp Cheik Osman, Djibouti. The USARAF spent approximately five months with FAD soldiers training them on various combat skills from medical care, rifle marksmanship, improvised explosive device recognition, convoy procedures and more. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tiffany DeNault)
Photo by: Staff Sgt Tiffany DeNault
Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) soldiers completed their final test, May 16, and graduated from Area Logistics Training, May 19, 2016, at Camp Cheik Osman, Djibouti.
The five month training with the U.S. Army Regionally Aligned Forces Soldiers taught the FAD several skills necessary for their new logistics company.
“Before they started it was basically non-existent; they took people from infantry, armor and from a whole bunch of different branches and reclassified them into logistics,” said U.S. Army Capt. Daniel Samuelson, RAF officer in charge of logistics training. “Prior to this (training) there was very little knowledge on sustainment operations and logistics operations so we started from zero or ground level.”
Approximately 90 FAD service members completed the three-phased training. The senior noncommissioned officers and officers were taught basic logistics functions, supply, economy, warehouse operations and maintenance during the first phase, said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Richard Keaton, RAF instructor. In the second phase the soldiers had the same training as the SNCOs and officers but were also trained in rifle marksmanship, mounted and dismounted convoy operations and heavy weapons.
“The third phase brought together the senior non-commissioned officers, officers and (junior) enlisted to collectively combine everything they have done in the last five months to execute one final event or test,” said Keaton.
Their final test involved them convoying through two lanes, testing their reaction to various situations including road blocks, identifying improvised explosive devices, vehicle recovery, medical emergencies, using proper chain of command and resupply.
“Now there is significant progress, they are a competent force and they have grown from nothing into something that they can deploy to Somalia,” Samuelson said.
“I am a better soldier now from this training because we learned a lot, we knew nothing before (the class),” said Wosam, FAD student. “And now we can do a lot of things we didn’t know before.”
During the graduation ceremony, FAD soldiers demonstrated skills similar to what they completed in their final test.
“(The training) helps the Djiboutian Army grow as a military, helping them prepare for future missions to Somalia or wherever the African Union wants to send them,” said Keaton. “To prepare them and be ready to react to anything they encounter and help them survive.”
