U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commanding general, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher, command senior enlisted leader, AFRICOM, traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa.
By Sgt. Brandon Julson, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of AfricaCamp Lemonnier, DjiboutiJan 20, 2021
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AFRICOM commander visits East Africa
U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), speaks to a group of service members during an award ceremony, at an airfield in East Africa, Jan 15, 2021. Townsend traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)
U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), meets with Lt. Col. Nicholas Wabeke, commander, 776th Expeditionary Air Base Squadron, at an airfield in East Africa, Jan. 15, 2021. Townsend traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz, in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)
Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher, command senior enlisted leader, Africa Command (AFRICOM), congratulates a service member during an award ceremony at Camp Lemonnier Djibouti, Jan. 15, 2021. Thresher was part of a five-day visit to East Africa with U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command. During the trip, Thresher recognized U.S. forces and spoke with partner military leadership about training possibilities. (U.S. National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)
Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher, command senior enlisted leader, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), greets by a Military Working Dog during an award ceremony at Camp Lemonnier Djibouti, Jan. 15, 2021. Thresher traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz, in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)
U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commanding general, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher, command senior enlisted leader, AFRICOM, recognizes top performers at an award ceremony, Jan. 15, 2021, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Townsend traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz, in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)
U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commanding general, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher, command senior enlisted leader, AFRICOM, recognizes top performers at an award ceremony, Jan. 15, 2021, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Townsend traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz, in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)
U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), meets with U.S. Air Force Col. Ryan Bohner, commander, 449th Air Expeditionary Group, at an airfield in East Africa, Jan. 15, 2021. Townsend traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz, in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)
U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), speaks to a group of service members during an award ceremony, at an airfield in East Africa, Jan 15, 2021. Townsend traveled to East Africa to review future posturing of U.S. forces with key leaders in support of Operation Octave Quartz, in preparation for the next phase of operations in East Africa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)
One team: CJTF-HOA leaders visit troops in Kismayo, Somalia
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Brian Cashman, far right, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general, met with various personnel during a Battlefield Circulation visit May 1-2, 2025, at Cooperative Security Location, Kismayo, Somalia. Cashman routinely visits forward-deployed troops to meet with key leaders, check on the morale and welfare of service members and ensure overall mission readiness throughout the CJTF-HOA area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Allison Payne)
US Army engineers enhance medical capabilities at Baledogle Military Airfield, Somalia
The 152nd Engineer Support Company deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) is playing a pivotal role in enhancing both military operations and the quality of life for service members stationed at Baledogle Military Airfield (BMA), Somalia, through various construction projects, to include a recent build of a medical aid station.
The air was heavy that day - not just from the summer heat, but from the weight of loss that clung to everyone in the room. Families sat close together, shoulders brushing, as if physical proximity could offer some small measure of comfort. Outside the chapel, the faint hum of military vehicles was a distant reminder of the larger conflict at hand. Inside, however, time felt suspended. It was just us, the grieving, and the silence.
One team: CJTF-HOA leaders visit troops in Kismayo, Somalia
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Brian Cashman, far right, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general, met with various personnel during a Battlefield Circulation visit May 1-2, 2025, at Cooperative Security Location, Kismayo, Somalia. Cashman routinely visits forward-deployed troops to meet with key leaders, check on the morale and welfare of service members and ensure overall mission readiness throughout the CJTF-HOA area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Allison Payne)
US Army engineers enhance medical capabilities at Baledogle Military Airfield, Somalia
The 152nd Engineer Support Company deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) is playing a pivotal role in enhancing both military operations and the quality of life for service members stationed at Baledogle Military Airfield (BMA), Somalia, through various construction projects, to include a recent build of a medical aid station.
The air was heavy that day - not just from the summer heat, but from the weight of loss that clung to everyone in the room. Families sat close together, shoulders brushing, as if physical proximity could offer some small measure of comfort. Outside the chapel, the faint hum of military vehicles was a distant reminder of the larger conflict at hand. Inside, however, time felt suspended. It was just us, the grieving, and the silence.
One team: CJTF-HOA leaders visit troops in Kismayo, Somalia
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Brian Cashman, far right, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general, met with various personnel during a Battlefield Circulation visit May 1-2, 2025, at Cooperative Security Location, Kismayo, Somalia. Cashman routinely visits forward-deployed troops to meet with key leaders, check on the morale and welfare of service members and ensure overall mission readiness throughout the CJTF-HOA area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Allison Payne)
US Army engineers enhance medical capabilities at Baledogle Military Airfield, Somalia
The 152nd Engineer Support Company deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) is playing a pivotal role in enhancing both military operations and the quality of life for service members stationed at Baledogle Military Airfield (BMA), Somalia, through various construction projects, to include a recent build of a medical aid station.
The air was heavy that day - not just from the summer heat, but from the weight of loss that clung to everyone in the room. Families sat close together, shoulders brushing, as if physical proximity could offer some small measure of comfort. Outside the chapel, the faint hum of military vehicles was a distant reminder of the larger conflict at hand. Inside, however, time felt suspended. It was just us, the grieving, and the silence.