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Joint Task Force-Quartz
A U.S. Service member protects a C130J Super Hercules while its being loaded under Joint Task Force-Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ) in Somalia Dec. 23, 2020. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)
Photo by: Senior Airman Charles Fultz
Photo 2 of 11
Joint Task Force-Quartz
A U.S. Army soldier protects a C130J Super Hercules while others load a vehicle into a C-130J during an operation under Joint Task Force-Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ) in Somalia Dec. 18, 2020. The OOQ mission is to reposition U.S. Department of Defense personnel from Somalia to other locations in East Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)
Photo by: Senior Airman Charles Fultz
Photo 3 of 11
Joint Task Force-Quartz
U.S. service member load a pallet into a C-130J Super Hercules during an operation under Joint Task Force-Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ) in Somalia Dec. 18, 2020. The OOQ mission is to reposition U.S. Department of Defense personnel from Somalia to other locations in East Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)
Photo by: Senior Airman Charles Fultz
Photo 4 of 11
Joint Task Force-Quartz
U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster loadmasters from the 435th Contingency Response Group offload supplies that are delivered on behalf of Joint Task Force - Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ) Dec. 24, 2020, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Peter Thompson)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Peter Thompson
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Joint Task Force-Quartz
U.S. Service members load pallets in a C130J Super Hercules to be airlifted out of Somalia under Joint Task Force-Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz Dec. 23, 2020, in Somalia. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Charles T. Fultz)
Photo by: Senior Airman Charles Fultz
Photo 6 of 11
Joint Task Force-Quartz
U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster loadmasters from the 435th Contingency Response Group offload supplies that are delivered on behalf of Joint Task Force - Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ) Dec. 24, 2020, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Peter Thompson)
Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Peter Thompson
Photo 7 of 11
Joint Task Force-Quartz
210109-M-JX780-1296 BALEDOGLE MILITARY AIRFIELD, Somalia (Jan. 9, 2021) – U.S. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit run to an MV-22 Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th MEU, for extraction. The 15th MEU is conducting operations under Joint Task Force – Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. Department of Defense forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brendan Mullin)
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Brendan Mullin
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Joint Task Force-Quartz
201222-M-UY835-1049 BALEDOGLE AIRFIELD, Somalia (Dec. 22, 2020) – U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Conor O’Brien, left, a platoon commander and Staff Sgt. Alan Craft, a platoon sergeant, both with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to board an MV-22 Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th MEU. Makin Island, flagship if the Amphibious Ready Group, and the 15th MEU are conducting operations under Joint Task Force - Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. Department of Defense forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Patrick Crosley)
Photo by: Cpl. Patrick Crosley
Photo 9 of 11
Joint Task Force-Quartz
201222-M-UY835-1027 BALEDOGLE MILITARY AIRFIELD, Somalia (Dec. 22, 2020) – U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit establish security positions at Baledogle Military Airfield. Makin Island, flagship if the Amphibious Ready Group, and the 15th MEU are conducting operations under Joint Task Force - Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. Department of Defense forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Patrick Crosley)
Photo by: Cpl. Patrick Crosley
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United States Air Forces Central
U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft based in the Central Command area of operations conduct armed aerial patrols in Somalia in support of Operation Octave Quartz, Jan. 12, 2020. The F-16s support to OOQ demonstrates the U.S. military's reach and power projection across vast distances to hold adversaries such as al-Shabaab at risk with flexible, precise and lethal force that is capable of rapidly responding anywhere on the globe. The mission of OOQ is to reposition U.S. Department of Defense personnel from Somalia to other locations in East Africa. (U.S. Air Force video by Staff Sgt. Sean Carnes)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Sean Carnes
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Joint Task Force-Quartz
Two U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender crew chiefs, assigned to the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, board the aircraft during pre-flight operations before an in-air refueling mission supporting Operation Octave Quartz at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 5, 2021. The KC-10 delivers a global reach aerial refueling capability to Joint Task Force-Quartz demonstrating the U.S. military's flexible, precise and lethal force that is capable of rapidly responding anywhere on the globe. The mission of OOQ is to relocate U.S. DoD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while supporting partner forces and maintaining pressure on violent extremist groups. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBride)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Trevor McBride
Joint Task Force-Quartz successfully repositioned U.S. forces and equipment within East Africa prior to the Jan. 15 target date while maintaining support to partners and continuing to strike al Shabaab.
“We continue to support our partners in their fight against violent extremists like al-Qaeda affiliate as-Shabaab and ISIS-Somalia who aim to destabilize the region, attack civilians, and target the U.S.,” said Maj. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, Joint Task Force - Quartz commander. “We conducted five strikes against al-Shabaab, even while repositioning forces, showing that we remain committed to keeping pressure on al-Shabaab and supporting our partners who do the same.”
JTF-Quartz accomplished this complex logistics and security operation while maintaining significant pressure against al-Shabaab. U.S. forces will continue to support partner forces in Somalia and throughout the region while also surveilling and striking violent extremists.
“JTF-Quartz completed our assigned mission ahead of schedule, with all personnel and equipment repositioned safely. This operation has been a testament to how far our military has come as a joint force,” said Anderson. “To come together with little notice, integrate air, sea, and land components into a coherent operation, and execute flawlessly in a remote part of the world under a compressed timeline is nothing short of extraordinary.”
Beyond accomplishing the reposition, U.S. forces strengthened joint and partner interoperability by incorporating new military assets into partner support operations across East Africa. The integration of close air support aircraft from Central Command bases, the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, and Indo-Pacific Command’s Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group carrying the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit increased the support available to partners. These new and expanded partnerships offer new capabilities to the region as required.
Joint Task Force - Quartz and supporting units flew more than 1,000 sorties using 17 different types of aircraft, moved 4.6 million pounds of cargo, and repositioned hundreds of personnel throughout East Africa in less than two months.
“Any adversary who wishes to challenge U.S. military power, our partners, or our allies should think twice after seeing what we did in such a short time,” said Anderson. “The U.S. is unmatched in our ability to project power, and we stand ready to do so anytime, anywhere.”
Joint Task Force-Quartz included a Joint Force Maritime Component Command and a Joint Force Special Operations Component Command. The JFMCC included the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams, Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The JFSOCC was made up of all special operations ground forces in Somalia. JTF-Quartz was also supported by a Joint Air Component Coordinating Element, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, and other units from around the globe.
