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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
A guidon bearer from the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade holds the unit's colors during a Transfer of Responsibility ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022. During the ceremony, the 157th MEB assumed responsibility for the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa headquarters staff mission. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
The Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) official party stands at attention prior to a Transfer of Responsibility ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022. During the ceremony, the Illinois Army National Guard’s 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) relinquished responsibility of the CJTF-HOA headquarters staff mission to the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th MEB. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, speaks during a Transfer of Responsibility ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022. During her speech, Shawley highlighted the accomplishments of the outgoing Illinois Army National Guard’s 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB), and welcomed the incoming Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th MEB. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
Members of the Illinois Army National Guard’s 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB), left, and the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th MEB, right, stand at attention during a Transfer of Responsibility ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022. A MEB groups a variety of dispersed functions in order to provide critical multifunctional support for a force commander. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army Col. Justin Towell, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) commander, speaks during a Transfer of Responsibility ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022. The Illinois Army National Guard’s 404th MEB relinquished responsibility of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa headquarters staff mission to the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th MEB. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
Leaders from the Illinois Army National Guard’s 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB), right, and the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th MEB, left, case the outgoing 404th MEB’s unit colors as they uncase the incoming 157th MEB’s unit colors during a Transfer of Responsibility ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022. The Transfer of Responsibility ceremony is a time honored event which signifies the changing of deployed units in the field. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
U.S. Army Col. Eric Leckel, commander of the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and incoming Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa chief of staff, speaks during a Transfer of Responsibility at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022. The 157th MEB is the first U.S. Army National Guard brigade-level unit from Wisconsin to deploy to Africa. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns
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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn
The Illinois Army National Guard’s 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) poses for a photo after a Transfer of Responsibility ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022. The 404th MEB will return to Illinois following their nine-month deployment to East Africa. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns)
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Thomas Johns
The Illinois Army National Guard’s 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) transferred responsibility of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) headquarters staff mission to the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th MEB on Nov. 5, 2022, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.
The MEB groups a variety of dispersed functions in order to provide critical multifunctional support for a force commander. The MEB enables CJTF-HOA to accomplish its missions of ensuring strategic partnerships with Djibouti and other partner nations, responding to crises, and enhancing stability and peace in the region by acting as a headquarters support unit to coordinate and facilitate mission accomplishment.
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, commanding general of CJTF-HOA, presided over the Transfer of Responsibility ceremony.
"404th, I wish you the very best in your next chapter and thank you for your service to our Republic,” Shawley said. “157th warriors, I look forward to serving with you in the days to come.”
Shawley recognized the impactful work the 404th MEB accomplished during their nine-month deployment.
“We provide crisis response, we strengthen American influence and access, we counter malign activities to weaken the U.N. Charter, and we support our African partners,” Shawley said. “You decisively helped us do this. You worked tirelessly on a continent that lies at a global crossroads with unique opportunities and challenges."
This was the 404th MEB’s first deployment as a unified brigade and the third MEB at Camp Lemonnier supporting the CJTF-HOA mission. The 404th MEB’s leadership highlighted their pride in the unit’s exceptional performance during their deployment.
“The way the 404th MEB integrated into CJTF-HOA and formed, planned and executed was simply humbling to be a part of,” said U.S. Army Col. Justin Towell, 404th MEB commander. “Each and every one of you should be proud of your efforts and devotion to keeping the best interest of the United States.”
The 157th MEB is the first Army National Guard brigade-level unit from Wisconsin to deploy to Africa, and is looking forward to its time in East Africa.
“We have trained hard, validated through a methodical program of both individual and collective training,” said U.S. Army Col. Eric Leckel, commander of the 157th MEB and the incoming CJTF-HOA chief of staff. “I am honored to be a part of the CJTF-HOA mission and ready to place the (U.S. Africa Command) patch on my left shoulder and get to work.”
