U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lapthe C. Flora, commanding general, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), listens to U.S. Army Capt. Jack Mcleod, commander, East Africa Response Force, during Flora’s visit to the EARF headquarters at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Oct. 19, 2020. The EARF is responsible for providing combat-ready deployment capabilities to support crisis procedures on the African continent. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brandon Julson)
By Sgt. Brandon Julson, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of AfricaCamp Lemonnier, DjiboutiOct 21, 2020
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.
Task Force Associator opens Joint Light Leaders Course to sister services
U.S. Soldiers, Sailors and Marines participated in the Joint Light Leaders Course to learn fundamentals of infantry tactics, planning, and leadership to build a cohesive relationship across branches to support operations and plans in East Africa.
CJTF-HOA, Djiboutian service members discuss operations for Bull Shark 25-2
U.S. service members discuss operations for exercise Bull Shark 25-2 with Djiboutian and NATO counterparts at Camp Doraleh, Djibouti, April 21, 2025. The objective of Bull Shark is to enhance personnel recovery techniques through numerous scenarios involving land, sea, and air units, while prioritizing communications between allied countries.
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.
Task Force Associator opens Joint Light Leaders Course to sister services
U.S. Soldiers, Sailors and Marines participated in the Joint Light Leaders Course to learn fundamentals of infantry tactics, planning, and leadership to build a cohesive relationship across branches to support operations and plans in East Africa.
CJTF-HOA, Djiboutian service members discuss operations for Bull Shark 25-2
U.S. service members discuss operations for exercise Bull Shark 25-2 with Djiboutian and NATO counterparts at Camp Doraleh, Djibouti, April 21, 2025. The objective of Bull Shark is to enhance personnel recovery techniques through numerous scenarios involving land, sea, and air units, while prioritizing communications between allied countries.
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.
Task Force Associator opens Joint Light Leaders Course to sister services
U.S. Soldiers, Sailors and Marines participated in the Joint Light Leaders Course to learn fundamentals of infantry tactics, planning, and leadership to build a cohesive relationship across branches to support operations and plans in East Africa.
CJTF-HOA, Djiboutian service members discuss operations for Bull Shark 25-2
U.S. service members discuss operations for exercise Bull Shark 25-2 with Djiboutian and NATO counterparts at Camp Doraleh, Djibouti, April 21, 2025. The objective of Bull Shark is to enhance personnel recovery techniques through numerous scenarios involving land, sea, and air units, while prioritizing communications between allied countries.