Human of HOA spotlight; Staff Sgt. Jaime Valdez, journey to becoming a Warrant Officer

Warrant Officer Yanie Matyas, Warrant Officer Chelsey Ewald and Warrant Officer Jailene Valdez pose before their graduation of their Warrant Officer Candidate course. All three grew close not only because of their shared human resource roles, but also their mindsets and drive to make a difference in the military. The photo depicts U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jailene Valdez to highlight her Warrant Officer journey in Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa’s Humans of HOA feature. (Courtesy photo)



By Spc. Micheala Maldonado Combined Joint Task Force - Horn Djibouti Mar 10, 2025
More in Media Room
CJTF-HOA Executes Exercise to Comoros, Demonstrating Theater Reach and Integrated Regional Partnership
Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa conducted an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise in the Union of the Comoros, Jan. 23–26, 2026. The rapid-response training event tested how quickly forces can prepare, deploy and begin operations during a crisis while practicing joint aviation deployment and strengthening regional partnerships across the Western Indian Ocean.
Read more
Archbishop Broglio visits Djibouti to strengthen faith and partnerships
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, visited Djibouti for a multi-day engagement with religious leaders and U.S. service members.
Read more
US AFRICOM Commander Visits East Africa Region
U.S. Air Force Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), and AFRICOM senior leaders, conducted a series of high-level visits to Africa with stops in Ethiopia, Somaliland and Puntland, Nov. 23-27, 2025. The visits were part of an East Africa trip aimed to strengthen America’s strategic approach to confronting terrorism through mutual engagement, stronger cooperation, and aligned security priorities.
Read more
More in Media Room
CJTF-HOA Executes Exercise to Comoros, Demonstrating Theater Reach and Integrated Regional Partnership
Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa conducted an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise in the Union of the Comoros, Jan. 23–26, 2026. The rapid-response training event tested how quickly forces can prepare, deploy and begin operations during a crisis while practicing joint aviation deployment and strengthening regional partnerships across the Western Indian Ocean.
Read more
Archbishop Broglio visits Djibouti to strengthen faith and partnerships
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, visited Djibouti for a multi-day engagement with religious leaders and U.S. service members.
Read more
US AFRICOM Commander Visits East Africa Region
U.S. Air Force Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), and AFRICOM senior leaders, conducted a series of high-level visits to Africa with stops in Ethiopia, Somaliland and Puntland, Nov. 23-27, 2025. The visits were part of an East Africa trip aimed to strengthen America’s strategic approach to confronting terrorism through mutual engagement, stronger cooperation, and aligned security priorities.
Read more
More in Media Room
CJTF-HOA Executes Exercise to Comoros, Demonstrating Theater Reach and Integrated Regional Partnership
Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa conducted an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise in the Union of the Comoros, Jan. 23–26, 2026. The rapid-response training event tested how quickly forces can prepare, deploy and begin operations during a crisis while practicing joint aviation deployment and strengthening regional partnerships across the Western Indian Ocean.
Read more
Archbishop Broglio visits Djibouti to strengthen faith and partnerships
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, visited Djibouti for a multi-day engagement with religious leaders and U.S. service members.
Read more
US AFRICOM Commander Visits East Africa Region
U.S. Air Force Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), and AFRICOM senior leaders, conducted a series of high-level visits to Africa with stops in Ethiopia, Somaliland and Puntland, Nov. 23-27, 2025. The visits were part of an East Africa trip aimed to strengthen America’s strategic approach to confronting terrorism through mutual engagement, stronger cooperation, and aligned security priorities.
Read more