Combined Joint Task Force — Horn of Africa

CJTF-HOA

 Theme  Light  Dark
 Contact Us
Media Room
From the Media Room
Articles
Our latest news all in one place
Press Releases
Our official press releases
Images
Browse the latest images from CTJF-HOA and our partners
Documents
Factsheets, posture statements, and more
Videos
Browse the latest uploaded videos
Audio
Listen to recent audio recordings
Niger Investigation
Read the special report here
 
Transcripts
Catch up on speeches from our leaders both past and present
MISO
Military Information Support Operations
 
News by Section
Special Links
What We Do
Exercises
Djibouti Base Cluster (Force Protection Mission) CADJ, CLDJ, the Port (DJBC)
Joint Humanitarian Operations Conference
French Desert Commando Course
Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise
Exercise WAKRI
SOMTU Training
Exercise Bull Shark
Humanitarian Operations Workshop
Japanese Noncombatant Evacuation Operations
FOLLOW THE CG
AFRICOM
Home  Translate  Theme  Light  Dark
Social
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Flickr
Instagram
Twitter
Forms
Contact Us
From the Media Room
Articles
Press Releases
Images
Documents
Niger Investigation
Transcripts
Audio
Special Links
Privacy
FOIA Requests
What We Do
Exercises
FOLLOW THE CG AFRICOM

U.S. Army soldiers receive French National Defense Medal (Silver Level)

U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Hames, Sgt. Rawan Abudahrieh and Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Bright receive the French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) June 11, 2015, for providing life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in Feb. 27, 2015. The French National Defense Medal is awarded on three levels—bronze, silver and gold. Silver and gold-level medals are usually reserved to French individuals who have served in the French military for several years, and it is rare for U.S. service members to receive this award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman) *Note: to see previous story, visit https://www.hoa.africom.mil/story/11651/training-for-reality-army-civil-affairs

By Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman ,  Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Djibouti, Africa Jun 12, 2015
View Gallery
fallback
Gallery contains 9 images
×
Photo 1 of 9

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image

U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Hames, Sgt. Rawan Abudahrieh and Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Bright receive the French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) June 11, 2015, for providing life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in Feb. 27, 2015. The French National Defense Medal is awarded on three levels—bronze, silver and gold. Silver and gold-level medals are usually reserved to French individuals who have served in the French military for several years, and it is rare for U.S. service members to receive this award. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
Download image
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman 
Photo 2 of 9

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image

U.S. Air Force Col. James Kriesel, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa chief of staff, and French Marine Col. Jean-Bruno Despouys, 5th Marines commanding officer, conduct a Pass and Review during a ceremony at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015. During the ceremony, three U.S. Army personnel received a French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) for saving the life of a French service member during a motor vehicle accident Feb. 27, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
Download image
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman 
Photo 3 of 9

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image

U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Hames, Sgt. Rawan Abudahrieh and Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Bright wait to receive a French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) June 11, 2015, for providing life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in Feb., 2015. The French National Defense Medal, created in 1982, is awarded on three levels—bronze, silver and gold. It is rare for U.S. service members to receive this decoration, and general officers are the usual recipients. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
Download image
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman 
Photo 4 of 9

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image

French Marine Col. Jean-Bruno Despouys, 5th Marines commanding officer, addresses French and U.S. troops during an award ceremony at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015. Three U.S. Army soldiers received the French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) for saving the life of a French service member during a motor vehicle accident Feb. 27, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
Download image
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman 
Photo 5 of 9

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image

French Marine Col. Jean-Bruno Despouys, 5th Marines commanding officer, pins a National Defense Medal on U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Hames during an award ceremony at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015, due to his life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in February. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
Download image
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman 
Photo 6 of 9

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Geoffrey Bright receives a National Defense Medal during an award ceremony at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015, due to his life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in February. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
Download image
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman 
Photo 7 of 9

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image

The French National Defense Medal is pinned on a soldier at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015. The French National Defense Medal, created in 1982, is awarded on three levels—bronze, silver and gold. It is rare for U.S. service members to receive this decoration, and general officers are the usual recipients. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
Download image
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman 
Photo 8 of 9

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image

U.S. Army Sgt. Rawan Abudahrieh receives a National Defense Medal during an award ceremony at a Naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015, due to his life-saving medical care to a French service member during a catastrophic motor vehicle accident in February. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
Download image
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman 
Photo 9 of 9

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Image

404th Civil Affairs Battalion members from Camp Lemonnier attend an award ceremony for three Army soldiers at a French naval base in Djibouti, June 11, 2015. The French National Defense Medal (Silver Level) recipients saved the life of a French service member during a motor vehicle accident Feb. 27, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman)
Download image
Photo by: Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman 
We also recommend
Archbishop Broglio visits Djibouti to strengthen faith and partnerships
US AFRICOM Commander Visits East Africa Region
CJTF- HOA welcomes new command senior enlisted leader
Cyber, radio exchange deepens US, Djibouti military cooperation
US, partner nations exercise multinational crisis response to bolster readiness in African theater
More in Media Room
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
CJTF- HOA welcomes new command senior enlisted leader
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Matthew Brown, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general, presided over the CJTF- HOA change of responsibility from U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Ted Braxton, outgoing CJTF- HOA command senior enlisted leader, to U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Mike Brown, incoming CJTF-HOA CSEL, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Aug. 11.
Read more
More in Media Room
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
CJTF- HOA welcomes new command senior enlisted leader
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Matthew Brown, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general, presided over the CJTF- HOA change of responsibility from U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Ted Braxton, outgoing CJTF- HOA command senior enlisted leader, to U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Mike Brown, incoming CJTF-HOA CSEL, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Aug. 11.
Read more
More in Media Room
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
CJTF- HOA welcomes new command senior enlisted leader
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Matthew Brown, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general, presided over the CJTF- HOA change of responsibility from U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Ted Braxton, outgoing CJTF- HOA command senior enlisted leader, to U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Mike Brown, incoming CJTF-HOA CSEL, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Aug. 11.
Read more
×