A friend of a friend who has a daughter whose husband is in the service let it slip that a National Guard unit is training for a mission in Africa. Nothing on location or anything else- what you see is everything I know.

I don't trust these bastards any farther than I can nail their balls to the barndoor. Anyone know how to follow up on this? Bampa? Marine? Flydangler?

Not to worry Winston, we've been there since 2002 and nobody is shooting at us.


Marine Sgt. Kris D. Floyd, a member of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, gives Djiboutian troops some last-minute pointers before practicing combat boat formations. The CJTF-HOA Small Craft Detachment has been teaching small boat handling and tactics to Djiboutian naval forces here. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paula M. Fitzgerald

Marines in Djibouti Train Local Forces
By Marine Cpl. Paula M. Fitzgerald
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti — The Marines of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Small Craft Detachment are sharing their knowledge and helping to cultivate a strong relationship between American and Djiboutian military forces here.

For several weeks, members of the detachment have been teaching service members from the Djiboutian naval forces about small boat handling, maintenance and combat formations.

“Right now, we have four Zodiac boats that were given to us by the United States,” Lt. Abdi Ali God, a Djiboutian maintenance and logistics officer, explained.

Typically, the rubber boats are used to provide 24-hour security to the Djibouti port, where many international and commercial vessels are moored.

“ If something were to happen to any of the civilian boats, we would provide assistance,” added God.

In order to improve the soldiers’ small boat-handling skills, Marine Sgt. Erick J. Hodge and his team taught the Djiboutians how to employ various combat formations utilizing the Zodiacs.


Marine Lance Cpl. Matt Lupton, a mechanic with the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Small Craft Detachment, helps a Djiboutian service member fix the engine of a Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft. Lupton, of Roselle, Ill., and the rest of the detachment are providing training to the Djiboutian troops. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paula M. Fitzgerald

Chicago native Marine Cpl. Tyler S. Spellich, a coxswain for the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Small Craft Detachment, gives arm signals to Djiboutian service members. Each arm signal signifies a different combat boat formation. The detachment is providing training about small boat handling to the Djiboutian troops.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paula M. Fitzgerald

“We use boat formations on the water for fire support like infantrymen do during a patrol. Will the Djiboutians ever use the formations for that? Probably not,” said Hodge, the detachment’s noncommissioned-officer-in-charge. “Mainly, what we wanted to accomplish was to give the Djiboutians some time in the boats. Teaching them formations just made the process easier.”

Before venturing into the water, the detachment taught the soldiers several hand and arm signals that represent each formation. The soldiers were broken into groups and practiced the signals on land.

During the training, the soldiers were attentive and eager to impress their American counterparts.

“ Our unit is important because we have the ability to respond very quickly to an emergency if need to be, but we always want to improve,” said God. “We appreciate the Americans for coming out here because they have a lot of knowledge that they want to come share with us. They are highly motivated.”

The training, which is scheduled to last three weeks, is also a good learning opportunity for the Marines.

“It’s amazing to me how much military discipline these guys have," Hodge, of Port Huron, Mich., admitted. "Everyday, we learn from each other.”





http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/mar2003/a031403b.html

Marine, thanks for the post, but I don't think this is the 'deal'. This operation looks like it's run by regular Marines, not reserves or NG. Not only that, the implication was that this new operation is clandestine; your program looks too mundane. This friend of a friend is not in the Marines, the implication being it's not a Marine operation.

Any thoughts? How might these fascists be manipulating the situation? Or is this all smoke, sans mirrors. Am I becoming a

All my conections are in the sandbox or just came back. Didn't see any Marines at the wrestling meet tonight, so I've got nothing.

Well, not all the folks in Djibouti are Marines and never have been. Their are people from every branch of the service there. It makes sense to me to use National Guardsmen or Reservist in Djibouti because it is relatively safe and it would free up regular troops for places which need better trained and equiped troops.

I have not heard about any clandestine operations (but if I had I wouldn't say I did).

Anyone hear about the Egyption cruise ship that just "disappeared" with it's 1,300 passengers this morning?

OK, Marine, I'll wrap my aluminum foil up as neatly as I can and save it for another day...

and yes, apparently an old boat without enuf safety equipment... ... a real tragedy. Mostly people returning from Hajj, and oil workers coming home for some R&R. Really horrible.

Winston...I'll check with some NG rank,
but...like Marine said...if it's a surprise for
someone they'll just smile and wink...as
they should...the whole mention of Africa
could be a smoke screen too...Uncle's
sense of humor is dry...but active.

If something big & hot is gonna kick-off in Africa
it would probably start with Special Forces,
Rangers and Marines with Navy & AF support,
with Guard pulling in to reinforce...

Small & hot- Special Forces alone.

What kind of unit is the guard mobilizing?
Medical, engineers, mechanized, MP, infantry?
Probably just a special need in force strength.

It could be they are just positioning troops
to have guys close if draw-downs in Iraq
cause some outbreaks that need answering, or
in case Iran gets too hinky in months to come.

One thing for sure...the military is spread too
thin when they are calling up more Guardsmen
for international work...IMO.

OK Marine, Indianhead, I'll keep my ears open if you will...

WS and Indianhead and Marine Tres Amigos! in search of The Truth!

http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

This isn't about Africa, it is about Military Buildup possible in the Pacific because of China. What I find interesting is how the local politicians and others who stand to profit are gung-ho for this happening on their door step. Kinda makes you wonder, huh?

KT

Winston,

Keep in mind that Africa also includes Egypt, Algeria and many other countries.

Also, knowing the ignorance and confusion that abounds in the Bush WH about world geography, without a snippet of clarification from our illustrous compatriots here at CGCS, the rumor could mean almost anything!

Over the weekend CNN ran a couple of reports 'bout Army Reserve and National Guard units operatin' in the Horn of Africa. They were providin' medical, dental and veterinary services to the local populations in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia methinks, but I'm sure there were infantry types providin' security to 'em, eh?

Saw this while I was in Montreal Saturday afternoon, then at home Sunday afternoon or evening. Methinks the report was by Barbara Star, but I can't find it on their site. I'll keep watchin' and see what I can find.

I found an article about reserve army troops being sent to the Horn of Africa. I will put that one up next. I wondered about this place and why it is important. Mission of Mercy? I think not.............

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horn_of_Africa

Here is an excerpt:
____________________________________________________________
Modern history
The Horn of Africa is a region continuously in crisis. Ethiopia occupies a predominant position in the Horn because of its demographic importance: about 85% of the area's population live in this country. Yet Ethiopia's history is largely marked by conflicts between Muslims and Christians for resources and living space, as well as between nationalism and Marxism-Leninism in the modern times. The rest of the region also faces continuous wars: a civil war erupted in Somalia in 1977, resulting in the country having had no functioning national government since 1991. Sudan, with the Sudanese Civil War, represents another important source of instability for the whole region. Conflicts have also occurred in Djibouti and Eritrea.

Moreover, the region is regularly stricken by natural catastrophes, such as droughts (in Ethiopia) or flood (Somalia) that hit rural areas particularly hard. As a result, the region has some of the world's highest levels of malnutrition and is continuously loomed by a major humanitarian crisis. Between 1982 and 1992, about two million people died in the Horn of Africa due to this combination of war and famine.

The Horn of Africa, since 2002, has been a major focus of attention by the United States, France, Germany, and eleven African nations regarding the War on Terrorism.

Guard Members Head off for Africa.......... The Horn of Africa


http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/galle...r=208002&Ref=PH

(a photo gallery)

As they say in America winston, "LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION!"

KT

Havin' spent time in the area (mainly 'round Asmara, Addis Abbaba and Khartoum) back in the 60's with a Navy preventive medicine unit headquartered in Cairo was the reason this subject kinda perked my interest, eh? Though I couldn't find anything on CNN 'bout the story I saw them present over the week end, methinks the followin' indicate that, though primarily counter terrorism is the primary mission of the Joint Task Force headquartered in Dibouti, it truly is a "Mission Of Mercy" in the region.

Please see "Mission horn of Africa" from the August 2005 issue of Soldiers Magazine and GlobalSecurity.org's info page on Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa for more, eh? There don't seem to be much on this bein' reported on by MSM though, probably 'cause 'tain't negative enough to interest 'em.

Flydangler, I see it this way: it's either such a small deployment that it's not worth the newsprint, or it's so secret that no one is supposed to know about it. I hope you're right and that it is a Mission of Mercy. It would be wonderful to know that our C of C does something nice without being prompted by a disaster of some kind.

Now, as far as KT's post: the person I heard this from is talking about the deployment of Washington State reserve units. M-m-m-m-m, don't sound like a small deployment to me...

When I talked to the XO on the USS Mount Whitney in November of last year the deployment is a Marine Amphibious Brigrade plus Air Force, Naval, and Army personel.

Not all that small of a force but I imagine it hasn't made the papers because it's too boring.

Can you imagine the headline? "US Military Forces performing admirablily in the Horn of Africa" That would never sell a newspaper.

"US Military Forces performing admirablily in the Horn of Africa"

What a wonderful strategic location location location!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes it is!!!! Methinks you'd have to see how it commands the southern approaches to the Suez to appreciate just how strategic it is, and why the French, Brits and other western powers have put forces there long before us.

'Tis also a poor, barren part of Africa with malnourishment and disease part of the normal life of its inhabitants. Our military, along with folks from our CDC, have had medical folks there since the 50s studyin' and workin' on eradication of some of these diseases, which was why I was there almost 40 years ago.

Africa's a big continent and our military has had different types of troops, more of the civil affairs type like medical and construction than combat (though often drawn from combat units), in various localities throughout it fairly frequently. 'Twould seem 'tis one of the things we do that folks don't hear 'bout and/or pay attention to. Methinks that we'll see reserve forces used more and more in these functions 'cause in today's military that's where the bulk of the medical and other civil affairs types are at.

Y'all might wanna see somethin' ominous in the recent revelation that we've got forces operatin' in Africa, but methinks if you look at what's been happenin' in the past you might come to the realization that it really ain't such a big deal. Last I checked we've got troops deployed to 137 different countries throughout the world and they ain't all, or even mostly where they are as combatants, eh?

As to the proposed headlines, methinks in our media 'tis doubtful you'll see any sayin' "US Military Forces performing admirablily in (chose your location)" any time soon. IMHO there be few journalists wantin' to write anything 'bout the good stuff our military people do.

Naw, you 'n Marine have sold me on this one. If we can get one part of the world to love us, then it's one less place we'll have to invade.

(Was that cynical or not...)



As far as I'm concerned,