'Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa' ('CJTF-HOA') is a unit of
United States Central Command. It is a component of the
United States response to the
September 11, 2001 attacks. CJTF-HOA focuses its efforts on conducting unified action in the combined joint operations area of the Horn of Africa to prevent conflict, promote regional stability, and protect Coalition interests in order to prevail against extremism.
The people of CJTF-HOA focus on military-to-military training, civil-military operations, and senior leader engagement to fulfill the CJTF-HOA mission. They provide short-term assistance by providing clean water, functional schools, improved roadways and improved medical facilities. Long-term goals include working with Partner nations to improve national security. Regional stability is built through capacity-building operations such as civil affairs and military-to-military training; engineering and humanitarian support; medical, dental and veterinarian civil action programs (MEDCAP, DENCAP, VETCAP); security training for border and coastal areas; and maritime training with host nations.
The CJTF-HOA command philosophy is to empower Partner nations to create and maintain a stable, secure environment—a place where education and prosperity are within each individual’s grasp, and where extremist ideology has no place. CJTF-HOA’s regional focus centers on ensuring Partner nations have the capacity to secure their homeland and contribute to a prosperous future for the Horn of Africa.
About 1,800 people from each military branch of the U.S. military, civilian employees, and representatives of Coalition and Partner nations make up CJTF-HOA. The area of responsibility for CJTF-HOA includes the countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Yemen. Other areas of interest are Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.
Point of Contact, CJTF-HOA Public Affairs Office; APO AE 09363
DSN (318) 824-2342; Commercial (+253) 359-523
E-mail: cjtfhoapao@hoa.centcom.mil
HOA website: http://www.hoa.centcom.mil
Commanders
The commander of CJTF-HOA from
November 2002 to
August 2003 was
United States Marine Corps Major General John F. Sattler.
[ Guelleh Visits CJTF-HOA Commander ]
The commander of CJTF-HOA from April 12, 2006 to February 2007 was
U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Richard W. Hunt.
[ United States Navy Biography: Rear Admiral Richard W. Hunt, Commander, Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa ]
In February 2007,
Rear Admiral James M. Hart[ United States Navy Biography: Rear Admiral James M. Hart, Commander, Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa ]assumed command of CTJF-HOA.
Background

Ethiopian Pvt. Abebaw Damte fires a PSL sniper rifle at a shooting range outside Camp Ramrod, Ethiopia
CJTF-HOA was established at Camp Lejeune, N.C., on Oct. 19, 2002. In November 2002, personnel embarked on a 28-day training cruise aboard USS MOUNT WHITNEY, and arrived in the Horn of Africa on Dec. 8, 2002. CJTF-HOA operated from the MOUNT WHITNEY until May 13, 2003, when the mission transitioned ashore to Camp Lemonier in Djibouti City, Djibouti. Since then, CJTF-HOA personnel have built numerous schools, clinics and hospitals; conducted dozens of MEDCAPs, DENCAPs and VETCAPs; drilled and refurbished more than 113 wells; and trained in collaboration with most Partner nation militaries. Additionally, members of the Task Force have assisted with at least 11 humanitarian assistance missions, including recovery efforts after the collapse of a four-story building in Kenya in 2006, the capsizing of a passenger ferry in Djibouti in 2006, and floods in Ethiopia and Kenya in 2006.
Operations
Main articles: Operation Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa
External links
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CJTF-HOA Official Site
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Global Security
★
Pilot Online
Notes