Africom Will Maintain ‘Light Footprint’ in Africa

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

STUTTGART, Germany, June 12, 2012 – The United States has no plans to seek permanent bases in Africa, and, in the spirit of the new defense strategic guidance, will continue to maintain a “light footprint” on the continent, the top U.S. Africa Command officer said.

“In Africa, I would say a light footprint is consistent with what we need and consistent with the defense guidance,” Army Gen. Carter F. Ham told the House Armed Services Committee in February.

With no troops directly assigned to it, Africom relies heavily on its service components: U.S. Army Africa based in Vicenza, Italy; U.S. Air Forces Africa, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany; U.S. Marine Forces Africa and Special Operations Command Africa, both based here.

“It is that proximity to the theater that enables the agility we require,” Ham told Congress.

Africom has had its headquarters here since it initially stood up in 2007 as a subcommand of U.S. European Command before reaching full operational capability in 2008. Then-Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and the first Africom commander, Army Gen. William E. “Kip” Ward, agreed to defer any decision on its permanent location until 2012.

A congressionally directed review of alternate basing plans is under way, and is expected to be delivered sometime this year. None of the plans being developed involves relocating the headquarters to the African continent, Ham said.

While not expressing his own preferences, Ham said he believes Africom has “been very well served” by its Stuttgart headquarters. In addition to good facilities and proximity to an international airport with direct links to Africa, he noted, Stuttgart offers the operational advantage of being in the same time zone as many of Africom’s African partners. “We are on the same daily rhythm,” the general said.

In addition, he said, collocating Africom with U.S. European Command makes sense, promoting their tradition of working together as they share forces, resources and capabilities.

Ham also underscored the importance of Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, the only permanent U.S. base in Africa. With about 2,000 U.S. personnel deployed there as part of Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, many from the Army National Guard, it provides a stable platform for U.S. military operations in a critical part of the world, he said.

“It’s a great strategic location,” he told American Forces Press Service. “It facilitates not only our operations for U.S. Africa Command, but also U.S. Central Command and U.S. Transportation Command. It is a very key hub and important node for us, a good location that allows us to extend our reach in East Africa and partner with the countries of East Africa.”

Ham said he recognizes concerns among some African countries about an increased U.S. presence on the continent, but emphasized that cost alone would preclude the United States from establishing more permanent bases there.

Meanwhile, a new initiative that Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno announced last month could increase Africom’s engagement opportunities with no uptick in permanent staffing.

The Army plans to implement a regionally aligned force concept next year to better support combatant commanders, Odierno said. Africom is expected to be the first to receive these rotational forces as part of the pilot program to begin next year, followed by U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Central Command and U.S. Pacific Command.

Face of Defense: Airman Takes Weather Award Twice

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens

Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa Public Affairs

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti, April 18, 2012 – There's an old saying that lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place, but it did for one Air Force noncommissioned officer.

Tech. Sgt. Gregory Spiker, joint meteorology and oceanography operations weather forecaster, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, was named the 2011 Air Force Weather Noncommissioned Officer of the Year -- his second Air Force-wide weather award. His first one was the Air Force Battlefield Weather NCO of the Year for 2006.

Spiker's skill in the weather career field was obvious to his home-station supervisor, Air Force Capt. Drew Moore, 56th Operations Support Squadron Weather Flight commander, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

"He's topnotch at what he does," Moore said of Spiker. "He's energetic, motivated and very involved with the fighter squadrons here and what we do on the weather side. He's positive, has a good attitude and is a stellar NCO."

Spiker deployed here in November 2011.

"Here we're responsible for forecasting for the entire area of interest for the combined joint task force," Spiker said. "Any mission that's a CJTF-HOA mission, we're going to forecast for it."

Spiker said he took an interest in weather and natural science at an early age. He first found out about the weather career field from his recruiter before joining the Air Force 10 years ago and he's been doing it ever since.

"I had always been a natural sciences kind of person and more of the 'outdoorsy' type," Spiker said. "I wanted to do something different, and it seemed like the Air Force offered the most unique opportunity for me, so it really worked out."

His first two deployments were to Iraq in 2006 and 2007 to provide tactical weather support for the U.S. Army’s 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division Stryker Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Spiker said his service in a deployed environment contributed to him earning his first Air Force weather award and also played a part in his receiving the 2011 award.

One of his main responsibilities here includes setting up and maintaining tactical weather equipment used for collecting atmospheric data in the CJTF-HOA area of interest, Spiker said. His job takes him to other sites in Djibouti and several countries in and around the Horn of Africa in support of the CJTF-HOA mission.

Spiker is a “tremendous asset” and deserves the recognition, said his supervisor, Navy Cmdr. Douglas Wahl.

"He is proactive and one of the most-knowledgeable Air Force technicians and forecasters I've worked with,” Wahl said of Spiker. “It's obvious he takes great pride in his job and this award truly reflects the quality of his workmanship."

Even though Spiker was excited about winning the award, he said he knew his career field was more than just a one-man job -- it is a team effort. He praised the airmen in his shop at Luke AFB and the joint personnel he works with here for their excellent performance.

"I work with the most awesome people I've ever worked with in my career right now. They're all such hard workers," Spiker said. "I've always been lucky to be able to work alongside such great people.”

Sailor Found Dead at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti

From Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti Public Affairs

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti (NNS) -- A U.S. Navy Sailor assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Three (NMCB 3) was found dead as the result of a non-combat related incident at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, April 7.

The incident is under investigation. The Sailor's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

"The Camp is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our shipmates," said Capt. Scott Hurst, commanding officer of Camp Lemonnier. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Sailor's family during this difficult time."

NMCB 3 is deployed to the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, which conducts operations to enhance partner nation capacity, promote regional stability, dissuade conflict and protect U.S. and coalition interests.

Face of Defense: Togo Native Returns to Africa as U.S. Soldier

By Air Force Senior Airman Jarad A. Denton

Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti, Oct. 5, 2011 – During a recent civil affairs mission through Djibouti, Army Reserve Cpl. Kwami Koto – information manager for Civil Affairs Team 4902 here -- was able to articulate his connection to the African continent and its people.

"You see those kids playing soccer barefoot?" he asked his team chief as their vehicle passed by children running around on a dirt field. "That used to be me."

Koto, a resident of Denton, Texas, was born in Togo, a nation in West Africa. In the wake of a military coup d'etat and cultural turmoil nearly 10 years ago, he and his wife fled their homeland as political refugees to seek asylum in the United States.

"Human rights in Togo were being systematically violated," he said. "As a journalist, I started writing about it, denouncing the military regime's abuses."

Koto and his family began to receive death threats. He weighed his options carefully: stay in Togo and likely be killed while reporting on the unfolding situation, or flee to America.

"I chose the latter," he said.

After coming to the United States, Koto went to work as a program manager for a marketing company. He attended graduate school in his free time, earning his master's degree in journalism in the spring of 2005. Four years ago, Koto decided to demonstrate his pride for his adoptive country and enlisted in the Army Reserve.

"It is a pride not only for myself, but for my family -- my parents and my entire hometown back in Togo," he said. "They are all proud to have a son who serves in the most prestigious, and by far the best, Army in the world."

Army Reserve officials decided Koto was best suited to build relationships with villages and government leaders throughout the Horn of Africa. To him, the journey has been an astonishing one.

"Thirty-five years ago, I was playing here as a kid -- kicking an orange because we couldn't afford a soccer ball," he said as a proud smile grew on his face. "Now I wear the uniform of a U.S. Army soldier. I never could have imagined it years ago. It's indescribable, the feeling I get when I travel to African villages and help bring about change."

As an Army civil affairs soldier, Koto said, returning to Africa has been a life-changing event for him.

"I had seen Americans before, when I was in Togo," he said. "I learned English from a Peace Corps teacher. I never forgot those lessons or the interactions I had with the Americans. I make sure to treat the people I meet now the way I want them to remember me."

Civil affairs soldiers assess and engage local leaders at both the village and government levels. They build relationships with the people through a spirit of cooperation facilitated by African leaders.

Army Reserve Capt. Justin Lev, chief of Team 4902, said having Koto on the team has been invaluable.

"From Day One, he's been working with us on understanding the African people," Lev said. "The reason we are able to work so well with them is because of Koto."

Lev added that Koto brings a unique perspective on Africa's potential to the team’s mission.

"The African people are very resilient to live the way they live. They are happy with what they have," Koto said. "However, I constantly wrestle with the way some of the African people accept their situation without trying to improve it. Every living thing has to grow and evolve. Africa, after 50 years of independence, is ready to move to the next stage of its development."

Koto said African development must begin with its people, noting that an infrastructure cannot be built if the people are living in squalor. The first step, he said, is to build long-term, positive relationships with the people of Africa. Whether meeting with a village elder, working with local residents to put up buildings or playing soccer with the children of Djibouti, Koto explained, he would love for people in the United States to see Africa the way he sees it.

"This is a land of opportunity," he said. "Africa presents people with both an opportunity to help and an opportunity to learn. Just like all the opportunities we have in the United States, the ones here should not be taken for granted."

Lev said working in civil affairs with Koto and seeing those opportunities presented on a daily basis has changed the way he views the world.

"When we travel to these villages, we see real examples of people living in extreme poverty," he said. "All of the standards we have in the United States don't apply here, but the people are happy. It really shows that happiness is achievable no matter what you have or where you are."

With another smile, Koto acknowledged what his commander said. As an American, who earned his citizenship in February 2009, he has strong and passionate feelings for both his home and adopted countries.

"I love Africa," he said. "I love it in the same way I love the United States: with my whole heart."