Four days after their official transfer of authority ceremony, U.S. Army Soldiers with Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa’s East Africa Response Force deployed for the primary time since being established earlier this year.
The Soldiers loaded onto a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules Dec. 14, and deployed to South Sudan, supporting the U.S. Embassy’s ordered departure.
“When the 1/18th arrived in Djibouti, we stressed that they had to be able to hit the bottom running,” said Maj. Gen. Terry Ferrell, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, or CJTF-HOA, commanding general. “And, they’ve proven they were. This is because we’re here, and all the joint CJTF-HOA team is coming together to support them. I’m pleased with the work they’re doing.”
The Soldiers hail from the first Combined Arms Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based at Fort Riley, Kan., generally known as the “Vanguard Nation.”
They are the second one unit assigned to the East Africa Response Force, or EARF, component of a brand new initiative of regionally aligned forces, which gives the commander of U.S. Africa Command one more capability to reply to crises and contingencies within East Africa.
“I am extremely happy with the professionalism and selfless service of the ‘Vanguard Nation’ as we protect facilities during the Horn of Africa. We’re on point for the Nation, and accountable for protecting the U.S. Embassy in Juba this holiday season,” said Lt. Col. Robert Magee, commander of the 1/18th CAB, who’s deployed with the response force. “By doing so, we’re supporting the ambassador’s diplomatic mission to unravel conflict here in South Sudan.”
Magee said embassy security personnel noted that the EARF’s arrival perceived to help calm the full city.
“Prior to our landing, widespread small arms fire occurred within the city for 3 days running,” said Magee, but he added that the South Sudan army and their national police “deserve the credit for restoring security in Juba.”
The U.S. Army developed the regionally aligned forces initiative to produce combatant commanders with rapidly deployable forces, that could relocate anywhere on earth at a moment’s notice. The 1/18th CAB is regionally aligned with Africa, specifically the Horn of Africa region, key to the CJTF-HOA mission to bolster East African partner nation militaries by conducting crisis response and personnel recovery supporting U.S. military, diplomatic and civilian personnel throughout East Africa.
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