Army Reserve Commander Impressed with Horn of Africa CA Teams

CAMP LEMONNIER, DJIBOUTI

02.24.2010

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Larry Foos 

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

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DJIBOUTI - The Army Reserve commander and command sergeant major traveled four countries in the Horn of Africa to see firsthand what a small contingent of Army Reserve Civil Affairs Soldiers were accomplishing in such a massively large area, and they were not disappointed.

Finishing a five-day tour that ended at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Feb. 20—home of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa—Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, commanding general, U.S. Army Reserve Command, who oversees approximately 207,000 Reserve Soldiers, trekked the thousands of miles to visit the some 130 CA reservists to see for himself the effectiveness of this unique, non-kinetic approach to countering violent extremism.

"What you see in Djibouti is special. It is truly the value of joint operations," said Stultz. "We're recognizing in this full spectrum of military operations, stability operations is key, either in post-conflict as we're trying to do in Iraq and Afghanistan in some cases, or pre-conflict as you see here ... to try to build stability so we don't get into problems that we have in Afghanistan."

Stultz and newly appointed Army Reserve Command Sgt. Maj. Michael D. Schultz, who was making his first overseas trip in the position, visited CJTF-HOA Army Reserve CA teams in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Djibouti, witnessing the interaction of U.S. and Africans working together in military-to-military training and improving the school systems. They were accompanied by Army Brig. Gen. James Owens, the new deputy commander of CJTF-HOA. Stultz used the opportunity to share the importance of school to young African students and gave advice to a Ugandan Commandant. What he saw left an impression.

"The thing that impresses me with these civil affairs teams, you have these young captains and sergeants out there on their own just doing great stuff for the local [African] community, whether it is building schools, or digging wells ... just a lot of good things improving lives of citizens," said Stultz.

Schultz agreed they are making a difference. "Every place we've gone to, every organization that they are touching whether it's a school or any organization, you can see that there is true appreciation for what these civil affairs Reserve units are doing for the community. You can tell there is a genuine appreciation for these Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines that are here," he said.

The U.S. Army represents approximately a third of CJTF-HOA's total military support, including around 650 National Guardsmen who serve as the security force for Camp Lemonnier. The rest are made up of mostly Reservists, and about 50 active Army CA and Psychological Operations personnel, all focused on the defense element of CJTF-HOA's indirect approach to combating violent extremism in East Africa. The idea is to help build Africa's security and military force to enable them to improve stability and security in the region. Schultz says his Reservists are training Africans with more than just their military experience.

"What they bring to the table is their civilian background," Schultz said. "A lot of these civil affairs NCOs and officers are law enforcement or they teach. They bring that skill actually to the civil affairs community, the individuals they are working with and the community they're in. So it is important."

Stultz is keenly aware of the importance of Reservists to the U.S. Army, and all branch services. "We see it over and over again, the real value that's added with the Reserve Soldier, whether it is Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Air Force Reserve. It's not the military skills, although that's part of it, but the added value is the civilian skills. You'll find out your radioman or civil affairs Soldier back home is a lawyer, or they may be some kind of information technology guru," he said.

On their final day, Stultz and Schultz visited Djiboutian community leaders and the Secretary General for the National Union of Djiboutian Women. The Army's 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, which provides the CA teams for the Horn of Africa, arranged the meetings and gave school books to teach English as a second language. The top Army Reserve leaders wrapped up the day with a Town Hall (All Hands) Call with the CJTF-HOA Army members.

Stultz shared his perspective of what his all-volunteer reserve force means to our defenses and to the country in general.

"As I get around month after month, you see those Army Reserve Soldiers, and what I tell them is they are part of our greatest national treasurer," Stultz said. "That's our citizen Soldiers. They're all sacrificing away from their family, sacrificing a lot of times income, sacrificing promotions in their civilian jobs, to do what they do. And you say, 'what a treasure we got.'"