To the men and women of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa,

As the New Year approaches, I would like to thank you for your dedication
that has made 2012 a successful year for CJTF-HOA. Together we have moved
closer to achieving our vision of being the security partner of choice in an
increasingly secure, stable, and developing East Africa.

The year 2012 will be known as "the year of change" for CJTF-HOA, as we
assumed our new role as the supported command for all military operations,
exercises, and security cooperation in East Africa. To that end, we have
made tremendous progress.

We centralized command and control of all land based and joint aviation
operations with the establishment of a Joint Force Land Component Command
(JFLCC) and HOA Air Component (HOA-AC), respectively. We issued and began
executing the HOA Campaign Plan and related operational orders, codifying
and setting into motion our vision for East Africa.

We implemented a medical evacuation plan to provide 24/7, 365 day/year
personnel recovery for all U.S. personnel. And most importantly, our efforts
contributed to protecting America, American citizens, and American interests
from threats emanating from East Africa.

The year 2013 will allow us to capitalize on our hard work and successes of
2012. We will bring together those international partners working alongside
us in East Africa to share plans on future military support to the region.

We will look toward the future strategic environment in 2025 to identify the
requirements necessary to support our mission here, and begin to posture
ourselves accordingly. And we will continue to focus our operations,
exercises, and security cooperation on the operational and institutional
capabilities that our East African military counterparts need the most.

Thank you for your commitment to each other, to our mission, and to our
African partners. I look forward to working with each of you in the New
Year!

Respectfully,

MG Ralph (Rob) Baker, USA
Commander, Combined JTF-Horn of Africa
Djibouti, Africa