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U.S. delivers Humvees to Djiboutian Armed Forces' Rapid Intervention Battalion

The U.S. delivered 54 Humvees to the RIB as part of a $31 million train-and-equip partnership between the U.S. government and the Djiboutian military. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Codie Trimble)

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Photo by: Senior Airman Codie Trimble 

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U.S. delivers Humvees to Djiboutian Armed Forces' Rapid Intervention Battalion

Humvee's sit on helicopter pads waiting to be inventoried at the RIB compound outside Djibouti City, Djibouti, on Dec. 26th. The U.S. delivered 54 Humvees to the RIB as part of a $31 million train-and-equip partnership between the U.S. government and the Djiboutian military. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Codie Trimble)

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Photo by: Senior Airman Codie Trimble 

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U.S. delivers Humvees to Djiboutian Armed Forces' Rapid Intervention Battalion

A Humvee is delivered to the Djiboutian Armed Forces' Rapid Intervention Battalion (RIB) compound outside Djibouti City, Djibouti, on Dec. 26th. The U.S. delivered 54 Humvees to the RIB as part of a $31 million train-and-equip partnership between the U.S. government and the Djiboutian military. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Codie Trimble)

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Photo by: Senior Airman Codie Trimble 

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U.S. delivers Humvees to Djiboutian Armed Forces' Rapid Intervention Battalion

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Adrian Lopez, Rapid Intervention Battalion (RIB) project officer assigned to CJTF-HOA, meets with Djiboutian Armed Forces Maj. Mohamed Assowen, RIB commander, during the delivery of Humvees to the RIB outside Djibouti City, Djibouti, on Dec. 26th. The U.S. delivered 54 Humvees to the RIB as part of a $31 million train-and-equip partnership between the U.S. government and the Djiboutian military. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Codie Trimble)

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Photo by: Senior Airman Codie Trimble 

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U.S. delivers Humvees to Djiboutian Armed Forces' Rapid Intervention Battalion

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Adrian Lopez, Rapid Intervention Battalion (RIB) project officer assigned to CJTF-HOA, meets with Djiboutian Armed Forces Maj. Mohamed Assowen, RIB commander, during the delivery of Humvees to the RIB outside Djibouti City, Djibouti, on Dec. 26th. The U.S. delivered 54 Humvees to the RIB as part of a $31 million train-and-equip partnership between the U.S. government and the Djiboutian military. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Codie Trimble)

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Photo by: Senior Airman Codie Trimble 

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U.S. delivers Humvees to Djiboutian Armed Forces' Rapid Intervention Battalion

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Adrian Lopez, Rapid Intervention Battalion (RIB) project officer assigned to CJTF-HOA, discusses the capabilities of a Humvee's engine with Djiboutian Armed Forces Maj. Mohamed Assowen, RIB commander, during the delivery of the Humvees to the RIB outside Djibouti City, Djibouti, on Dec. 26th. The U.S. delivered 54 Humvees to the RIB as part of a $31 million train-and-equip partnership between the U.S. government and the Djiboutian military. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Codie Trimble)

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Photo by: Senior Airman Codie Trimble 

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United States delivers HMMWVs to armed forces of Djibouti

Right to Left: Djiboutian Lt. Goulad, Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) logistics, a representative from the US Embassy, U.S. Army Maj. Jonathan Holliday, Djiboutian Lt. Col. Mohamed Kayad, FAD logistics, Djiboutian Maj. Mohamed Assoweh, Rapid Intervention Battalion commander, U.S. Army Capt. Michael Simpson, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. Courtesy Photo

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Photo by: Senior Airman Codie Trimble 

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - The United States delivered 54 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, known as the Humvee, to the Armed Forces of Djibouti (FAD) for use by its Rapid Intervention Battalion (RIB) as part of a $31 million train-and-equip partnership between the U.S. government and the Djiboutian military. The RIB is a FAD advanced infantry battalion, trained and equipped by the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). Its primary mission is to train and serve as a quick reaction force to accomplish specified tasks directed by its higher command in the Djiboutian army.

“The Humvees will enable us to facilitate future tasks and missions within the battalion and help us achieve our higher goals and objectives,” said Djiboutian Army Maj. Mohamed Assoweh, commander of the RIB.

Djiboutian soldiers assigned to the RIB are trained in light infantry tactics, mission planning, weapons training, first aid, land navigation, communication exercises, and additional advanced instruction by U.S. Army soldiers from Task Force Guardian, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 186th Infantry Battalion, Oregon National Guard, assigned to CJTF-HOA.

“The delivery of these Humvees offers the RIB a new motorized capability that they previously did not have,” said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Adrian Lopez, RIB project officer assigned to CJTF-HOA. This will enable a faster response time if the RIB is called to action by the Djiboutian government.

Prior to the delivery of the vehicles, the 492nd Engineering Company repaired approximately three miles of road to the RIB compound over the course of four days. The roads were extensively damaged during record storms in Djibouti in early November.

“The roads to the RIB were severely degraded and extremely difficult to travel on, said Lopez. “If the engineers didn’t improve the road, this delivery could not have happened, so a huge thanks to them for helping make this possible.”

“On behalf of Gen. Zakaria Chiek Ibrahim, chief of staff, Djiboutian Armed Forces, I would like to thank the U.S. government and CJTF-HOA for their support to this battalion and the cooperation between our two countries,” said Assoweh.