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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

1st Sgt. Michael Sarkkinen, 1782nd Engineer Support Company first sergeant, unfurls his unit’s guidon during their transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Oct. 18, 2023. The 1782nd ESC arrived from South Carolina to take up the engineering mission at Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

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Photo by: Staff Sgt. Dylan Gentile 

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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

U.S. Army Capt. Trey Maevers, 294th Engineer Support Company commander, sheathes his unit’s guidon during their transfer of authority at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Oct. 18th, 2023. The ceremony is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a mission from one unit to another.

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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

Members of the 294th Engineer Support Company, the outgoing engineers, pose for a group photo after their transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Oct. 18, 2023. Over the course of their deployment, the 294th provided force protection engineering, general construction, increased capacity for life support, and engineering support to other units within the Horn of Africa.

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Photo by: Staff Sgt. Dylan Gentile 

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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa commanding general, speaks at the transfer of authority ceremony between the 294th Engineer Support Company and the 1782nd ESC at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Oct. 18th, 2023. The engineering company’s mission, in support of CJTF-HOA and U.S. Africa Command, aims to support regional stability and improve relationships with partner nations through a variety of construction projects coordinated throughout CJTF-HOA’s area of interest.

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Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

Capt. Trey Maevers, 294th Engineer Support Company commander, speaks at his unit’s transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Oct. 18th, 2023. The 294th ESC completed 67 construction projects totalling over $10 million across the region during their time at the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

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Photo by: Staff Sgt. Dylan Gentile 

The 294th Engineer Support Company (ESC) transferred authority of the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) engineering mission to the 1782nd Engineer Support Company during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Oct. 18, 2023.

The ceremony is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a mission from one unit to the next.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley, CJTF-HOA commanding general, welcomed the 1782nd ESC, arriving from South Carolina, and encouraged them to maintain the momentum set forth by the 294th ESC.

“You are the life force behind the contributions to development, stability and security here in East Africa,” said Shawley. “You're an integral part of the American message that Africa matters, that our partners matter.”

The 1782nd commander, U.S. Army Capt. Thomas Kaiser expressed a readiness to hit the ground running. “The work we do here will set the level of operational experience and readiness for our state over the next decade,” said Kaiser.

The 294th ESC, an Army National Guard unit out of Missouri, arrived to Camp Lemonnier in Feb. 2023. Over the course of their deployment, the 294th provided force protection engineering, general construction, increased capacity for life support, and engineering support to other units within the Horn of Africa.

The 294th ESC completed 67 construction projects totalling over $10 million across the region during their time at CJTF-HOA.

Some of their highlights included force protection improvements, building playground equipment for local schools, and improvements for outstations in Kenya and Somalia.

“I look forward to the many great things that the team will do,” Shawley said to the incoming 1782 ESC. “I am so proud to serve with you together with our joint partners and continue in this combined mission.”

The engineering company’s mission, in support of CJTF-HOA and U.S. Africa Command, aims to support regional stability and improve relationships with partner nations through a variety of construction projects coordinated throughout CJTF-HOA’s area of interest.