USS Makin Island ARG/15th MEU arrives off Somali Coast
1:59 PM12/22/2020
201218-M-UY835-1052 INDIAN OCEAN (Dec. 18, 2020) – U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning IIs with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island. The F-35Bs provide close air support to Operation OCTAVE QUARTZ. The mission of OOQ is to reposition U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces.
USS Makin Island ARG/15th MEU arrives off Somali Coast
1:54 PM12/22/2020
The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, consisting of USS Makin Island (LHD8), USS Somerset (LPD 25), USS San Diego (LPD 22), and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit; and USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) conduct maritime operations off the coast of Mogadishu, Somalia in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ). The OOQ mission is to reposition U.S. Department of Defense personnel from Somalia to other locations in East Africa.
USS Makin Island ARG/15th MEU arrives off Somali Coast
1:45 PM12/22/2020
The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, consisting of USS Makin Island (LHD8), USS Somerset (LPD 25), USS San Diego (LPD 22), and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit; and USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) conduct maritime operations off the coast of Mogadishu, Somalia in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ). The OOQ mission is to reposition U.S. Department of Defense personnel from Somalia to other locations in East Africa.
USS Makin Island ARG/15th MEU arrives off Somali Coast
1:26 PM12/22/2020
201219-N-LR905-1556
INDIAN OCEAN (Dec. 19, 2020) – A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (Reinforced) 164, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, lands aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). Makin Island, flagship of the Amphibious Ready Group, along with the 15th MEU conduct operations under Joint Task Force – Quartz in support of Operation Octave Quartz. The mission of OOQ is to reposition U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces.
USS Makin Island ARG/15th MEU arrives off Somali Coast
1:21 PM12/22/2020
The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, consisting of USS Makin Island (LHD8), USS Somerset (LPD 25), USS San Diego (LPD 22), and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit; and USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) conduct maritime operations off the coast of Mogadishu, Somalia in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ). The OOQ mission is to reposition U.S. Department of Defense personnel from Somalia to other locations in East Africa.
USS Makin Island ARG/15th MEU arrives off Somali coast
11:55 AM12/22/2020
The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived off the coast of Somalia as part of the Joint Forces Maritime Component Command for Joint Task Force - Quartz, Dec. 21.
USS Makin Island ARG/15th MEU arrives off Somali Coast
11:55 AM12/22/2020
201218-M-UY835-1052 INDIAN OCEAN (Dec. 18, 2020) – U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning IIs with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). The F-35Bs provide close air support to Operation OCTAVE QUARTZ. The mission of OOQ is to reposition U.S. DOD forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while maintaining pressure on violent extremists and supporting partner forces.
Statement from AFRICOM Commander U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend on the activation of Joint Task Force - Quartz
3:04 PM12/19/2020
The United States is not withdrawing or disengaging from East Africa. We remain committed to helping our African partners build a more secure future. We also remain capable of striking Al-Shabaab at the time and place of our choosing—they should not test us.
U.S. Africa Command stands up Joint Task Force-Quartz
9:28 AM12/19/2020
U.S. Africa Command Commander, U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend directed the formation of Joint Task Force- Quartz to oversee Operation Octave Quartz, a mission designated to reposition forces from Somalia.
NCO development focus of AFRICOM Senior Enlisted Leader's visit to African nations
4:17 PM12/18/2020
Warrant Officer Class One Elijah Koranga, Kenya Defense Forces Sergeant Major, invited Thresher to observe the culminating event of the newly-developed Kenyan Command Course for NCOs – a course implemented by Koranga following an AEDS key leader engagement in the U.S. in March, when he visited NCO academies from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
NCO development focus of AFRICOM Senior Enlisted Leader's visit to African nations
4:17 PM12/18/2020
Warrant Officer Class One Elijah Koranga, Kenya Defense Forces Sergeant Major, invited Thresher to observe the culminating event of the newly-developed Kenyan Command Course for NCOs – a course implemented by Koranga following an AEDS key leader engagement in the U.S. in March, when he visited NCO academies from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
NCO development focus of AFRICOM Senior Enlisted Leader's visit to African nations
12:00 AM12/18/2020
As part of Townsend’s African Enlisted Development Strategy (AEDS), Thresher focused his trip on the top Kenyan non-commissioned officers (NCO) responsible for developing NCOs within the Kenya Defense Forces.
Commander visits key African nations to strengthen partnerships, security
12:24 PM12/17/2020
U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command, completed a four-day trip to Kenya and Djibouti to conduct strategic engagements with partner nation leadership and assess operations and security of U.S. force locations.
U.S. Africa Command releases video from Dec. 10 airstrike to degrade al-Shabaab
3:56 PM12/11/2020
This video shows a precision air strike on the location of a known al-Shabaab explosives network leader near Jilib around 1 p.m. local time, Dec. 10, 2020. Initial assessments show the operation killed 8 and wounded 2 terrorists.
Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. target al-Shabaab explosives makers
3:37 PM12/11/2020
This video shows a precision air strike on the location of a known al-Shabaab explosives network leader near Jilib around 1 p.m. local time, Dec. 10, 2020. Initial assessments show the operation killed 8 and wounded 2 terrorists.