U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Ripka, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) senior enlisted leader (left to right), and Gen. William "Kip" Ward, U.S. AFRICOM commander, greet Staff Sgt. Joshua Moore, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, Ka...

U.S. Army Gen. William "Kip" Ward, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) commander (left), passes a candy cane to Sgt. Robert Clay, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, Kansas Army National Guard, during a holiday visit Dec. 25 to troops sta...

U.S. Army Gen. William "Kip" Ward, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) commander, greets Pacific Architects and Engineers (PAE) employees before serving Christmas dinner Dec. 25 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.

Ward and Sgt. Maj. Mark Ripka, AFRICOM senior e...

U.S. Army Gen. William "Kip" Ward, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) commander, looks at photos with Pacific Architects and Engineers (PAE) employees before serving Christmas dinner Dec. 25.

Ward and Sgt. Maj. Mark Ripka, AFRICOM senior enlisted leader...

U.S. Army Gen. William "Kip" Ward, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) commander, poses for a photo with U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Joseph Garza, Camp Lemonnier Public Affairs Office, during Christmas dinner Dec. 25.

Ward and Sgt....

U.S. Army Gen. William "Kip" Ward, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) commander (left), promotes 1st Lt. Jason Dickey, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, Kansas Army National Guard, to the rank of captain Dec. 25.

Ward and Sgt. Maj. M...