CJTF-HOA strengthens crisis response during integrated exercise

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COOPERATIVE SECURITY LOCATION KISMAYO, Somalia — U.S. service members assigned to the East African Response Force, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, participated in an integrated exercise at Cooperative Security Location Kismayo, Somalia, Aug. 18, 2026.

The event combined a base defense exercise with the EARF’s outstation crisis response mission to strengthen readiness and interoperability across East Africa.

“While receiving the EARF during this training exercise, it was important to ensure that all the pieces seamlessly fell into place,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Austin Doughty, security forces noncommissioned officer in charge assigned to Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Seminole, Florida Army National Guard. “We made sure personnel were integrated into tower operations, mortars were properly oriented, and a battle hand-off and plan were set. Communication was paramount to our success.”

Each element had its own training objectives, but both teams worked toward the common goal of strengthening base defense and rapid crisis response.

“This exercise demonstrated our ability to quickly reinforce a position that is possibly getting overrun,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Ethan White, EARF 2nd Platoon Lead. “We brought everything from joint terminal attack controllers to medics, to mortar troops, and more, so that if anything happens, we can fill in and replace.”

The exercise provided an opportunity for EARF personnel to integrate with the on-site teams and learn procedures that they would rely on during a crisis.

“Whenever we get boots on the ground, it's about picking up all the standard operating procedures and how the local teams react to a mass casualty event,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Dana Raush, East African Response Force senior medic. “We look at how we can augment that to the best of our abilities, because at the end of the day, we're filling in as a force multiplier.”

Throughout the exercise, the EARF worked alongside their outstation counterparts to respond to simulated threats and refine procedures that would be used in real-world scenarios.

“The biggest challenge faced when coming to a new place is orientation,” said White. “You don't know where anything is because you're coming straight from an aircraft into a new base, so it’s really important for us to rely on our teammates here and make sure we're asking those questions.”

The integrated training allowed both forces to strengthen coordination and rehearse the processes required to reinforce an outstation during a real-world contingency.

“Overall, I would say the exercise was a success,” White said. “
Huge shout out to my guys for being ready at a moment’s notice, the SECFOR team in Kismayo for helping the integration process go so smoothly, and the VMM for getting us down here efficiently and effectively. “

By training as one force, the EARF and outstation personnel demonstrated that whenever and wherever the mission demands, our forces are ready to respond.

About CJTF-HOA

Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa conducts operations to enhance partner nation capacity, promote regional stability, dissuade conflict, and protect U.S. and partner interests.

About SETAF-AF

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

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