Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Commander's New Year Message

To CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti, Jan 02, 2013 —

To the men and women of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa,

 As the New Year approaches, I would like to thank you for your dedication

 that has made 2012 a successful year for CJTF-HOA. Together we have moved

 closer to achieving our vision of being the security partner of choice in an

 increasingly secure, stable, and developing East Africa.

 The year 2012 will be known as "the year of change" for CJTF-HOA, as we

 assumed our new role as the supported command for all military operations,

 exercises, and security cooperation in East Africa. To that end, we have

 made tremendous progress.

 We centralized command and control of all land based and joint aviation

 operations with the establishment of a Joint Force Land Component Command

 (JFLCC) and HOA Air Component (HOA-AC), respectively. We issued and began

 executing the HOA Campaign Plan and related operational orders, codifying

 and setting into motion our vision for East Africa.

 We implemented a medical evacuation plan to provide 24/7, 365 day/year

 personnel recovery for all U.S. personnel. And most importantly, our efforts

 contributed to protecting America, American citizens, and American interests

 from threats emanating from East Africa.

Major General Rob Baker, Commander

The year 2013 will allow us to capitalize on our hard work and successes of

 2012. We will bring together those international partners working alongside

 us in East Africa to share plans on future military support to the region.

 We will look toward the future strategic environment in 2025 to identify the

 requirements necessary to support our mission here, and begin to posture

 ourselves accordingly. And we will continue to focus our operations,

 exercises, and security cooperation on the operational and institutional

 capabilities that our East African military counterparts need the most.

 Thank you for your commitment to each other, to our mission, and to our

 African partners. I look forward to working with each of you in the New

 Year!

 Respectfully,

 MG Ralph (Rob) Baker, USA

 Commander, Combined JTF-Horn of Africa

 Djibouti, Africa