POSTED: Saturday, December 02, 2006

Thirty seven Djibouti Army soldiers complete counter-terrorism training

Story by U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Philip A. Fortnam

CJTF-HOA Strategic Communications

ARTA, Djibouti (November 26, 2006) -- U.S. Army Captain John E. Hill, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa J-35, military to military training planner and Djibouti Army Sergeant Hassan debriefing after the counter-terrorism training course. Thirty-seven soldiers from the Djibouti Army received counter-terrorism training completion certificates at a ceremony in Arta, Djibouti. U.S. Army National Guard soldiers from Guam, currently assigned to (CJTF-HOA), conducted counter-terrorism training with the Djibouti Army. (Official U.S. Navy photo by MCC(NAC) Philip A. Fortnam) (Large Image.   Hi-Res Image.)

ARTA, Djibouti -- Thirty-seven Djibouti Army soldiers completed training with U.S. Army Soliders at a graduation ceremony in Arta, Nov. 27.  The soldiers completed their four-week training in counter-terrorism. 

The officer in charge of the Arta training, 1st Lt. Arnold Arizala and U.S. Navy Captain John Q. Dal Santo representing Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa spoke at the morning ceremony.

“This [the Horn of Africa] is a long overlooked area which can be easily exploited by terrorists,” said Lt. Arizala.  “The training helps soldiers defend themselves, protect their borders, protect their ports, and their people.”

Lieutenant Arizala also spoke to the graduates and attendees about the positive actions of Djiboutian and U.S. soldiers training together and their part in a bigger picture of capacity building of Partner nations.

“This military-to-military training is one piece of a bigger picture,” Lt. Arizala said. 

“The Djiboutian soldiers do not get much recurrent training; they don’t have the resources or funds.  With [Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa] being able to provide some resources, this kind of training absolutely helps both the Djibouti[an] Army and HOA’s mission here.”
The Djibouti Army soldiers-students were a specially selected group of students.  The soldiers ranged from new recruits just out of basic training to an experienced platoon leader and platoon sergeant.

“They should be proud of themselves,” Lt. Arizala said.  “It was a lot of new material and they did really well.  The Djibouti soldiers are good students.  They were really motivated and wanted to learn.”

United States Army Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 294th Infantry Light, Charlie Company, Guam, led the CJTF-HOA-sponsored event.