Guest blog

Command, Family and Friends,

Though we have only completed just over half of our six month rotation it has been a very successful and fulfilling rotation. CW4 Webb our instructor pilot, SFC Whitfield, operations NCO, and myself arrived in Djibouti on September 6th in relief of the Arkansas flight detachment. The addition of the second aircraft soon after, has more than doubled the monthly flight hours previously flown, and provided redundancy for critical missions. We are now flying over 110 hours a month and we expect this average to increase. The trans-Atlantic C-26 crossing was accomplished when CW4 Hardy Hay, operations officer, CW3 Robert Negron, safety officer and CW2 Alton Chapman, pilot extraordinaire flew over 8,385 miles. We have now flown in almost every country in the Horn of Africa including: Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda and Yemen. We have also flown to Madagascar and Rwanda in support of the expanding HOA mission. You will note most of our flights are conducted in civilian clothes; this is Foreign Clearance guide and U.S. Embassy requirement for most of Africa.

We are continually amazed at the immensity and grandeur of Africa, the richness of its peoples and the changing beauty of the land. We have many opportunities to interact with the African people on our missions and throughout our travels. CW2 Alton Chapman and CW4 Jeff Webb both have had very generous friends and church groups that have sent them soccer balls and other equipment which we have had the pleasure of distributing to some very sincere and grateful people.

I am impressed with the leadership of HOA and how they conduct the mission. There is always a sincerity of purpose. They care for soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. Their demonstration of care for the US tax dollar and Africans is evident in all they do. They believe in their mission statement and seek every day to make Africa a better place for Africans and the world. I truly believe that they are “Helping African’s Help African’s.”

The HOA mission is a lasting presence. They are helping to build schools, roads, water wells and help create infrastructure. I see enthusiasm and a true commitment and dedication from these soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines down range making all of this happen. This is a very rewarding mission. Additional information on the horn of Africa mission (HOA) can be found on the following website: www.hoa.centcom.mil.

Our unit will redeploy by the end of March, we look forward to our return to our friends and families. Thanks you for your continued support.

CW5 John Ely
GAARNG, AV
Detachment 9 OSA, Commanding