U.S trains Djiboutian troops in border security

By Sgt. Sam Smith

CJTF-HOA Public Affairs

 

ARTA, Djibouti, Africa - The military of this small nation took another important step in securing its borders May 4 when Soldiers from the Djiboutian Rapid Action Force graduated from border security class in a ceremony held by the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.

The two-week class was the sixth in an ongoing series of training sessions in which U.S. Soldiers from B-Company, 249th Infantry Regiment (Light) from the Guam Army National Guard work with their host-nation counterparts.  Small-unit infantry tactics, weapons marksmanship, personnel searches and checkpoint operations made up the focus of the training for the 28 Djiboutian Soldiers.

"(This training) helps them function outside when they're doing border patrols," said Sgt. Shaun Quintanilla, an infantryman in B Company and a primary instructor for the course.  "These patrols give Djiboutian civilians the feeling their Soldiers care about them and their families."

CJTF-HOA is made up of U.S. joint forces, the U.S. Department of State and more than two dozen coalition forces from around the globe.  The group conducts operations and training to assist host nations establish a secure environment and enable regional stability.

The Rapid Action Force will have to apply their training this summer as they take on a border patrol mission.  In September, CJTF-HOA will train another class in border security.

"(This training) is helping Djiboutians build capacity, so they have the ability to protect their own borders...stop the transnational threat and control the flow of people and material in and out of their country," said U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Moon, graduation keynote speaker from CJTF-HOA.