Marines from Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 at Cherry Point check their weapons Tuesday morning before the squadron departs for the Horn of Africa where a seven-month deployment awaits.
HAVELOCK -- Approximately 70 Marines from a “Heavy Helicopter” squadron at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station departed this week for a seven-month deployment to Camp Lemonier in the African country of Djibouti, just a short hop across the Red Sea from Yemen and other terrorism hotspots that ring the Arabian Peninsula.
The contingent joins the Combined Joint Task Force for countries in and around the Horn of Africa.
About 2,000 troops from each military branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and civilian employees are stationed there for a unique assignment – to prevent conflict using traditional economic and social development tools. However, the Marines will also assist with “assault support” and logistics for the conflict in Iraq and elsewhere.
The task force uses an “indirect approach” to counter violent extremism, conducting operations to strengthen partner nation and regional security.
Originally established in 2002 at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, task force military personnel arrived later that year in the Horn of Africa on board the USS Mount Whitney. The group operated from the ship for six months until establishing Camp Lemonier in Djibouti City, Djibouti.
Leaders incorporate military-to-military mentorship while supporting development in the region by building numerous schools, clinics and hospitals.
