Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa ( CJTF - HOA ) is a joint task force of United States Africa Command ( AFRICOM ) . It originated under Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa ( OEF - HOA ) as part of the United States response to the September 11 , 2001 attacks . Overview . The mission of the CJTF - HOA is to conduct operations in the Combined Joint Operations Area to enhance partner nation capacity , promote regional security and stability , dissuade conflict , and protect U . S . and coalition interests . CJTF - HOA consists of about 2 , 000 service men and women from the United States military and allied countries . Currently , the task force has an assigned area of interest that includes Sudan , Somalia , Djibouti , Ethiopia , Eritrea , Seychelles and Kenya . Outside this Combined Joint Operating Area , the CJTF - HOA has operations in Mauritius , Comoros , Liberia , Rwanda , Uganda and Tanzania . CJTF - HOA operations are encompassed by what the U . S . military has termed the ‘ indirect approach ’ with a focus on military - to - military engagements , civil - military operations , key leader engagements , and providing enabling support to partner nations . They provide short - term assistance by drilling wells for clean water , building functional schools , improving roadways and improving medical facilities . Long - term goals include working with partner nations to improve national and regional stability and security . Regional stability is increased through capacity - building operations such as civil affairs and military - to - military training ; engineering and humanitarian support ; medical , dental , and veterinarian civic action program s ( MEDCAP , DENTCAP , VETCAP ) ; and security training for border and coastal areas . About 1 , 800 personnel from each branch of the U . S . military , civilian employees , and representatives from coalition and partner nations make up CJTF - HOA . History . CJTF - HOA was established at Camp Lejeune , North Carolina on October 19 , 2002 . In November 2002 , personnel embarked to the region aboard USS " Mount Whitney " and arrived at the Horn of Africa on December 8 , 2002 . CJTF - HOA operated from the " Mount Whitney " until May 13 , 2003 , when the mission moved ashore to Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti City , Djibouti . Since then , CJTF - HOA personnel have built schools , clinics and hospitals ; conducted dozens of MEDCAPs , DENTCAPs and VETCAPs ; drilled and refurbished more than 113 water wells ; and trained in collaboration with partner nation militaries . In January 2004 , Brigadier General Mastin Robison of the United States Marine Corps , then commanding the Task Force , had support , medical , and admin staff from the Marines , Navy , Army , and Air Force , a Marine helicopter detachment of four CH - 53 Super Stallions , a U . S . Army infantry company , a U . S . Army Reserve civil affairs company , Navy cargo planes , military engineers , and a special operations unit under his command . Additionally , members of the Task Force assisted with humanitarian assistance missions , including recovery efforts after the collapse of a four - story building in Kenya in 2006 , the capsizing of a passenger ferry in Djibouti in 2006 , and floods in Ethiopia and Kenya in 2006 . Task Force personnel assisted the Government of Uganda in locating and recovering the wreckage of a Russian - built IL - 76 transport plane that crashed into Lake Victoria in early 2009 . Transfer to USAFRICOM . On October 1 , 2008 , responsibility for the task force was transferred from the United States Central Command to the United States Africa Command ( USAFRICOM ) , as the latter assumed authority over the African Theater of Operations .