All about U.S. Army Africa

While approximately 2,000 people work for U.S. Africa Command, most military-to-military events, operations, and exercises with our African partner nations are executed by “components.” These components set the conditions for success of our security cooperation programs and activities on the continent. They perform detailed planning, provide essential command and control, establish and sustain relationships with our partners, and provide timely assessments. This week, we take a quick look at each of the components that work with U.S. Africa Command:

• U.S. Army Africa (USARAF), Vicenza, Italy
• U.S. Naval Forces, Africa (NAVAF), Naples, Italy
• U.S. Air Forces, Africa (AFAFRICA), Ramstein Air Base, Germany
• U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Africa (MARFORAF), Stuttgart, Germany
• Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti
  
• Special Operations Command-Africa (SOCAFRICA), Stuttgart, Germany.

History U.S. Army Africa was created in 2008 out of the Southern European Task Force, which was formally activated in 1955. Read all about the history here.

Location The SETAF headquarters moved to Caserma Carlo Ederle in Vicenza, Italy, in 1965, where U.S. Army Africa is located today.

USARAF Those who work with U.S. Army Africa often call it by its abbreviation, USARAF — pronounced U-SIR-RAFF.

Staff About 500 personnel work at U.S. Army Africa.

Military-to-military events U.S. Army Africa sponsors events with African partners. One of the most recent involved two soldiers from 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, out of Fort Sill, Okla. They provided subject matter expert guidance on the artillery training on new M190A5 howitzers for the Moroccan 15th Royal Artillery Group. The artillery tactics exercise was held in the cities of Fes and Guercie, March 4-10, to help provide the Moroccan soldiers with training on the maintenance, safety and firing of the M109A5 system. Read more about the howitzer training.

Atlas Accord This multinational annual exercise was held this year in Mali, bringing together U.S. Army personnel and military members from our African partner nations. The exercise focused on enhancing air drop capabilities and ensuring effective delivery of military resupply materials and humanitarian aid. Learn more in our 10 Things about Atlas Accord blog post.

Leadership  Major General David R. Hogg has served as the commander of U.S. Army Africa since June 10, 2010. He was commissioned as an Armor Officer as a graduate from the United States Military Academy.  Major General Hogg was previously the Deputy Commanding General, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan. Read more about his bio or watch a video of Major General Hogg talking about the importance of building strong relationships with our African partners.

Interested in learning more? Look through a list of recommended reading in the U.S. Army Africa Reading Room.