The Ebola Outbreak Isn’t The Only Reason The US Army’s Footprint In Africa Is Growing
Bryant Jordan
BusinessInsider.com
Oct. 8, 2014
It’s a different kind of hot spot to which US Army troops are deploying in increasing numbers, helping to fight against a terror that has killed by the thousands but not with bombs or bullets.
Soldiers with the 101st Airborne from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, deployed to West Africa as part of Joint Force Command-Operation United Assistance, the US-led effort to stem the spread of Ebola in the region.
Army Maj. Gen. Gary J. Volesky, commander of the 101st, called it “a critical mission” as his soldiers prepared for the deployment in late September.
“We will coordinate all of the Department of Defense resources in Liberia to support USAID and the government of Liberia to contain the Ebola virus, and ultimately save lives,” he said.
Up to 4,000 American troops, mostly Army, are expected to take part in the operation. On Oct. 6 about 350 had arrived in the region. More than 300 were in Liberia and the rest in Senegal, which will be the staging area for moving supplies and personnel into Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, the areas hardest hit by the outbreak, the Defense Department said.
President Obama announced that the US would lead the effort to halt the outbreak on Sept. 16.
But the fight against Ebola is only the latest and most widely known of the Army’s Africa missions, which have been growing in number and scope in recent years.
US Army Africa remains headquartered in Vicenza, Italy, where until 2008 it had been known as the Southern European Task Force. But when U.S. Africa Command stood up in 2008 the name was changed. The evolution was further marked by assigned troops adopting the Army’s standard black beret, doffing the maroon berets that had been part of the uniform.
Regular Army as well as Army Reservists and Army National Guard members have participated in various combat train and equip missions, medical training and assistance programs and exercises with host nation militaries. Often these are done in cooperation with Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force commands and units that, like US Army Africa, are subordinated to US Africa Command.
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