Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa
As part of the ‘hearts and minds’ strategy in the War on Terror, US civil affairs units are currently doing humanitarian work in Ethopia. It’s poverty and hoplessness which provide the breeding ground for war and terrorism. Any efforts to alleviate those problems are benificial for everyone in the long run.
One important aspect to note is that is that they are promoting a self-sustaining model of development as opposed to just simply dumping some aid and then hoping for the best like in previous African humanitarian operations.
“This is completely self-sustaining and that’s why we targeted it,” the sergeant said. “We want to give them small pieces of the pie so they can bake their own big cake - so to say.”
Team member Staff Sgt. Terangelo Davis said the people of the region want to work and aren’t afraid to work hard. “They don’t want handouts, they want to be in charge of themselves,” he said. “They want what every other person in the world wants - a better future for their children.”
They also take a low key approach and integrate with the locals, which is a change from the usual force protection doctrine of keeping troops inside their bases as much as possible for fear of attack. Building up relationships with the locals will pay dividends if they ever have to go back in there again in other operations to root out terrorists.
Davis said the civil affairs team lives with the people. He said relationships in the area are important and the basis for all decisions.
“Living with the people helps build relationships and trust,” he said. “I was a combat engineer with the 4th (Infantry Division in Iraq) before, and I never got a chance to meet the people. We were too busy looking for bad guys or locating caches.
The team eats the same food as the locals, and has a small force-protection group with it.
It’s an interesting contrast to the sledgehammer approach which is being used with increasingly in Iraq. Granted there are far more terrorists in Iraq than there ever will be in Ethopia, but I think lessons can still be learned from this.