Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont National Guard announces that 5 personnel from Vermont's Operational Support Airlift (OSA) Detachment are deploying to the Horn of Africa in support of United States Africa Command (U.S. AFRICOM)."The Vermont National Guard is very proud of their contribution to regional security and stability in the Horn of Africa," said Maj. Gen. Steven Cray, the adjutant general. "It's important to remember that America's military is still forward deployed across the world performing numerous missions to include not only combat operations but humanitarian and training missions. The Vermont National Guard's deployment to the Horn of Africa is a testament to the strength, professionalism and readiness of our National Guard as an asset to the Total Force."
United States Africa Command, (U.S. AFRICOM) is one of six of the USDefense Department's geographic combatant commands and is responsible to the Secretary of Defense for military relations with African nations, the African Union, and African regional security organizations. U.S. AFRICOM is responsible for all USDepartment of Defense operations, exercises, and security cooperation on the African continent, its island nations, and surrounding waters.
This is the second deployment to Africa and they are expected to return back to Vermont in the summer of 2016.