| Camp Lemonnier | |
|---|---|
| , Djibouti | |
Marines practice their speed and accuracy with M16-A2 rifles in March 2003 at Camp Lemonnier |
|
| Type | USN Expeditionary Base |
| Built | Refurbished in 2001 |
| In use | 2001-Present |
| Controlled by | United States |
| Garrison | Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa |
| Commanders | U.S. Navy Captain Scott Hurst, CO |
Camp Lemonnier is a United States Naval Expeditionary Base,[1] situated at Djibouti's Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport and home to the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) of the U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM).[2] The camp is operated by U.S. Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia; CJTF-HOA is the most notable tenant command located at the facility as of 2008. It was established as the primary base in the region for the support of Operation Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa (OEF-HOA). After negotiations between March and May 2001, the Djiboutian government allowed for the base's use by the U.S., providing for demining, humanitarian, and counter-terrorism efforts, and it now serves as the location from which U.S. and Coalition forces are operating in the Horn of Africa. The access agreement made by officials from the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti with the Djiboutian government allows for use of the camp, as well as a nearby airport and port facilities.
The camp originally belonged to the French military, and named after General Emile-René Lemonnier. In 2009, after years of misspelling, the U.S. Navy officially changed the camp's name to properly reflect the spelling of General Lemonnier's name.[3]
Today, Camp Lemonnier is the only U.S. military base located in Africa supporting operations geared toward building security, sovereignty, and stability in the region.
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Camp Lemonnier is located on the southern side of the Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport, between the runway overflow areas and a French military munitions storage facility. Following use by the French Foreign Legion, the facility was operated by the Djiboutian Armed Forces. While the United States had long understood that Islamic extremists used the large desert areas of northeastern Africa, known as the Horn of Africa, as a base of operations, combatting the extremists had not been seen as a priority. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the U.S. decided to start such efforts. At first, this was limited to focused attacks, but in 2002 the U.S. government realized that to reduce extremism would require long term engagement with the local governments and populations. As a result, it established the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa to conduct stability operations in the area. In November 2002, the CJTF-HOA staff, a Marine-based organization, arrived off the coast of Djibouti aboard USS Mount Whitney, a naval command ship.
While the intent was to move ashore, the Camp Lemonnier facilities which had not been in use for several years were in a state of considerable disrepair. Some buildings were mere concrete shells and had been stripped of interior fixtures, pipes and wiring, while the roofs of several structures had collapsed. Goats roamed the property and birds had taken roost in several of the abandoned structures. The former swimming pool had been used as a trash dump and was a borderline hazardous material site. Some buildings that were closer to the Djiboutian Air Force controlled side of the airport were in better shape and required minimal renovation. As a result, the CJTF-HOA staff remained aboard the USS Mount Whitney as U.S. Army (Bravo Co. 46th Engineer (CBT)(HVY)) began extensive renovations. This involved building new concrete pads, maintenance facilities and living areas. In May 2003, Camp Lemonnier was livable and CJTF-HOA transitioned from the Mount Whitney to the camp. The pool was cleaned, refurbished, and opened in spring of 2003.
In January 2007, it was announced Camp Lemonnier would be expanded from 97 acres (390,000 m2) to nearly 500 acres (2 km²).[4] As part of the process of moving the camp from an "expeditionary" base to a long term facility, the camp built a living area, known as CLUville. CLUville consists of long rows of Containerized Living Units (CLUs) with concrete sidewalks and gravel roads.[5] As CLUville was slowly expanded, the camp population moved from tents into the more durable berthing facilities.[6]
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) began moving all headquarters personnel and equipment from its flagship, USS Mount Whitney, in the Gulf of Aden, into facilities at Camp Lemonnier on May 6, 2003.
Djiboutian workers were instrumental in preparing the newly-renovated 88-acre (360,000 m2) camp for movement of the CJTF headquarters ashore. More than 1,200 local and third-country national construction and support personnel currently work aboard the camp each day. Pacific Architects & Engineers, Inc. (PAE) administers the contract for facilities and support operations for the camp, which include billeting, laundry services and the dining facility.
On July 1, 2006, the U.S. Marine Corps turned over responsibility for Camp Lemonnier to the U.S. Navy in a brief change of command ceremony. U.S. Navy Captain Robert Fahey assumed command of Camp Lemonnier from U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Gerard Fischer.[7]
In early July 2006, the U.S. and Djiboutian governments announced that a lease agreement had been signed to expand Camp Lemonnier from 88 acres (360,000 m2) to nearly 500 acres (2 km²). The term of the lease is for 5 years with options to renew. As part of the lease and expansion, physical improvements to the camp included fencing, additional billeting to replace existing tents, and compliance with various U.S. force protection standoff requirements.
On October 1, 2008, responsibility for the task force was transferred from the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) to United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) as the latter assumed authority over the African theater of operations.[2]
Camp Lemonnier is run by Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, which is responsible for its expansion, upkeep, and logistics support. Tenants include the U.S. Marine Security Forces which provides the camp's external security, the CJTF-HOA commander and staff, a U.S. Navy Seabee battalion which conducts well drilling operations, U.S. Army units which provide additional security, military training, and Civil-military operations support, and several aircraft detachments. Past tenant units have included the U.S. Marine 9th Provisional Security Force; 2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery Regiment; and 1-65th Infantry Regiment, Puerto Rico Army National Guard as well as the First Red Horse Group. As of June 2010, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment assumed duties at Camp Lemonnier. The 2-137 IN is a Kansas Army National Guard unit and its soldiers come from all over the state of Kansas. Most of the soldiers in the unit are on second or third tour of duty since 2001. The soldiers of the 2nd 137th IN, had made some improvement in the Force Protection on the Camp. During their deployment the Unit had made many friends with the local people. In the Month of APR 2011 a sister Battalion the 1-161 FA another Kansas Guard unit is going to replace the 2-137.
Aircraft detachments include a U.S. Marine heavy-lift helicopter (CH-53) detachment, a U.S. Navy P-3 detachment (technically a part of NAVCENT's Task Force 57), and the U.S. Air Force's 449th Air Expeditionary Group. USAF detachments include a USAF HC-130 detachment, and, at times, a C-17 Globemaster III detachment.