United States Army Africa
Encyclopedia
United States Army Africa (USARAF), formerly known as the Southern European Task Force (SETAF), is the United States Army
component command of United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM or AFRICOM
)
USARAF's headquarters are located on Caserma Ederle
, Vicenza
, Italy. The current commanding general
of USARAF is Major General
David R. Hogg
, USA
Donald Rumsfeld
formed a planning team to advise on requirements for establishing a new unified command
for the African continent. In early December 2006, he presented his recommendations to President
George W. Bush
. On 6 February 2007, Rumsfeld's successor, Robert Gates
, announced to the Senate Armed Services Committee that the president had authorized the formation of AFRICOM and Rear Admiral
Robert Moeller, USN
, the director of the AFRICOM transition team, arrived in Stuttgart
, Germany to begin creating the logistical framework for the command.
On 28 September 2007, the United States Senate
confirmed General
William E. Ward
as AFRICOM
's first commander and USAFRICOM officially became operational as a sub-unified command of EUCOM with a separate headquarters. During a public ceremony on 9 December 2008, USARAF was established as the land component of USAFRICOM. The ceremony followed an official announcement by the U.S. and Italian governments on 3 December in Rome that SETAF would become USARAF. According to Army Times
, the ceremony marked the end of the airborne
chapter of the unit’s history and the beginning of its new role as the Army component of USAFRICOM.
In October 2009, the Army established USARAF as its newest Component Command.
The command's formal mission statement explains that "U.S. Army Africa, as the Army Service Component Command for U.S. Africa Command, enables full spectrum operations while conducting sustained security engagement with African land forces to promote security, stability, and peace. As directed, deploys a contingency headquarters in support of crisis response."
The headquarters, commanded by Major General John H. Michaelis
, was temporarily established at Camp Darby
with units stationed in Vicenza
and Verona
. Shortly after activation, SETAF moved the headquarters to Verona
, to Caserma Passalacqua. Troop strength reached 10,000 and SETAF was formally established with a U.S.-Italian agreement.
In 1959, a third agreement brought significant changes to SETAF, to include assigning Italian Army
personnel to the SETAF general staff to assist with unique bi-national responsibilities.
In 1963, SETAF lent a helping hand to its Italian neighbors when a huge landslide forced a deluge of water over the Vajont
Dam in the Piave
Valley killing more than 2,000 people. SETAF helicopters were the first on the scene to provide assistance.
The headquarters moved again in 1965 to Caserma Carlo Ederle in Vicenza.
SETAF's mission and geographical area of responsibility increased in 1972 when the command enlarged its signal support unit and took control of two Army artillery groups in Greece
and Turkey
.
With the assignment of the 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry (Airborne Battalion Combat Team) in 1973, SETAF accepted the missions of maintaining and deploying the battalion on its own or as part of the Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (Land). Throughout the 1970s and 80s, SETAF continued its tradition of helping out its Italian neighbors whenever disaster struck.
Until 1992, SETAF was considered to be a logistical command, but changes in Europe resulting from the end of the Cold War
also resulted in new missions for the unit. SETAF shifted focus to regional tactical operations as command and control headquarters for Army and joint units.
, deployed to northern Iraq
during Operation Provide Comfort
, the U.S.-led humanitarian mission to feed and provide other life support for thousands of displaced Kurds.
In July 1994, SETAF deployed to Entebbe
, Uganda as the core staff of Joint Task Force Support Hope
. A total of 2,100 U. S. military personnel, including SETAF's 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 325th Infantry Regiment
, deployed to the region to help prevent a humanitarian crisis resulting from large-scale refugee movements caused by the civil war in Rwanda
.
SETAF demonstrated its role as the theater's reaction force in December 1995 by deploying as the lead element of the Dayton Peace Accord implementation forces into Bosnia-Herzegovina.
April 1996 proved to be exceptionally busy: Elements of the SETAF Infantry Brigade deployed to Dubrovnik
, Croatia to secure the crash site of U. S. Commerce Secretary
Ron Brown
's plane.
Another company-plus deployed to Monrovia
, Liberia with special operations forces to facilitate noncombatant evacuation operations. In November 1996, portions of the SETAF-led Joint Task Force Operation Guardian Assistance deployed to Uganda
and Rwanda
to assess the needs of Rwandan refugees in Zaire
.
In March 1997, a SETAF-led Joint Task Force (JTF) headquarters deployed to Brazzaville
, Congo
, in preparation for the potential evacuation of non-combatants from Zaire
. The JTF redeployed in April 1997 upon a peaceful government transition in Zaire
.
. The brigade remained in Iraq
for a year conducting a variety of missions from defeating insurgents to building and renovating schools.
On 25 July 2003, SETAF was designated to lead the US military mission in Liberia
to help prevent an impending humanitarian disaster. A peace agreement was implemented, forces of the warring factions were separated, air and seaports were reopened, and the UN and private humanitarian organizations resumed delivery of badly needed relief.
In February 2005, both SETAF and the 173d Airborne Brigade were called upon to do their part in the global war on terror
, deploying to Afghanistan
, as part of the Combined Joint Task Force 76.
The Army's transformation saw the 173d Airborne Brigade convert into an Airborne Brigade Combat Team
in 2006. The 173rd ABCT, with its headquarters and two battalions from Vicenza
and four battalions in Germany, deployed in May 2007, again to Afghanistan, in support of NATO's International Security Assistance Force
. The brigade redeployed in the summer of 2008.
From June through November 2007, SETAF soldiers deployed to Romania
and Bulgaria
as a part of Joint Task Force East
. JTF-East
is an on-going United States European Command
initiative to strengthen relationships between the United States and its allies in Eastern Europe.
In July 2008, SETAF provided command and control for Exercise Immediate Response, a U.S. European Command exercise, in the Republic of Georgia.
In early December 2008, the U.S. Ambassador to Italy and the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs
announced in Rome that SETAF officially assumed duties as the Army component headquarters for U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)
.
Natural Fire 10 was a multi-national, globally resourced exercise focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. According to USARAF, the goals of the exercise were "to promote interoperability between USARAF and the militaries of partner nations, while improving capabilities to respond to complex humanitarian emergencies." Roughly 650 troops from Burundi
, Kenya, Rwanda
, Tanzania, Uganda
, along with U.S. service members, participated in the exercise. According to U.S Army Africa, the exercise brought together more than 1,200 service members and civilians from six countries. U.S Army Africa and the Uganda People's Defence Force
co-led the exercise, that began on 16 Oct. 2009 and ended on 25 Oct. 2009.
Natural Fire 10 took place at three locations in Uganda
: Entebbe
, Kampala
and Kitgum
. At the first two sites, U.S. and African military leaders took part in a tabletop exercise – facing simulated emergencies in Africa. The tabletop exercise was developed for senior and mid-level military leaders to garner experience in responding to disasters, offering humanitarian assistance and preparing for pandemic
situations.
Participants in Natural Fire 10 also practiced tasks such as convoy operations, crowd control, weapons handling and techniques for establishing and manning vehicle checkpoints. Also in Kitgum
, U.S.troops and East African partners provided medical, dental and engineering support to local communities.
According to USARAF, Natural Fire 10 "validated its yearlong transition to becoming America's premier Army team for achieving positive change in Africa. By building capacity within partner nations and increasing our ability to work together, U.S. Army Africa will be better prepared for future engagements. In doing so, the U.S. Army also solidified military rapport with allies in East Africa, key to supporting stability in the region."
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
component command of United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM or AFRICOM
United States Africa Command
The United States Africa Command is one of nine Unified Combatant Commands of the United States Armed Forces, headquartered at Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. It is responsible for U.S. military operations and military relations with 53 African nations – an area of responsibility covering all...
)
USARAF's headquarters are located on Caserma Ederle
Caserma Ederle
Caserma Ederle is an Italian post where the U.S. Army has troops stationed located in Vicenza, Italy. A small number of members of other U.S. services are also stationed there. The post serves as the headquarters of United States Army Africa and the 173d Airborne Brigade. Caserma Ederle serves as...
, Vicenza
Vicenza
Vicenza , a city in north-eastern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddling the Bacchiglione...
, Italy. The current commanding general
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of USARAF is Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
David R. Hogg
David R. Hogg
Major General David R. Hogg is the Commanding General of United States Army Africa .In his current assignment, Major General Hogg is the senior U.S. Army officer in Italy and commands the Army Component to United States Africa Command...
, USA
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Creation of dedicated AFRICOM Army component headquarters
In mid-2006, Secretary of DefenseUnited States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to...
formed a planning team to advise on requirements for establishing a new unified command
Unified command
Unified command may refer to:* Unified Combatant Command, military* Unified Command , incident command system* Unified Command , command system in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill...
for the African continent. In early December 2006, he presented his recommendations to President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. On 6 February 2007, Rumsfeld's successor, Robert Gates
Robert Gates
Dr. Robert Michael Gates is a retired civil servant and university president who served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W....
, announced to the Senate Armed Services Committee that the president had authorized the formation of AFRICOM and Rear Admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
Robert Moeller, USN
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, the director of the AFRICOM transition team, arrived in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, Germany to begin creating the logistical framework for the command.
On 28 September 2007, the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
confirmed General
General (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
William E. Ward
William E. Ward
William E. "Kip" Ward , is a retired United States Army four-star general who last served as Commander, U.S. Africa Command from October 1, 2007 to March 8, 2011. He was the first officer to hold this position. General Ward previously served as Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command. General Ward...
as AFRICOM
United States Africa Command
The United States Africa Command is one of nine Unified Combatant Commands of the United States Armed Forces, headquartered at Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. It is responsible for U.S. military operations and military relations with 53 African nations – an area of responsibility covering all...
's first commander and USAFRICOM officially became operational as a sub-unified command of EUCOM with a separate headquarters. During a public ceremony on 9 December 2008, USARAF was established as the land component of USAFRICOM. The ceremony followed an official announcement by the U.S. and Italian governments on 3 December in Rome that SETAF would become USARAF. According to Army Times
Army Times
Army Times is a weekly newspaper serving active, reserve, guard and retired United States Army personnel and their families, providing news, information and analysis as well as community and lifestyle features, educational supplements, and resource guides.Army Times is published by the Gannett...
, the ceremony marked the end of the airborne
Airborne forces
Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
chapter of the unit’s history and the beginning of its new role as the Army component of USAFRICOM.
In October 2009, the Army established USARAF as its newest Component Command.
The command's formal mission statement explains that "U.S. Army Africa, as the Army Service Component Command for U.S. Africa Command, enables full spectrum operations while conducting sustained security engagement with African land forces to promote security, stability, and peace. As directed, deploys a contingency headquarters in support of crisis response."
1955–1990
The U.S. Army Southern European Task Force (SETAF) was formally activated during a ceremony on 25 October 1955.The headquarters, commanded by Major General John H. Michaelis
John H. Michaelis
John Hersey Michaelis was a United States Army four star general who served as Commander in Chief, United Nations Command/Commander, United States Forces Korea/Commanding General, Eighth United States Army from 1969 to 1972.Michaelis was a 1936 graduate of the United States Military Academy...
, was temporarily established at Camp Darby
Camp Darby
Camp Darby is a United States military complex located between Pisa and Livorno. The base was formally dedicated on 15 November 1952 and is named in memory of Brigadier General William O...
with units stationed in Vicenza
Vicenza
Vicenza , a city in north-eastern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddling the Bacchiglione...
and Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
. Shortly after activation, SETAF moved the headquarters to Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
, to Caserma Passalacqua. Troop strength reached 10,000 and SETAF was formally established with a U.S.-Italian agreement.
In 1959, a third agreement brought significant changes to SETAF, to include assigning Italian Army
Italian Army
The Italian Army is the ground defence force of the Italian Armed Forces. It is all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel, numbering 108,355 in 2010. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft...
personnel to the SETAF general staff to assist with unique bi-national responsibilities.
In 1963, SETAF lent a helping hand to its Italian neighbors when a huge landslide forced a deluge of water over the Vajont
Vajont
Vajont is a town and comune in the province of Pordenone, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, north-eastern Italy.-History:The municipality was founded in 1971 on the municipal territory of Maniago. It was built to host the people evacuated from Erto e Casso after the disaster of the Vajont Dam ....
Dam in the Piave
Piave
Piave can refer to:* Francesco Maria Piave, Italian librettist and composer* Piave * Piave * Battle of the Piave River* 10 Motorised Division Piave An Italian division of World War II...
Valley killing more than 2,000 people. SETAF helicopters were the first on the scene to provide assistance.
The headquarters moved again in 1965 to Caserma Carlo Ederle in Vicenza.
SETAF's mission and geographical area of responsibility increased in 1972 when the command enlarged its signal support unit and took control of two Army artillery groups in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
With the assignment of the 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry (Airborne Battalion Combat Team) in 1973, SETAF accepted the missions of maintaining and deploying the battalion on its own or as part of the Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (Land). Throughout the 1970s and 80s, SETAF continued its tradition of helping out its Italian neighbors whenever disaster struck.
Until 1992, SETAF was considered to be a logistical command, but changes in Europe resulting from the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
also resulted in new missions for the unit. SETAF shifted focus to regional tactical operations as command and control headquarters for Army and joint units.
1990–2000
In March 1991, SETAF's 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 325th Infantry Regiment325th Infantry Regiment
The 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment is a unit of the 82nd Airborne Division. Its subordinate units currently constitute the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division.-Capabilities:...
, deployed to northern Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
during Operation Provide Comfort
Operation Provide Comfort
Operation Provide Comfort and Provide Comfort II were military operations by the United States and some of its Gulf War allies, starting in April 1991, to defend Kurds fleeing their homes in northern Iraq in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War and deliver humanitarian aid to them.-Operation...
, the U.S.-led humanitarian mission to feed and provide other life support for thousands of displaced Kurds.
In July 1994, SETAF deployed to Entebbe
Entebbe
Entebbe is a major town in Central Uganda. Located on a Lake Victoria peninsula, the town was at one time, the seat of government for the Protectorate of Uganda, prior to Independence in 1962...
, Uganda as the core staff of Joint Task Force Support Hope
Operation Support Hope
Operation Support Hope was a 1994 United States military effort to provide immediate relief for the refugees of the Rwandan Genocide and allow a smooth transition to a full United Nations humanitarian management program...
. A total of 2,100 U. S. military personnel, including SETAF's 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 325th Infantry Regiment
325th Infantry Regiment
The 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment is a unit of the 82nd Airborne Division. Its subordinate units currently constitute the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division.-Capabilities:...
, deployed to the region to help prevent a humanitarian crisis resulting from large-scale refugee movements caused by the civil war in Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
.
SETAF demonstrated its role as the theater's reaction force in December 1995 by deploying as the lead element of the Dayton Peace Accord implementation forces into Bosnia-Herzegovina.
April 1996 proved to be exceptionally busy: Elements of the SETAF Infantry Brigade deployed to Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
, Croatia to secure the crash site of U. S. Commerce Secretary
United States Secretary of Commerce
The United States Secretary of Commerce is the head of the United States Department of Commerce concerned with business and industry; the Department states its mission to be "to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce"...
Ron Brown
Ron Brown (U.S. politician)
Ronald Harmon "Ron" Brown was the United States Secretary of Commerce, serving during the first term of President Bill Clinton. He was the first African American to hold this position...
's plane.
Another company-plus deployed to Monrovia
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
, Liberia with special operations forces to facilitate noncombatant evacuation operations. In November 1996, portions of the SETAF-led Joint Task Force Operation Guardian Assistance deployed to Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
to assess the needs of Rwandan refugees in Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
.
In March 1997, a SETAF-led Joint Task Force (JTF) headquarters deployed to Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
, Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, in preparation for the potential evacuation of non-combatants from Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
. The JTF redeployed in April 1997 upon a peaceful government transition in Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
.
2000–2008
On 26 March 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, SETAF's 173d Airborne Brigade conducted a parachute assault into Northern Iraq. About 1,000 paratroopers jumped into Bashur Airfield in a historical and critical mission called Operation Northern DelayOperation Northern Delay
On March 26, 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, C-17s of the 62d Airlift Wing, 315th Airlift Wing, 437th Airlift Wing, and 446th Airlift Wing dropped SETAF's 173rd Airborne Brigade into Northern Iraq. More than 1,000 paratroopers jumped into Bashur Airfield...
. The brigade remained in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
for a year conducting a variety of missions from defeating insurgents to building and renovating schools.
On 25 July 2003, SETAF was designated to lead the US military mission in Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
to help prevent an impending humanitarian disaster. A peace agreement was implemented, forces of the warring factions were separated, air and seaports were reopened, and the UN and private humanitarian organizations resumed delivery of badly needed relief.
In February 2005, both SETAF and the 173d Airborne Brigade were called upon to do their part in the global war on terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
, deploying to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, as part of the Combined Joint Task Force 76.
The Army's transformation saw the 173d Airborne Brigade convert into an Airborne Brigade Combat Team
Brigade combat team
The brigade combat team is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the US Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branch maneuver brigade, and its attached support and fire units. A brigade combat team is generally commanded by a colonel , but in rare instances it is commanded by...
in 2006. The 173rd ABCT, with its headquarters and two battalions from Vicenza
Vicenza
Vicenza , a city in north-eastern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddling the Bacchiglione...
and four battalions in Germany, deployed in May 2007, again to Afghanistan, in support of NATO's International Security Assistance Force
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
. The brigade redeployed in the summer of 2008.
From June through November 2007, SETAF soldiers deployed to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
as a part of Joint Task Force East
Joint Task Force East
Task Force-East is a United States European Command initiative executed by U.S. Army Europe designed to strengthen relationships between the United States and its Eastern European allies...
. JTF-East
Joint Task Force East
Task Force-East is a United States European Command initiative executed by U.S. Army Europe designed to strengthen relationships between the United States and its Eastern European allies...
is an on-going United States European Command
United States European Command
The United States European Command is one of ten Unified Combatant Commands of the United States military, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Its area of focus covers and 51 countries and territories, including Europe, Russia, Iceland, Greenland, and Israel...
initiative to strengthen relationships between the United States and its allies in Eastern Europe.
In July 2008, SETAF provided command and control for Exercise Immediate Response, a U.S. European Command exercise, in the Republic of Georgia.
2008 – present
In the fall of 2008, SETAF went through major organizational changes as it restructured to support AFRICOM. In August 2008, SETAF conducted its final airborne operation and, shortly thereafter, SETAF soldiers replaced their maroon berets with black berets and replaced their airborne tabs with historic SETAF scrolls.In early December 2008, the U.S. Ambassador to Italy and the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs
As in most countries, in Italy the Minister of Foreign Affairs, which is the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is one of the most important ministerial positions...
announced in Rome that SETAF officially assumed duties as the Army component headquarters for U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)
United States Africa Command
The United States Africa Command is one of nine Unified Combatant Commands of the United States Armed Forces, headquartered at Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. It is responsible for U.S. military operations and military relations with 53 African nations – an area of responsibility covering all...
.
Exercise Natural Fire 10
In October 2009, USARAF conducted Natural Fire 10, its first large-scale humanitarian and crisis response joint military exercise on the African continent.Natural Fire 10 was a multi-national, globally resourced exercise focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. According to USARAF, the goals of the exercise were "to promote interoperability between USARAF and the militaries of partner nations, while improving capabilities to respond to complex humanitarian emergencies." Roughly 650 troops from Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
, Kenya, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, Tanzania, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, along with U.S. service members, participated in the exercise. According to U.S Army Africa, the exercise brought together more than 1,200 service members and civilians from six countries. U.S Army Africa and the Uganda People's Defence Force
Uganda People's Defence Force
The Uganda Peoples Defence Force , previously the National Resistance Army, is the armed forces of Uganda. The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates the UPDF has a total strength of 40–45,000, and consists of land forces and an Air Wing.The IISS Military Balance 2007 says there...
co-led the exercise, that began on 16 Oct. 2009 and ended on 25 Oct. 2009.
Natural Fire 10 took place at three locations in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
: Entebbe
Entebbe
Entebbe is a major town in Central Uganda. Located on a Lake Victoria peninsula, the town was at one time, the seat of government for the Protectorate of Uganda, prior to Independence in 1962...
, Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
and Kitgum
Kitgum
Kitgum is a municipality in Kitgum District, in Northern Uganda. The town is administered by Kitgum Town Council, an Urban Local Government within Kitgum District Administration...
. At the first two sites, U.S. and African military leaders took part in a tabletop exercise – facing simulated emergencies in Africa. The tabletop exercise was developed for senior and mid-level military leaders to garner experience in responding to disasters, offering humanitarian assistance and preparing for pandemic
Pandemic
A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region; for instance multiple continents, or even worldwide. A widespread endemic disease that is stable in terms of how many people are getting sick from it is not a pandemic...
situations.
Participants in Natural Fire 10 also practiced tasks such as convoy operations, crowd control, weapons handling and techniques for establishing and manning vehicle checkpoints. Also in Kitgum
Kitgum
Kitgum is a municipality in Kitgum District, in Northern Uganda. The town is administered by Kitgum Town Council, an Urban Local Government within Kitgum District Administration...
, U.S.troops and East African partners provided medical, dental and engineering support to local communities.
According to USARAF, Natural Fire 10 "validated its yearlong transition to becoming America's premier Army team for achieving positive change in Africa. By building capacity within partner nations and increasing our ability to work together, U.S. Army Africa will be better prepared for future engagements. In doing so, the U.S. Army also solidified military rapport with allies in East Africa, key to supporting stability in the region."