• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

CJTF-HOA Keeps a Unique Tab on Personnel Downrange

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070331-01
Release Date: 3/31/2007 3:14:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialst 1st Class Mary Popejoy, Combine Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Affairs

CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti (NNS) -- While stationed in the Horn of Africa, many military and civilian personnel may travel downrange for their job, which is why Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa installs a unique device on vehicles for accountability measures.

Electronics Technician 3rd Class (SW/AW) Jeremiah Cruz, Communications Maintenance, installed a Blue Force Tracker March 28 on a vehicle headed downrange. The device monitors where the servicemembers go, checkpoints along the way and their overall safety.

According to Army Spc. Tyler Cissell, Delta Company 1-3, having this type of device downrange gives him peace of mind.

“I think this is a great way to keep an eye on us just in case something was to happen,” he said. “It’s comforting to know that we’re not completely detached from CJTF-HOA while on assignment.”

To ensure personnel have the right tracker, CJTF-HOA currently has four trackers that cover different areas. The Grenadier Beyond Line-of-Sight Reporting and Tracking System (GBRAT) is specifically designed for CJTF-HOA’s area of operation; the BFT and Tracker 9,000 have unlimited range; and the mini-transmitter can be tracked within the radius of CJTF-HOA’s area of responsibility (AOR).

This allows communication between Camp Lemonier’s Command and Control Personal Computer and personnel downrange at all times via text messaging.

“On the GBRAT, text messages can be sent when they start and end their mission, need medical attention, under fire or need more ammunition,” said Cruz. “On the other Trackers you have text messages for all conditions normal or 911. If there’s a problem they can reach us.”

Personnel downrange may be out of sight, but they are never out of mind.

“Being able to do this is like watching from a birds-eye view,” said Cruz.

CJTF-HOA is a unit of U.S. Central Command. The organization conducts operations and training to assist partner nations to combat terrorism in order to establish a secure environment and enable regional stability. More than 1,500 people from each branch of the U.S. military, civilian employees, Coalition forces and partner nations make up the CJTF-HOA organization. The area of responsibility for CJTF-HOA includes the countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.