Army
GalleryTask Force Tomahawk returns to Oklahoma after 9-month deployment to Horn of Africa
Stars and Stripes
February 27, 2024
A member of Task Force Tomahawk reunites with their family during a welcome home ceremony at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Anthony Jones/Oklahoma National Guard)
More than 800 Oklahoma National Guard soldiers received a warm welcome home from family and friends during the weekend upon return from a nine-month deployment to the Horn of Africa.
Task Force Tomahawk deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, where the soldiers provided security support at five installations across multiple East African countries. In addition to conventional security operations, the task force staffed the East African Response Force.
The Oklahoma Army National Guard troops left home in April 2023, and their first stop was Fort Bliss, Texas, for post-mobilization training before heading overseas.
Before deployment, the soldiers spent a month at Fort Riley, Kan. They trained on individual and platoon level warrior tasks, including various weapons ranges and squad patrol lanes focusing on individual troop and squad movement. In addition to individual and platoon-level training, soldiers received medical, cultural awareness, equipment and mission-specific training before heading overseas.
Family members of Task Force Tomahawk soldiers hold up signs at the welcome home ceremony at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (Reece Heck/Oklahoma National Guard)
Family members of Task Force Tomahawk soldiers hold up signs at the welcome home ceremony at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Feb. 22, 2024. (Mireille Merilice-Roberts/Oklahoma National Guard)
A member of Task Force Tomahawk reunites with their family during a welcome home ceremony at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Anthony Jones/Oklahoma National Guard)
A member of Task Force Tomahawk reunites with family during a welcome home ceremony at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (Reece Heck/Oklahoma National Guard)
Members of Task Force Tomahawk arrive at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Task Force Tomahawk returned from a nine-month deployment in the Horn of Africa. (Anthony Jones/Oklahoma National Guard)
A member of Task Force Tomahawk reunites with family during a welcome home ceremony at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. (Reece Heck/Oklahoma National Guard)
Family members of a Task Force Tomahawk soldier hold up a sign at the welcome home ceremony at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Feb. 24, 2024. (Reece Heck/Oklahoma National Guard)
A member of Task Force Tomahawk reunites with family during a welcome home ceremony at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Feb. 22, 2024. (Mireille Merilice-Roberts/Oklahoma National Guard)
A member of Task Force Tomahawk reunites with family during a welcome home ceremony at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Feb. 23, 2024. (Anthony Jones/Oklahoma National Guard)
Family members of a Task Force Tomahawk soldier hold up a sign at the Task Force Tomahawk welcome home ceremony at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Feb. 24, 2024. (Reece Heck/Oklahoma National Guard)
Staff Sgt. Vincent Humerickhouse, a member of Task Force Tomahawk, reunites with family members at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Feb. 23, 2024. (Anthony Jones/Oklahoma National Guard)
Members of Task Force Tomahawk stand in formation during a welcome home ceremony at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (Reece Heck/Oklahoma National Guard)
