Task force promotes self-determination Published April 13, 2006 HORN OF AFRICA -- The mission of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa is to provide African host nations with a stable and secure environment where all people have the freedom of choice. The CJTF-HOA vision is one where education and prosperity are within each person’s grasp, and terrorists do not enslave nations by infringing on their right to self-determination. The combined force is comprised of Airmen, Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, civilians and partner nations dedicated to seeking out and destroying the terrorist social infrastructure by taking away terrorists’ safe havens and driving them out of the region. There is a history of Al Qaeda operating in this region, seeking ungovernable spaces. CJTF-HOA focuses on eliminating the terrorist threat while offering growth opportunity to the people in the HOA. Mission strategies focus on developing conditions for economic growth, establishing enduring relationships and creating a secure world for the children in the affected region. The Air Force plays a key role in CJTF-HOA as airlift transporters of humanitarian aid in the form of food, water, medicine and other critical supplies. C-130s also transport civil affairs teams, medical groups and other service members dedicated to the mission. The C-130 HOA Flex is flown solely by C-130 aircrews assigned to the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron based in Southwest Asia. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)