180th ESC officially begins Horn of Africa mission
The Virginia National Guard’s Powhatan-based 180th Engineer Support Company officially begin their mission to support Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa with a transfer of authority ceremony Oct. 20, 2025, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The 180th replaced the New York Army National Guard’s 152nd Engineer Support Company.
“To the senior leaders across CJTF-HOA and Camp Lemonnier, thank you for the support you’ve provided not only to the 152nd, but also in preparing the 180th for success,” said Capt. Catherine M. Bean, the 180th ESC commander in her TOA remarks. “We are eager to continue building on the strong foundation already established, and to uphold the high standards of discipline, safety and quality that this mission demands.”
In their first four weeks on the mission, Soldiers of the 180th partnered with Air Force and Marine Corps counterparts to move $750,00 worth of equipment and completed 28 engineer projects with a estimated $300,000 value in troop and labor costs. Bean extended gratitude on behalf of the entire 180th ESC to the 152nd ESC and their leadership team.
The 180th Engineer Support Company command team unfurls their unit guidon to mark the official start of their federal active duty mission in the Horn of Africa Oct. 20, 2025, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.