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Chief returns to Tinker after serving in CJTF- Horn of Africa

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Kinder Blacke
  • 552nd Air Control Wing
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Chief Master Sgt. John R. Harris Jr., command senior enlisted leader for Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, returned to Oklahoma City Wednesday after spending 13 months in Djibouti. 

As the principal enlisted advisor to the commander, Chief Harris worked to integrate, utilize and sustain more than 2,000 U.S. and coalition forces serving in 12 countries in Africa. 

He also provided guidance on effective leadership and management, self-discipline, military courtesy and personal appearance for all deployed personnel under his command. He focused on taking care of his troops, so they could take care of the mission. 

"On a day-to-day basis, I interacted with Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and Airmen to make sure the commander's policies were carried out," Chief Harris said. "It was the most integrated, joint environment I have ever experienced. To see all those different troops working together was really neat. In the end you realize, we're all just troops in one big team." 

The mission to which these troops are so dedicated is composed of the "four P's," according to Chief Harris: Prevent Conflict, Promote Regional Stability, Protect Coalition Interests and Prevail Against Extremism. 

"We were working in the 'zero phase of war:' building up a country before a war breaks out," Chief Harris said. "We trained their military and helped them build their own NCO corps." 

To achieve these "four P's," the troops mainly performed humanitarian work, such as rebuilding or upgrading medical and veterinary clinics and schools, drilling wells, providing religious support and training, and promoting stability in the nation by upgrading local soldiers' skills. 

The results of all of the troops' hard work were clearly visible and amazing to see, said Chief Harris. "We could drill a well five miles from the closest town, and the next morning, there would be people from all over coming for water," Chief Harris said. "In the veterinary clinics, troops could pen 100 sheep and have them all inoculated in five minutes." 

Chief Harris has plenty of experience in his 27 years of service, including his assignment prior to deploying, as the 552nd Air Control Wing command chief here.
The position he filled in Djibouti was a nominative position; the Navy admiral commanding CJTF-HOA hand-picked Chief Harris to get the job done, said Chief Master Sgt. James Foltz, who took over for Chief Harris as the command chief of the 552nd Air Control Wing. 

"He is a true warrior whose number one priority is the Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines that he served with in Djibouti," said Chief Foltz. 

Although Chief Harris enjoyed his work in Africa, he was happy to return to his wife and four daughters. He now serves as the Chief Enlisted Manager for the 3rd Combat Communications Support Squadron. 

Chief Harris plans to retire Dec. 14 and find a job in the civilian world. 

"What makes my heart beat is the military," he said, so despite losing the uniform, he is looking for a job that still has close military ties.