U.S. military treats goat herds in Africa

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As the U.S. military increases its efforts to win hearts and minds in Africa, one strategy is to provide care for farm animals, particularly the goat herds that are important to the African economy and food supply.

Troops from the Army’s 354th Civil Affairs Brigade are innoculating the goat herds of Pongwe near Tanga, Tanzania. The 354th personnel, like Army Capt. Amanda Coenen, a veterinarian, are assigned to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, as part of the U.S. military’s Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. That’s Coenen above with a herder in Tanzania.

Also this month, U.S. Air Force personnel from Aviano Air Base, Italy, were in Mali for a humanitarian mission that included treating 4,000 goats and sheep.

The 354th, a reservist group from Riverdale, Md., knows the value of animals in furthering U.S. foreign policy. The group was involved with the restoration of the Baghdad Zoo.

-- Tony Perry, in San Diego