Operation Focus Relief

Operation Focus Relief is a mission first announced by former President Clinton in an address to the Nigerian National Assembly in 2000. The intentions were to provide military training and equipment to prepare the African battalions for peacekeeping operations in Sierra Leone. Operation Focus Relief demonstrated the commitment of the US Government in assisting the restoration of stability to the West Africa sub-region. The objective was to provide to Ghana special tools and tactics, and requisite preparation.

The majority of the approximately 200 participating U.S. service members deployed for OFR are assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) and U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, NC. The remaining participants are members of U.S. Army, Europe. The objective of the Focus Relief program is to equip and train up to seven battalions from West African countries to conduct tactical operations up to the infantry company level in preparation for future peace enforcement missions. The training lasted approximately 10 weeks.

Operation Focus Relief closed 03 August 2001 with ceremonies at the Bundase Training Camp for the US Armed Forces and seven West African battalions. The operation began in May 2001. Focus Relief brought the skills needed for tactical operations in support of United Nations mandated peace operations in Sierra Leone. The troops, along with US Army Special Forces soldiers in Thies, Senegal, worked with Ghanaian and Senegalese battalions to equip and train them for future peace enforcement operations in Sierra Leone.

The U.S Army 3rd Special Forces was brought into the area by the 86th Contingency Response Group?s Air Mobility Squadron from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The 86th Airlift Wing?s CRG serves as the Air Force?s first in 911 humanitarian assistance to those in need anywhere, anytime. The 86th CRG provided mobile aerial-port capabilities, airfield command and control, aircraft-maintenance capabilities and airfield security and force protection capabilities. This was a culmination of one of the most ambitious security partnership programs ever undertaken between the United States of America and Ghana.

The team of U.S. Air Force and Army allowed Operation Focus Relief to be a success by completing the mission and encouraging the people of Ghana and Senegal.