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| Maj. Charles Hall reenlists Staff Sgt. Jason Morris at the U.S. Embassy in Kampala, Uganda, during Natural Fire 10. (Photo by Lt. Col. David Konop, U.S. Army Africa Public Affairs) See photos from Uganda and Natural Fire 10 on the Army Reserve Flickr page. |
Story by Lt. Col. David Konop
U.S. Army Africa Public Affairs
KAMPALA, Uganda – A civil affairs noncommissioned officer from the 457th Civil Affairs Battalion, 7th Civil Support Command became the first Soldier assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Lion to reenlist at the U.S. Embassy in Kampala, Uganda, during Natural Fire 10.
Staff Sgt. Jason Morris, who is stationed in Kaiserslautern, Germany, deployed to Uganda in October with the 21st Theater Sustainment Command to set up operations prior to the start of the multi-national exercise.
Morris said he jumped at the opportunity to reenlist while in Africa.
“I was going to re-enlist no matter what,” Morris said, “but to reenlist at the U.S. Embassy in Africa was an honor.”
Morris is among a group of Soldiers providing base support and sustainment to Soldiers in Entebbe and Kitgum, the two main exercise sites for Natural Fire 10.
Morris raised his hand before the U.S. colors outside the embassy building in Kampala as Maj. Charles Hall, a plans and operations officer for the 21st TSC’s Human Resources Sustainment Center-Europe, read the reenlistment oath.
“It’s exciting to be part of something as unique as reenlisting an NCO at one of our embassies in Africa,” Hall said. “With U.S. Army Africa’s missions growing on the continent, this may be the first of many to come.”
In his civilian role, Morris works at the post office at Ramstein Air Base. An 18-year Army veteran, Morris volunteered to support the exercise in Africa.
Afterward, Morris called home to his wife, Michelle, an Air Force technical sergeant stationed at Ramstein, and their three boys – Jacob, Zachary and Brady – to tell them the news.
“We’re moving soon so this was a great opportunity for me to be a part of Natural Fire 10 in Africa,” Morris said. “I’m looking forward to coming back to Africa to continue humanitarian efforts with our partner nations.”
See photos from Uganda and Natural Fire 10 on the Army Reserve Flickr page.
