African Partnership Flight-Djibouti strengthens bonds with music

DJIBOUTI -- Djiboutian and U.S. Airmen are co-hosting African Partnership Flight to strengthen partnerships between the East African nations of Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda Feb. 7-11.

However, the relationship between the U.S. Air Force and the Djiboutian population outside the base perimeter can sometimes be better strengthened with a military resource less conventional than a C-130 Hercules.

"We are here with APF basically to build partnerships -- that's our job," said Senior Airman Justin Cockerham, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band pianist. "The more good will we can build between Americans and our foreign allies, the more opportunities we will have as a nation by and large, but also the more military opportunities we will have."

With that in mind, the USAFE Band, rock ensemble Touch n' Go, is traveling with African Partnership Flight-Djibouti to play music at military events as well as in the local community.

One such outreach event was a performance at Caritas Djibouti, a support center for refugees of neighboring nations under the age of 18.

The band performed a one-hour set of Top-40 hits for about 50 children, who come to the center for food and basic hygiene needs.

"The children are not in the habit of having guests like (the USAFE Band) here," said Alain Djeudji, one of the center's volunteers. "When they have something like music they try to enjoy themselves. They are so happy."

In addition to the gift of music the band members organized a donation drive before the trip and gave the center two boxes full of toys and clothes.

"(The band) brought them a gift that will be a big pleasure to them to have, like clothes and shoes," said Djeudji.

The children at the center also expressed their appreciation for the day of music and dancing.

"It was so nice," said Ibrahim Abdi Ali, a refugee from Ethiopia. "They [the other children] were so happy you could see in their face and it was so wonderful for everyone."

The day was a unique experience for the center's children.

"That's the kind of thing you don't do with a jet or a gun," said Cockerham. "That is only accomplished through this medium. It is an amazing testimony to the capabilities of soft power in the Air Force, particularly the bands."

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