U.S. service members participate in the Independence Day parade and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation activities around Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, July 4, 2026. This year America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, serves as an expeditionary base for U.S. military forces providing support to ships, aircraft and personnel that ensure security throughout Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia. The base enables maritime and combat operations in the Horn of Africa while fostering positive U.S.-Africa relations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric M. Stanton)
CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti (Aug. 25, 2025) — Hospital Corpsman Chief Select Kazia Marecheau, a Midcoast Maine native, has been selected for advancement to chief petty officer and for a direct commission into the Medical Service Corps after 15 years of naval service.
While forward-deployed to Camp Lemonnier with Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF), she will complete chief petty officer (CPO) initiation before returning stateside to commission as an active-duty social worker.
As a Navy reservist, Marecheau is assigned to USNS Comfort, a Mercy-class hospital ship homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, while working a civilian job at Sentara Healthcare. She pursued this deployment to challenge herself and open doors to future...
Spc. Andy Lopez-Chavez, a U.S. Army veterinarian technician assigned to the Expeditionary Medical Facility on Camp Lemonnier, provides K-9 Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training to service members at the Military Working Dog Kennel. This essential training ensures military working dog handlers and medical personnel are prepared to provide immediate, life-saving care to their K-9 partners in the event of an injury.
Camp Lemonnier is an operational installation that enables U.S., allied and partner nation forces to be where they are needed to ensure security and protect U.S. interests. The installation provides world-class support for service members, transient U.S. assets and 36 local tenant commands. (U.S. Navy video by Mass...
U.S. service members participate in the Independence Day parade and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation activities around Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, July 4, 2026. This year America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, serves as an expeditionary base for U.S. military forces providing support to ships, aircraft and personnel that ensure security throughout Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia. The base enables maritime and combat operations in the Horn of Africa while fostering positive U.S.-Africa relations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric M. Stanton)
