Military.com reports that “about 350 of the expected 4,000 troops authorized to combat the Ebola epidemic have now arrived in West Africa more than two weeks after President Obama pledged that the U.S. would lead the international effort against the virus, the Pentagon said Monday.”  

“More than 300 of the troops were in Liberia while the rest were in Senegal, which is projected to serve as a staging base for the movement of medical supplies and personnel into the region where Ebola has hit hardest in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.”  

“The troops in Liberia, including Navy Seabees, were expected to have a small 25-bed facility for health care workers showing Ebola symptoms up and running by the middle of October, said Army Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman. The 25-bed facility was on the outskirts of Roberts International Airport in Monrovia, the Liberian capital, Warren said.”  

Stars and Stripes adds: “The first Europe-based U.S. military aircraft based here departed early Monday for Liberia on what is expected to be one of many flights taking supplies to West Africa to help with the Ebola outbreak there.”  

“Before daylight, airmen loaded six pallets of cargo, including bottled water and portable food rations – Meals, Ready to Eat – onto the rear ramp of a C-130J Super Hercules on Ramstein’s flight line.”