diff --git a/makefiles/git-submodules.mk b/makefiles/git-submodules.mk
index 79809c3..24ad2b0 100644
--- a/makefiles/git-submodules.mk
+++ b/makefiles/git-submodules.mk
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@
 ## -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 ## Intent: Checkout submodules required by ci-management
 ## -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-submodule-repo := $(null)
-submodule-repo += global-jjb
-submodule-repo += lf-ansible
-submodule-repo += packer
+submodule-repos := $(null)
+submodule-repos += global-jjb
+submodule-repos += lf-ansible
+submodule-repos += packer
 
 submodule-deps := $(null)
 submodule-deps += submodules#     # named pseudo target
@@ -36,9 +36,14 @@
 
 .PHONY: $(submodule-deps)
 $(submodule-deps):
+	@echo
+	@echo "Checkout dependent submodules"
 	$(GIT) submodule init
 	$(GIT) submodule update
 
+# Abstraction: named target for submodule checkout
+checkout-ci-management-sub-modules: $(submodule-repos)
+
 ## -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 ## Intent: Revert sandbox to a pristine state.
 ## -----------------------------------------------------------------------