News Archive

May 2, 2022

Gender advisors support Operation Allies Welcome mission

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. — Throughout the duration of Department of Defense (DoD) support to Operation Allies Welcome, U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) led the effort to provide gender advisory support to this Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-led, interagency operation to resettle Afghan evacuees in the United States.

March 25, 2022

A Diplomat’s Perspective on Operation Allies Welcome and the Importance of a Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Perspective

Bureau of Political-Military Affairs — In mid-July of 2021, I found myself serving as the Department’s sole Foreign Policy Advisor (POLAD) at North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). This was when the crisis planning began for evacuating our Afghan allies, which eventually brought almost 80,000 Afghans to safety in the United

Soldiers assigned to Task Force Liberty wave goodbye to Afghan guests.

March 17, 2022

DOD ceases Afghan Evacuee Safe Haven operations at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. — U.S. Northern Command concluded DoD installation support to Operation Allies Welcome with the closure of safe haven operations at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., March 15.

Spc. Kiyana Santamaria, left, an Army motor transport operator, and Spc. Jessica Koroma, a religious affairs specialist with 377th Transportation Company, 142nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Armored Division, interacts with Afghan children while serving as a member of a female engagement team in support of Operation Allies Welcome at Fort Bliss’ Doña Ana Complex in New Mexico, Sept. 11, 2021. FETs assist female Afghan guests with navigating in processing procedures and other issues and concerns they may have. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan personnel essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christina Westover, 24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element)

Feb. 19, 2022

Operation Allies Welcome Announces Departure of All Afghan Nationals from U.S. Military Bases

WASHINGTON — Operation Allies Welcome announced that all remaining Afghan evacuees have departed Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, where they have been temporarily housed since evacuating Afghanistan, to be resettled in their new communities across the nation.

U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Christopher Michon, left, assigned to 773d Transportation Company, Fort Totten, New York, verifies an Afghan evacuee’s information during winter gear distribution at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Dec. 13, 2021.

Feb. 16, 2022

Operation Allies Welcome Announces Departure of Last Afghan Nationals from Fort McCoy, Wisconsin

WASHINGTON — Today, the last group of Afghan nationals temporarily housed at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin as part of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) departed the base.

A sailor with Task Force Pickett, assists an Afghan evacuee during their final departure at Fort Pickett, Virginia on Feb. 1, 2022. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan personnel essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Intriago)

Feb. 3, 2022

Operation Allies Welcome Announces Departure of Last Afghan Nationals from Fort Pickett, Virginia

FORT PICKETT, Va. — The last group of Afghan nationals temporarily housed at Fort Pickett, Virginia as part of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) departed the base.

Afghan guests loaded bags into a charter bus to depart to their new homes as their last step in the resettlement process during Operation Allies Welcome, Jan. 7, 2022. Through the Afghan Placement and Assistance Program (APA), individuals are placed in communities across the country to begin rebuilding their lives. This initiative provides essential support at secure locations outside of Afghanistan. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities in permanent or temporary structures as quickly as possible. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Trinity Carter)

Jan. 27, 2022

Operation Allies Welcome Announces Departure of Last Afghan Nationals from Camp Atterbury, Indiana

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, the last group of Afghan nationals temporarily housed at Camp Atterbury, Indiana as part of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) departed the base.

Senior Airman Taylor McAfee, financial operations technician, 88th Comptroller Squadron, currently assigned as Task Force-Liberty Joint Readiness Center non-medical escort, teaches English phrases to Afghan children in Liberty Village on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Feb. 1, 2022. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 11,000 Afghan evacuees at Liberty Village, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan personnel essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan

Jan. 20, 2022

Human Security at Task Force Liberty

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. — At Task Force Liberty, staff are committed to providing safe, secure, dignified and equitable access to information, goods and services to the entire guest population as they await resettlement in the United States. To do this, leadership and staff at every level have taken a human-centered approach to the mission.

Corina Stahl, an Activity Lead for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, coordinates “Kite Day” for Afghan children at Camp Atterbury, Ind., Oct. 21, 2021, as part of Operation Allies Welcome. Children decorated and flew kites alongside Soldiers and their inter-agency partners. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities in permanent or temporary structures as quickly as possible. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Trinity Carter / 14th Public Affairs Detachment)

Nov. 4, 2021

Task Force Atterbury: Coming together during Operation Allies Welcome

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. — Sacrifice is such a strong word for the public. At times this word can be overlooked and forgotten. However, through Operation Allies Welcome, sacrifice is anything but overlooked.

U.S. Army Capt. Breanna Alis, attached to 10th Field Hospital, Task Force McCoy, vaccinates an Afghan evacuee during a mass vaccination campaign at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Sept. 16, 2021, as part of Operation Allies Welcome. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan personnel essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Rhianna Ballenger, 55th Signal Company)

Oct. 4, 2021

Operation Allies Welcome Completes Vaccination Campaign for Measles and Varicella for Afghan Evacuees

WASHINGTON — Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) has completed a historic and nationwide vaccination campaign for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), and varicella (chickenpox) to Afghan evacuees who are temporarily staying at eight military installations in the United States.

Golnoosh Hakimdavar, who has a doctorate in law and economics, works as a cultural liaison for the Interagency Coordination Center in support of Operation Allies Welcome, translates to guests during the 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade combat team, 1st Armored Division women’s town hall at Fort Bliss’ Doña Ana Complex in New Mexico, Sept. 22, 2021. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan personnel essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Briaira Tolbert, 1st Armored Division Sustainment Brigade)

Sept. 30, 2021

Female engagement team continues to evaluate female evacuees needs at Fort Bliss’ Doña Ana Complex

FORT BLISS, N.M. — Afghan evacuee women at Fort Bliss’ Doña Ana Complex in New Mexico meet weekly with female leaders to address their concerns and ease their transition into American life.

Gen. Glen VanHerck (right), Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command takes a walking tour through Afghan neighborhoods at Fort McCoy with Task Force McCoy senior leaders, Senior Fort McCoy Garrison Commander and Commanding General of the 88th Readiness Division, Maj. Gen. Darrell Guthrie, and Task Force McCoy Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Christopher Norrie (left) on September 26, 2021. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan evacuees essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan. (U.S. Army Photo by SPC Froylan Grimaldo / 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

Sept. 27, 2021

Gen. VanHerck visits Task Force McCoy

FORT MCCOY, Wisc. — Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command visited Task Force McCoy at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, September 26, 2021.

Pfc. Eulalia Andres, center, assigned to 1st Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, and member of the female engagement team, learns how to speak Pashto and Dari from Afghan evacuees, Sept. 1, 2021, at Fort Bliss' Doña Ana Complex in New Mexico. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan personnel essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Quintin Gee, 24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element)

Sept. 1, 2021

Fort Bliss creates team to better assist female Afghan evacuees

FORT BLISS, Texas — While on patrol at Fort Bliss' Doña Ana Complex in New Mexico in her new role as officer in charge of the female engagement team, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Morgan Spare, a military intelligence officer, was fondly embraced by a young female Afghan evacuee.

Fort Pickett to support Operation Allied Refuge

Aug. 26, 2021

Fort Pickett to support Operation Allies Refuge

RICHMOND, Va. — Fort Pickett, Virginia, will support the State Department in providing temporary housing and sustainment for Afghan Special Immigration Visa applicants, their families and other at-risk individuals, according to a formal announcement made Aug. 25, 2021, by the Department of Defense.

Several buses line up near large temporary structures.

Aug. 6, 2021

Fort Lee Supports Afghan Relocation

FORT LEE, Va. — Task Force Eagle at Fort Lee, Va., is supporting the mission of relocating up to 3,500 Afghan special immigrant applicants in support of the State Department and as directed by the Defense Department.

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