DoD Support to Operation Allies Welcome

The Secretary of Defense has approved for the Department of Defense (DoD), through U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), to provide to the Department of State (DoS) temporary housing, sustainment and support inside the United States for Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) principal applicants, their families, and other individuals at risk. DoD will provide support for up to 50,000 individuals at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. Support will be provided on DoD installations and potentially at contracted non-DoD land and facilities.

Fulfilling America's Commitment
Assisting Resettled Afghans

DoD Support to Operation Allies Welcome
On August 29, 2021, President Biden directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to lead and coordinate efforts across the federal government in support of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW). OAW assisted vulnerable Afghan nationals, to include those who worked alongside the United States in Afghanistan for the past two decades, as they safely resettled in the United States (DHS.gov/AlliesWelcome).

The Department of Defense (DoD), through U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), provided temporary housing, sustainment and support inside the United States to Afghans on eight DoD installations: Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia; Fort Pickett, Virginia; Fort Lee, Virginia; Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico; Fort McCoy, Wisconsin; Fort Bliss, Texas; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; and Camp Atterbury, Indiana. For nearly six months, these installations hosted 72,600 Afghans prior to their resettlement throughout the United States. The final Afghans were resettled from the last open installation at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on February 19, 2022.

Link to photos from Operation Allies Welcome

Timeline for departure of last Afghan Nationals from U.S. military bases.

February 19, 2022 - Departure of last Afghan Nationals from all U.S. military bases

February 15, 2022 - Departure of last Afghan Nationals from Fort McCoy

February 2, 2022 - Departure of last Afghan Nationals from Fort Pickett

January 26, 2022 - Departure of last Afghan Nationals from Camp Atterbury

January 26, 2022 - Departure of last Afghan Nationals from Holloman Air Force Base

December 31, 2022 - Departure of last Afghan Nationals from Fort Bliss

December 23, 2022 - Departure of last Afghan Nationals from Quantico

November 17, 2022 - Departure of last Afghan Nationals from Fort Lee

Assisting Resettled Afghans

Refugee resettlement would not be possible without the support of state and local governments, our resettlement partners and affiliates, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, advocacy groups, and volunteers.

Tens of thousands of people in local communities across the United States ensure the success of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) by welcoming and helping integrate refugees from around the world. Those with an interest in assisting resettled Afghans and refugees are encouraged to reach out to their local refugee resettlement agency for information about support opportunities within their community.

A list of resettlement agencies and affiliate contacts can be found at http://www.wrapsnet.org.

OAW News Archive

May 2, 2022

Gender advisors support Operation Allies Welcome mission

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

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

March 17, 2022

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

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.

Feb. 19, 2022

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

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.

Feb. 16, 2022

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

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

OAW Photos

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OAW Video

Video by Tech. Sgt. Rion Ehrman

Last Afghan guests depart from Liberty Village

Operation Allies Welcome - Operation Allies Refuge

Feb. 19, 2022 | 1:34

Task Force-Liberty members assist the last Afghan guests in their departure from Liberty Village at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurtst, Feb 19. 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. (U.S. Air Force video by Tech. Sgt. Rion Ehrman)