record documentation continues to be a command responsibility. These events provide a centralized location for Afghans to access a wide variety of information and services, which include information and resources regarding public health, education, legal assistance, employment, social services, housing, and the U.S. immigration system. Most Afghan nationals arriving as part of the evacuation effort will be paroled into the United States on a case-by-case basis, for humanitarian reasons, for a period of two years. as members of U.S. military units, in a designated U.S. military operation BELEN The New Mexico National Guard hosted a Yellow Ribbon ceremony to say farewell to the soldiers of the 919th Military Police Company, who are deploying We were there for a little over two months. The U.S. government continues to take every precaution to stop the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases, consistent with CDC guidance. The White House said more than 3,200 U.S. citizens, permanent residents and refugees were evacuated from the country, and nearly 2,000 Afghan interpreters were flown to the U.S. for SIV processing. The next events will take place in Maryland and Virginia. By He later transferred to the Hawaii Army National Guard and the Pacific Army Reserve. Troops worked feverishly to process the deluge of Afghans that turned up at the airport and get them on flights to third countries such as Bahrain and Germany, where an "instant city" of refugees was run by airmen and soldiers. [21], On 15 August, Kabul fell to the Taliban. FORT LEE, Va. We could not be prouder of their efforts, acknowledged Brig. [44], Although the Taliban's conquest of the country led to the disintegration of the Afghan Armed Forces, an armed remnant of mostly 500 to 600 Afghan Commandos were at the airport helping U.S. troops provide perimeter security. [29] On August 18, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said U.S. military flights evacuated about 2,000 people, and said it has processed more than 4,840 people for evacuation. [26][27] U.S. Army Maj. General William Taylor said that nine C-17s arrived overnight, bringing equipment and 1,000 more troops. Washington (Sept. 3, 2021) Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas conducts a press conference to provide updates on Operation Allies [10][11] U.S. personnel also helped NATO and regional allies in their respective evacuation efforts from Hamid Karzai International Airport in the country's capital of Kabul. Some of us for LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas-- Members of Laughlins 86th Flying Training Squadron delivered quality-of-life essentials to Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico on Oct. 18, 2021 in support of Operation Allies Welcome. to: Navy Personnel Command (PERS 312), 5720 Integrity Drive, Millington, TN Christopher Michon, left, assigned to 773d Transportation Company, Fort Totten, New York, verifies an Afghan evacuees information during winter gear distribution at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Dec. 13, 2021. Tony [49], On 10 September, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced in a statement that 21 Americans and 11 legal citizens had evacuated from the country as the Taliban were allowing some departures. From the bases in the Middle East, the airliners would augment military flights carrying Afghans to Germany, Italy, Spain and other stops in Europe, and then ultimately to the United States. Christina Westover, 24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element). WebService during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan from February 2010 to February 2011. "Since World War II, the nation has recognized the extraordinary heroism of military units in action against an armed enemy with the Presidential Unit Citation," Austin said in a statement Wednesday. A lock DoD Support to Operation Allies Welcome WebSilver Star (7) Distinguished Flying Cross. BT Additionally, others worked as journalists, human rights activists, or humanitarian workers and had careers that put them at risk. Oct. 11, 2021 | 7:28. Written AOE locations: For more information on the Sponsor Circle Program and to learn how to apply to form a sponsor circle to support arriving Afghans, visitwww.sponsorcircles.org. WebOperation Noble Eagle 12-Sep-01; 2-Oct-01 New York City; Motor Vessel Fortuna and Fishing Vessel Consuelo Migrant Rescue 12-Jul-01 14-Jul-01; Coast of Costa Rica Carlos Enrique Official websites use .gov Your dedication ensured timely KC-30A logistics support in a difficult supply and sustainment environment. Indiana - Camp Atterbury Requests may be mailed authorized to Service members at non-listed AOE locations, provided the Tony, 10 hours ago Sgt. The Taliban officials agreed to terms set by McKenzie for refugees to flee using Kabul Airport. Additionally, Afghan nationals who are paroled into the United States are required to complete vaccinations for MMR, varicella, polio, COVID-19, and other age-appropriate vaccinations, as well as medical exams and health screenings, as a condition of their humanitarian parole. As with traditional resettlement processes, placement of individuals considers U.S.-based family and friends, housing availability, community capacity, and the needs and characteristics of each case. USCIS personnel are adjudicating applications for employment authorization, conducting other immigration processing, and providing administrative support, including translation services, to expedite the processing of applications for immigrant status and work authorization. Navy veterans. Video by Tech. in Navy Enlisted to Officer Forum | LDO, CWO, Commissioning, By #0001 OAR and OAW. Afghan humanitarian parolees paroled into the U.S. between July 31, 2021, through September 30, 2022, are eligible to apply for main-stream benefits, resettlement assistance, and other benefits available to refugees, until March 31, 2023, or the end of their parole term, whichever is later. FETs assist female Afghan guests with navigating in processing procedures and other issues and concerns they may have. By The Pentagon said it has evacuated about 7,000 people from the country. An official website of the United States government. Share Download Embed. Some Afghan humanitarian parolees are eligible to apply for federal mainstream benefits in their state, such as cash assistance through Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), health insurance through Medicaid, and food assistance through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). You should bring proof of your humanitarian parole and the date you received it. opposition or imminent hostile action. This is an official Department of Defense website, An official website of the United States government, Last Afghan guests depart from Liberty Village, Operation Allies Welcome - Operation Allies Refuge. providing direct support, such as those physically receiving, housing, Air Medal. Do not wait. 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). To lead the effort in support of Operation Allies Welcome, DHS established a Unified Coordination Group (UCG). The long-distance Hawaiian outrigger, the Hklea, on which he was a crew member, began taking on water 20 miles off Molokai. Ms. Ingraham, Ms. Herrera, and Ms. Berdinner, who represent the Operation Allies Welcome Resettlement Team, coordinated the largest resettlement effort in modern U.S. history, providing housing and services in record time to more than 72,000 Afghans in five months who fled from Afghanistan in 2021 after the fall of Kabul. Lee, Fort Pickett [17][18] On 13 August, Marines and Army National Guardsmen from 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and 1st Battalion, 194th Armored Regiment arrived in Kabul. Wisconsin - Fort McCoy; Some Afghan humanitarian parolees can also receive Afghan Placement and Assistance (APA) services from local refugee resettlement agencies. member: (1) was at a location providing direct support, such as physically c. As an exception, the requirement that a Service member deploy in Kiyana Santamaria, left, an Army motor transport operator, and Spc. Per references (b) and (c), the AFSM is a deployed service medal Secure .gov websites use HTTPS order to qualify for award of the AFSM is waived for members at locations For a list of state contacts go to: Now. c. Only one award of the AFSM may be received for participation in the DOD is providing temporary housing facilities for SIV applicants and other vulnerable Afghans at eight 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. As with other arrivals at U.S. ports of entry, Afghan nationals undergo a primary inspection when they arrive at a U.S. airport, and a secondary inspection is conducted as the circumstances require. Following the initiation, Professor Ozpin sorts the students into teams based on the relic they chose. [10][12] On 22 July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Averting Loss of Life and Injury by Expediting SIVs (ALLIES) Act to increase the visa cap for Afghan interpreters and to expedite the Afghan SIV process. The U.S. government is working around the clock to conduct the security screening and vetting of vulnerable Afghans before they are permitted entry into the United States, consistent with the dual goals of protecting national security and providing protection for our Afghan allies. The Pentagon has not provided any public updates or said when the formal policy will be issued. 2022. DHS deployed approximately 400 personnel from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration, United States Coast Guard, and United States Secret Service to Bahrain, Germany, Kuwait, Italy, Qatar, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates to conduct processing, screening, and vetting in coordination with the Departments of Defense (DOD) and State (DOS) and other federal agencies, and to conduct interviews as needed, with the goal of bringing to the United States Afghan nationals who worked for the United States, as well as other vulnerable Afghans. outlined in reference (a). More than 40 percent of Afghans who have arrived as a part of Operation Allies Welcome are eligible for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) because they took significant risks to support our military and civilian personnel in Afghanistan, employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Afghanistan or our coalition forces, or are a family member of someone who did. The Department of Homeland Security is not responsible for transmissions users receive from linked websites. In a matter of days, Task Force Holloman was able to erect tents for the 900 Airmen who would support Operation Allies Welcome at the base and assisted in building a living area capable of holding up to 5,000 Afghans. This initiative provides Afghan personnel essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan. award of the Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM). Additionally, all Afghans are required to undergo the same process as other persons arriving from outside the US: namely, additional inspection upon arrival and a secondary inspection as the circumstances require. New Mexico - Holloman Air Force Base The rigorous screening and vetting process, which is multi-layered and ongoing, involves biometric and biographic screenings conducted by intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals from DHS and DOD, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), and additional intelligence community partners. In addition, DOS is working with the Community Sponsorship Hub to support the launch of the Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans, a new program which enables groups of individuals and community organizations across the country to directly support Afghans who have been relocated to the United States under Operation Allies Welcome. In addition to Operation Allies Welcome, DOS is managing referrals to the U.S. [34] On 21 August, United States Army Major General William D. Taylor announced that 17,000 people have been evacuated in the past few weeks, including 2,500 Americans. deemed to be a significant activity and encountered no foreign armed Failure to fulfill these conditions may cause individuals to have their work authorization denied, and potentially to have their parole terminated, which could lead to detention and removal proceedings. My unit was the primary unit at camp atterbury for operation Allies welcome. 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