Photos

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. pins the Distinguished Flying Cross on Tech. Sgt. Katherine Rosa Orellana at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Nov. 17, 2022, for her heroic efforts during Operation Allies Refuge. During Operation Allies Refuge, airmen banded together to evacuate approximately 124,000 American citizens and Afghan evacuees.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Andrew Dusap helps an Afghan guest put together a kite during a festival at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Nov. 25, 2021.

Air Force 1st Lt. Amber Reichart teaches an Afghan child how to knit during a fall celebration at Liberty Village, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Nov. 13, 2021.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Sarah Fisher, a linguist with Task Force Quantico, holds an Afghan baby on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Oct. 12, 2021. The Defense Department through Northern Command, 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 as quickly as possible. This initiative provides the Afghans essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan.

An Afghan mother plays with her child at the humanitarian tent at Fort Bliss’ Doña Ana Complex, N.M., Sept. 29, 2021. The Defense Department, 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.

Marines unload supplies destined for Afghan evacuees at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Sept. 23, 2021.

A soldier helps Afghan evacuees search for items of clothing at a donation center as part of Operation Allies Welcome at Fort McCoy, Wis., Sept. 23, 2021. Clothing donations have come from across the Midwest to help Afghan evacuees.

Air Force 1st Lt. Annie Darroch, a registered nurse with the 96th Medical Group, provides a COVID-19 vaccine to an Afghan individual at Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 18, 2021. The Defense Department, through 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.

Army Cpl. Serina Perez performs a COVID-19 test on an Afghan evacuee in support of Operation Allies Welcome at Fort Bliss’ Doña Ana Complex in New Mexico, Sept. 16, 2021.

Army Pvt. 1st Class Kylee Herron hands a stuffed dog to an Afghan child during a toy giveaway at Fort Lee, Va., Sept. 15, 2021.

A soldier ties a wristband onto an Afghan evacuee at Fort McCoy, Wis., Sept. 1, 2021. Wristbands are to help ensure Afghan personnel remain safe and secure.

Afghan evacuees wave from temporary lodging pods during Operation Allies Refuge at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 14, 2021. Ramstein transformed into U.S. European Command’s primary evacuation hub, supporting the largest, most complex humanitarian airlift operation in history.

Afghan families board a C-130H at the Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 11, 2021. The families were flown to Camp Atterbury, Ind., as part of Operation Allies Welcome.

Marines construct living quarters for incoming Afghan families at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Sept. 9, 2021.

Army Pfc. Riley Tiedt with the 2-127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division, Wisconsin National Guard, administers a COVID-19 vaccination to an Afghan evacuee during Operation Allies Welcome at Fort McCoy, Wi., Sept. 3, 2021. The Defense Department through 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.

An Afghan evacuee walks to a U.S. charter aircraft at Naval Station Rota, Spain, Sept. 8, 2021.

Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Degnan interacts with Afghan children at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Sept. 7, 2021.

A sailor and volunteers unload donations in support of Operation Allies Refuge at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, Sept. 2, 2021.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Glenn Malo and Sgt. Jorge Mercado prepare a water buffalo at Fort Bliss. N.M., Sept. 3, 2021. The Defense Department is providing support for Afghan evacuees.

An airman plays with an Afghan child at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Aug. 31, 2021.