Afghanistan evac operations: Airmen experiences

“I do my 12-hour shift at my traditional job as well as a 12-hour shift volunteering here, alternating between the two. I am happy to be here, honestly, seeing firsthand how much these people have lost and being able to help them. It opens your eyes. You get to see just how much there really is to lose. They are coming here trying to run away from all of it, and they ran away with so little. It does get me a little bit emotional. It's sad to see the position they are in. I’m grateful to be able to contribute by helping hand out supplies, helping with crowd control. Everything about this operation has made such an impact on me.” – Senior Airman John Smith 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. Service members of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, as well as other supporting agencies are working 24/7 to support ongoing evacuation operations out of Afghanistan Aug. 21, 2021, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. As part of the operation, thousands of qualified evacuees continue to arrive here from Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan, on board multiple military aircraft. The Department of Defense is committed to supporting the evacuation of American citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other at-risk individuals from Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexandria Lee)