The Department of Defense authorized Fort Lee, Va.; Fort McCoy, Wis.; Fort Bliss, Texas; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.; Fort Pickett, Va.; and Holloman AFB, N.M. to provide temporary housing and support for vulnerable Afghans in support of Operation Allies Refuge.
Approximately 19 service members from the Connecticut Air National Guard’s 103rd Airlift Wing will deploy to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to assist in these efforts as part of the task force located there.
“These Airmen volunteered to help fulfill our nation’s commitment to assist our vulnerable Afghan allies,” said Maj. Gen. Francis Evon. “Our people are trained professionals who understand the urgency, complexity and importance of this mission and will be providing the necessary logistical and medical support.”
U.S. Northern Command is the Department of Defense’s lead combatant command for this mission in the continental United States and is providing oversight in support of the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security. U.S. Army North, as U.S. Northern Command’s Joint Force Land Component Command, is the lead operational command for this mission. The task force at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst will provide the housing, medical, logistics, and transportation support.
We are proud to provide support to the task force at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in working with U.S. Army North, U.S. Northern Command and the Department of Defense team, to support the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security with this mission.
