During Operation Allies Welcome, a warehouse facility operated by Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella was converted temporarily to a housing facility for hundreds of evacuees from Afghanistan in August and September 2021 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, Italy. NAS Sigonella is supporting the Department of State mission to facilitate the safe relocation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigration Visa recipients, and vulnerable populations from Afghanistan. (U.S. Navy photo by Joe Yanik)

Capt. Douglas S. MacKenzie, commanding officer of Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella, responds to questions from evacuees from Afghanistan about the command's quality-of-life services at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Aug. 29, 2021. NAS Sigonella is currently supporting the Department of State mission to facilitate the safe departure and relocation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigration Visa recipients, and vulnerable populations from Afghanistan. (U.S. Navy photo by Joe Yanik)

Attendees of the Northern Europe Chiefs of Defense Conference took a few moments during the meeting to take a group photo on Sept. 30. The two-day event, which was co-hosted by the U.S. European Command and Finnish Defence Forces, brought together military leaders from 12 nations to discuss the security environment and its challenges in northern Europe and the Baltic Sea region.

Military leaders and their representatives from U.S.-Adriatic Charter nations and observer states posed for a group photo during the U.S.- Adriatic Charter Chiefs of Defense Conference Sept. 28, 2021 in Split, Croatia. During the conference, they discussed common approaches to address collective security threats and challenges related to regional security and defense issues.

Military leaders from U.S.-Adriatic Charter nations and observer states met during the U.S.-Adriatic Charter Chiefs of Defense Conference Sept. 28, 2021 in Split, Croatia. During the conference, they discussed common approaches to address collective security threats and challenges related to regional security and defense issues.

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Jeffrey Kenney, left, commanding officer of 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, and Swedish Marine Lieutenant Col. Joakim Kindahl, deputy commander of the 1st Swedish Marine Regiment, observe a Combat Boat 90 land ashore during Exercise Archipelago Endeavor on Berga Naval Base, Sweden, Sept. 22, 2021. Exercise Archipelago Endeavor is a multi-domain, field training exercise that focuses on regional engagements by conducting partnered, limited-scale maritime raids, and military-to-military collaboration and strengthens operational capabilities and strategic cooperation between the U.S. Marine Corps and Swedish Armed Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Paul Ortiz)

A U.S. Marine with the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, provides security near a Combat Boat 90 during Exercise Archipelago Endeavor near Berga Naval Base, Sweden, Sept. 22, 2021. Exercise Archipelago Endeavor is a multi-domain, field training exercise that focuses on regional engagements by conducting partnered, limited-scale maritime raids, and military-to-military collaboration and strengthens operational capabilities and strategic cooperation between the U.S. Marine Corps and Swedish Armed Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Paul Ortiz)

Gen. Jeff Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa commander, poses with a team of U.S. Air Force parajumpers at Eindhoven Airport ahead of their jump over the Netherlands, Sept. 18, 2021. During the exercise, U.S. forces conducted a series of integrated parachute drops alongside NATO allies from Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

Allied parajumpers participating in Falcon Leap 2021 float over a drop zone in the Netherlands, Sept. 18, 2021. During the exercise, U.S. forces conducted a series of integrated parachute drops alongside NATO allies from Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

Gen. Jeff Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa commander, receives parachute training at Eindhoven Airport, Netherlands, Sept. 17, 2021. Harrigian is jumping alongside NATO allies as part of Falcon Leap 2021 to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the Allied airborne mission Operation Market Garden during World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

Allied aircraft taxi along the runway at Eindhoven Airport, Netherlands, ahead of taking off to drop parajumpers for Falcon Leap 2021, Sept. 17, 2021. A multinational parachute exercise, Falcon Leap demonstrates the U.S.’s commitment to NATO allies who they have served alongside since World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

Gen. Jeff Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa commander, is fitted for a harness and parachute as part of Falcon Leap 2021 at Eindhoven Airport, Netherlands, Sept. 17, 2021. As a multinational parachute exercise, Falcon Leap commemorates the 77th anniversary of Operation Market Garden, an Allied airborne mission during World War II, designed to capture three major bridges to reach Germany’s industrial heartland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, and Swedish Marines with the 204th Rifle Company, 2nd Marine Battalion, 1st Swedish Marine Regiment, maneuver through water as part of an obstacle course during Exercise Archipelago Endeavor on Berga Naval Base, Sweden, Sept. 14, 2021. Exercise Archipelago Endeavor is a multi-domain, field training exercise that focuses on regional engagements by conducting partnered, limited-scale maritime raids, and military-to-military collaboration and strengthens operational capabilities and strategic cooperation between the U.S. Marine Corps and Swedish Armed Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Sarah Pysher)

Two Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade assist in repairing a privacy wall during Operation Allies Refuge at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 10, 2021. Ramstein Air Base is a transit center that provides a safe place for the evacuees to complete their paperwork while security and background checks are conducted before they continue on to their final destination. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Mort)

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Simon Ritchie, left, 86th Medical Group field response team chief, and Capt. Jeffery Rueben, center, 52nd Operational Medical Readiness Squadron physician assistant, provide medical check-ups for evacuees at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 31, 2021. Ramstein provides safe, temporary lodging for evacuees from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Refuge during the next several weeks. Medical technicians on base provide medicine and assistance for injuries or illnesses while evacuees with more serious concerns are transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for treatment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Slater)

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jeffrey Tremel, Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency independent medical technician, searches his backpack for medicine at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 31, 2021. Ramstein provides safe, temporary lodging for qualified evacuees from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Refuge mission over the course of the next several weeks. Medical technicians provide medicine and aid for injuries or illnesses while evacuees with more serious medical needs are transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for treatment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Slater)

U.S. Air Force Capt. Jeffery Rueben, center, left, 52nd Medical Readiness Squadron physician assistant, and U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jeffrey Tremel, right, Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency independent medical technician, provide a medical check-up for an evacuee at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 31, 2021. Ramstein provides safe, temporary lodging for evacuees from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Refuge over the course of the next several weeks. Medical technicians are available around the clock to provide assistance for evacuees in case of illness or injury. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Slater)

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jeffrey Tremel, Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency independent medical technician, examines an evacuee’s mouth at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 31, 2021. Ramstein provides safe, temporary lodging for evacuees from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Refuge operations over the course of the next several weeks. Medical technicians from various units within the European theater aided with providing medical care to evacuees. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Slater)

U.S. Air Force Capt. Danielle Holland, left, 48th Surgical Operations Squadron obstetrics and gynaecology technician, and U.S. Army Lt. Col. L. Rene Key, right, director of Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Obstetrics and Gynaecology Course at Ft. Hood, Texas, provide medical care to an evacuee at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 20, 2021. Ramstein provides safe, temporary lodging for evacuees from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Refuge over the course of the next several weeks. A medical pod with OBGYN care is available for expectant mothers and newborn babies in need of emergency treatment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Slater)

A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing, conducts aerial refueling operations with the 100th Air Refueling Wing during a Bomber Task Force mission over the Atlantic Ocean, Sept. 6, 2021. The stealth bombers integrated with Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft enhancing bomber interoperability with partners and allied nations.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III speaks to the force on the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.

U.S. Air Force Capts. Allyson Swift and Taylor Stephens, 37th Airlift Squadron instructor pilots, hug an evacuee during Operation Allies Refuge at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 4, 2021. The young girl wishes to become a pilot, so Swift and Stephens spoke with her about the U.S. Air Force and their experiences. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb S. Kimmell)

A banner hangs in the youth pod during Operation Allies Refuge at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 4, 2021. This banner has been signed by residents and visitors of the youth pod, a separate tent community on RAB for unaccompanied minors. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb S. Kimmell)

A banner hangs in the youth pod during Operation Allies Refuge at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 4, 2021. This banner has been signed by U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Melissa Dombrock, 76th Airlift Squadron commander, and Capts. Allyson Swiftand Taylor Stephens, 37th Airlift Squadron instructor pilots, who spoke to a young evacuee hoping to become a pilot. The youth pod is a separate lodging area on RAB for unaccompanied minors. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb S. Kimmell)

U.S. Air Force Capt. Allyson Swift, 37th Airlift Squadron instructor pilot, hugs a young evacuee during Operation Allies Refuge at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 4, 2021. The young girl wishes to become a pilot, so she asked three female pilots how to become a pilot and how to join the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb S. Kimmell)

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Melissa Dombrock, 76th Airlift Squadron commander, and Capts. Allyson Swift and Taylor Stephens, 37th Airlift Squadron instructor pilots, answer questions from a group of young evacuees during Operation Allies Refuge at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 4, 2021. The girls asked how to become a pilot and how to join the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb S. Kimmell)

U.S. Air Force Capt. Spencer Carrier, 86th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron physical therapist, stands in Pod one at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sep. 4, 2021. Carrier spends his time outside of work with his church to prepare food for evacuees and their families and also collects donations to pay for clothes, diapers and toys to donate to evacuees in support of Operation Allies Refuge. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Jared Lovett)

U.S. Air Force Capt. Spencer Carrier, 86th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron physical therapist, gathers bandages to give to evacuees at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sep. 5, 2021. Carrier addresses the medical needs of evacuees through dressing and changing wounds, evaluating patients and providing care to evacuees with orthopedic injuries. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Jared Lovett)

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kimberly Byers-Lund (left), a family physician and Army reserve-component Soldier, assigned to U.S. Army Health Clinic Kaiserslauter, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, and U.S. Maj. Jesus Chaves, chief nursing officer, U.S. Army Health Clinic Baumholder, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, evaluate an Afghan evacuee child as part of a medical team supporting Operation Allies Refuge at Ramstein Air Base, Aug. 26. The medical team is part of U.S. Armed Forces medical efforts in response to the Afghanistan evacuations at Ramstein Air Base, which has transformed itself into the logistical hub for the evacuation of people from Afghanistan.