11:09 AM8/23/2021

A U.S. Navy Sailor assists an Afghan evacuee aboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, Aug. 22, 2021. NAS Sigonella is currently supporting the Department of Defense mission to facilitate the safe departure and relocation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigration Visa recipients, and vulnerable Afghan populations from Afghanistan.

11:09 AM8/23/2021

Ens. Galgana assists an Afghan evacuee aboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, Aug. 22, 2021. NAS Sigonella is currently supporting the Department of Defense mission to facilitate the safe departure and relocation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigration Visa recipients, and vulnerable Afghan populations from Afghanistan.

11:09 AM8/23/2021

Children enjoy bubbles and toys provided by the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) at Naval Air Station Sigonella Aug. 22, 2021. NAS Sigonella is currently supporting the Department of Defense mission to facilitate the safe departure and relocation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigration Visa recipients, and vulnerable Afghan populations from Afghanistan.

9:03 AM8/23/2021

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 41st Field Artillery Brigade, 7th Army Training Command, work together to set up cots at Camp Kasserine at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Aug. 22, 2021. The 7th ATC and the local community rallied to support the possibility of Afghan evacuees temporarily lodging here before their onward movement to a more permanent location. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Stewart)

9:02 AM8/23/2021

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 41st Field Artillery Brigade, 7th Army Training Command, work together to set up cots at Camp Kasserine at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Aug. 22, 2021. The 7th ATC and the local community rallied to support the possibility of Afghan evacuees temporarily lodging here before their onward movement to a more permanent location. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Stewart)

9:02 AM8/23/2021

U.S. Army employees use a forklift to move a mobile outdoor lighting unit to prepare for the possibility of supporting incoming Afghan evacuees at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Aug. 22, 2021. U.S. Army Europe and Africa is working hand-in-hand with host nations, the joint force and interagency partners to provide temporary lodging, medical and logistical support as part of Operation Allies Refuge. Operation Allies Refuge is facilitating the quick, safe evacuation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other at-risk Afghans from Afghanistan. Qualified evacuees will receive support, such as temporary lodging, food, medical screening and treatment and more, while housed at the Rhein Ordnance Barracks (Kaiserslautern), Germany, and Grafenwoehr, Germany, in preparation for onward movements to their final destinations. This initiative follows through on America’s commitment to Afghan citizens who have helped the United States, and provides them essential support at secure locations, where they and their families can complete the SIV process safely. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jacob Bradford)

8:56 AM8/23/2021

8:55 AM8/23/2021

U.S. Soldiers assigned to 7th Army Training Command’s units prepare a dining facility for the possibility of supporting transient Afghan evacuees at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Aug. 22, 2021. U.S. Army Europe and Africa is working hand-in-hand with host nations, the joint force and interagency partners to provide temporary lodging, medical and logistical support as part of Operation Allies Refuge. Operation Allies Refuge is facilitating the quick, safe evacuation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other at-risk Afghans from Afghanistan. Qualified evacuees will receive support, such as temporary lodging, food, medical screening and treatment and more, while housed at the Rhein Ordnance Barracks (Kaiserslautern), Germany, and Grafenwoehr, Germany, in preparation for onward movements to their final destinations. This initiative follows through on America’s commitment to Afghan citizens who have helped the United States, and provides them essential support at secure locations, where they and their families can complete the SIV process safely.

8:25 AM8/23/2021

Large tents with the capacity of over 40 beds have been repurposed to possibly host Afghan evacuees at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Aug. 22, 2021. U.S. Army Europe and Africa is working hand-in-hand with host nations, the joint force and interagency partners to provide temporary lodging, medical and logistical support as part of Operation Allies Refuge. Operation Allies Refuge is facilitating the quick, safe evacuation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other at-risk Afghans from Afghanistan. Qualified evacuees will receive support, such as temporary lodging, food, medical screening and treatment and more, while housed at the Rhein Ordnance Barracks (Kaiserslautern), Germany, and Grafenwoehr, Germany, in preparation for onward movements to their final destinations. This initiative follows through on America’s commitment to Afghan citizens who have helped the United States, and provides them essential support at secure locations, where they and their families can complete the SIV process safely. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jacob Bradford)

8:24 AM8/23/2021

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 86th Civil Engineer Group set up pods as part of Operation Allies Refuge at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 22, 2021. Ramstein is providing temporary lodging to qualified evacuees from Afghanistan while they await onward transportation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Edgar Grimaldo)

8:23 AM8/23/2021

Airmen assigned to the 86th Communication Squadron help build a tent at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 20, 2021. Ramstein Air Base is providing safe, temporary lodging for qualified evacuees from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Refuge during the next several weeks. Operation Allies Refuge is facilitating the quick, safe evacuation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other at-risk Afghans from Afghanistan. Qualified evacuees will receive support, such as temporary lodging, food, medical screening and treatment and more, while housed at Ramstein Air Base while preparing for onward movements to their final destinations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jan K. Valle)

8:23 AM8/23/2021

U.S. Air Force Airmen play soccer with Afghan evacuees at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 21, 2021. Ramstein Air Base is providing safe, temporary lodging for evacuees from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Refuge. This operation is facilitating the quick, safe evacuation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants, and other at-risk Afghans from Afghanistan. Evacuees will receive support, such as temporary lodging, food and water and access to medical care as well as religious care at Ramstein Air Base while preparing for onward movements to their final destinations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Edgar Grimaldo)

8:22 AM8/23/2021

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to Ramstein Air Base set up cots at a hangar on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 19, 2021. Ramstein Air Base is providing safe, temporary lodging for qualified evacuees from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Refuge during the next several weeks. Operation Allies Refuge is facilitating the quick, safe evacuation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other at-risk Afghans from Afghanistan. Qualified evacuees will receive support, such as temporary lodging, food, medical screening and treatment and more at Ramstein Air Base while preparing for onward movements to their final destinations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Edgar Grimaldo)

8:22 AM8/23/2021

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to Ramstein Air Base set up cots at a hangar on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 19, 2021. Ramstein Air Base is providing safe, temporary lodging for qualified evacuees from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Refuge during the next several weeks. Operation Allies Refuge is facilitating the quick, safe evacuation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other at-risk Afghans from Afghanistan. Qualified evacuees will receive support, such as temporary lodging, food, medical screening and treatment and more at Ramstein Air Base while preparing for onward movements to their final destinations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Edgar Grimaldo)

8:21 AM8/23/2021

U.S. Airmen assigned to Ramstein Air Base, Germany help set up tents at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 19, 2021. Ramstein Air Base is providing safe, temporary lodging for qualified evacuees from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Refuge during the next several weeks. Operation Allies Refuge is facilitating the quick, safe evacuation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other at-risk Afghans from Afghanistan. Qualified evacuees will receive support, such as temporary lodging, food, medical screening and treatment and more, while housed at Ramstein Air Base while preparing for onward movements to their final destinations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Edgar Grimaldo)

8:19 AM8/23/2021

Volunteers assemble additional cots inside a hangar at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 21, 2021. Ramstein Air Base is providing safe, temporary lodging for evacuees from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Refuge. This operation is facilitating the quick, safe evacuation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants, and other at-risk Afghans from Afghanistan. Evacuees will receive support, such as temporary lodging, food and water and access to medical care as well as religious care at Ramstein Air Base while preparing for onward movements to their final destinations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Kimmell)

8:18 AM8/23/2021

U.S. Air Force medical technicians speak with Afghan evacuees at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 21, 2021. Ramstein Air Base is providing safe, temporary lodging for evacuees from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Refuge during the next several weeks. Operation Allies Refuge is facilitating the quick, safe evacuation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other at-risk Afghans from Afghanistan. Evacuees will receive support, such as temporary lodging, food, medical screening, treatment and more at Ramstein Air Base while preparing for onward movements to their final destination. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Manuel Zamora)

8:18 AM8/23/2021

A group of Afghan evacuees depart a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 20, 2021. Ramstein Air Base is providing safe, temporary lodging for qualified evacuees from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Refuge during the next several weeks. Operation Allies Refuge is facilitating the quick, safe evacuation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other at-risk Afghans from Afghanistan. Qualified evacuees will receive support such as temporary lodging, food, medical screening, treatment and more at Ramstein Air Base while preparing for onward movements to their final destination. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Slater)

8:17 AM8/23/2021

Medical support personnel from the 86th Medical Group help an Afghan mother and family off a U.S. Air Force C-17, call sign Reach 828, moments after she delivered a child aboard the aircraft upon landing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 21. During an evacuation flight from an Intermediate Staging Base in the Middle East, the mother went into labor and began experiencing complications due to low blood pressure. The aircraft commander made the decision to descend in altitude to increase air pressure in the aircraft, which helped stabilize and save the mother’s life. Upon landing, Airmen from the 86th MDG came aboard and delivered the child in the cargo bay of the aircraft. The baby girl and mother were transported to a nearby medical facility and are in good condition. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

9:45 AM8/10/2021

The COVID-19 vaccine will be mandatory for service members by mid-September, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in a message to the force released today.