Fort Hood Deploying Troops To Help Afghan Evacuee Mission

Some of Central Texas' very own will be sent to Afghanistan in an effort to provide support as part of a task force with Fort McCoy and Fort Bliss.

According to a press release from Fort Hood, the task force at Fort McCoy and Fort Bliss will provide housing, medical, logistics, and transportation support to specified Afghan Special Immigration Visa applicants and their families, and possibly other vulnerable Afghans.

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“When our Nation calls, III Corps and Fort Hood answer with action; our troops remain ready to respond to any mission,” said Col. Myles Caggins, III Corps and Fort Hood spokesperson. “The III Corps engineers, military police, medics, and logistics soldiers—men and women—deploying to these temporary housing sites will enable the Department of State to safely and securely process the Afghan evacuees.”

“III Corps Soldiers first deployed to Afghanistan in January 2002 and have continually rotated in the Middle East and South Asia since; the Operation Allies Refuge mission is a challenge our troops are trained for,” said Caggins. “Helping U.S. citizens, vulnerable Afghans and other evacuees is another example of the vast capability and talent of our III Corps and Fort Hood Soldiers.”

“As part of III Corps’ ‘People First’ initiative, prior to deploying, each soldier when through a standard process for medical screening, financial preparedness, and family support services orientation,” said Caggins.

Approximately 1,022 service members from III Corps from Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Carson, Colorado; Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; and Fort Riley, Kansas will provide support to Fort McCoy and Fort Bliss to assist in these efforts as part of the task force located there.

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