Photo By 1st Lt. Robert Dabbs | A family of Afghan guests pack up and prepare to depart Liberty Village, Joint Base...... read more read more
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Around 9:00 a.m. Sep. 17, 2021, U.S. Air Force Airmen from Liberty Villages’ cultural unity team helped an Afghan family successfully process out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. The Airmen packed and escorted the family via bus to the JB MDL visitor’s center, where their sponsor's vehicle waited to transport them to their mother, a U.S. citizen living in Michigan.
“We are going to Michigan, and it feels so good,” said one of the five daughters. “It has been seven years since we've seen our mom; it's a feeling you don't get all the time.”
The family of nine provided helpful translating services and communication with military personnel throughout the camp while they lived in the village. For Task Force Liberty’s night shift Airmen, Airman 1st Class Muhmmed Wleed and Senior Airman Alison Riley, the connections they made with the family had an incredible impact.
“Cultural Advisors are tasked with bridging the understanding between the Afghan and American cultures,” said Riley. “Seeing that family excited to start a new life and waving that final goodbye gave my mission here purpose. It helps give meaning to my definition of Operation Allies Welcomed.”
The cultural unity team has a mix of linguists, women, and those with similar cultural backgrounds to facilitate a good environment for Afghan guests. Although Wleed does not speak the most common languages of Dari or Pashto, his linguist capability in Urdu and cultural background made the difference.
“I met the daughters within my first two days at the village; I attempted to exchange greetings in Urdu and both of their eyes just lit up, and they smiled and started to talk, '' said Wleed. “Seeing someone from the U.S. military able to speak a language they know, who shares the same faith, is one of the key reasons why I think they felt comfortable speaking with me in a casual manner, despite the stressful and unique circumstances.”
From then on, Wleed said he made it a point to connect and soon realized that several daughters spoke excellent English. Like their father, the first volunteer English language teacher, they began sharing their skills with the rest of the village. For their contributions, they are receiving recognition and certificates of contributions from Lt. Col. Adam Howland, culture advisor, Task Force Liberty.
When news of the family being processed out of the village reached night-shift, Wleed and Riley volunteered first. They packed their items, transported boxes and bags to the bottom of the building, loaded everything onto the bus and ensured they made it to their sponsor outside the base several hours past their 12 hour shift.
“The bus ride was bittersweet, and as we spoke for the last time, they told me they would always remember what I did for them and said they wanted to see me again,” said Wleed. “I realized how deep of a connection I'd formed with the family in the span of three weeks. Once we put all of the luggage in the sponsor's vehicle, I told everyone in the car in Farsi ‘I love you all’, and they all replied ‘We love you too.’”
The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities, in permanent or temporary structures, as quickly as possible. This initiative provides Afghan personnel essential support at secure locations outside Afghanistan.”
| Date Taken: | 10.15.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 10.15.2021 17:07 |
| Story ID: | 407376 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ, US |
| Web Views: | 479 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Airmen Assist in Afghan Guest Departure, by Amn Colleen Coulthard, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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