Sponsorship as Service: Welcoming Our Afghan Allies

2024-11-15T11:25:05-05:00

After 20 years in the United States Army, including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, I thought I knew what service meant. But civilian life introduced me to a new kind of mission — one that has enriched my life in ways I never expected.

As I approached the end of my military career in 2020, I knew I wanted to stay connected to the community and help our allies in a meaningful way. I had come across No One Left Behind, an organization supporting Iraqi and Afghan allies arriving in the U.S. through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Program. They were recruiting new board members in late 2019, and shortly after retiring, I had the opportunity to serve on the primarily veteran-led board as vice chairman (https://rly.pt/NoOneLeftBehind).

When I joined No One Left Behind, the organization was focused on resettlement and advocacy. However, when Kabul fell in 2021, our mission expanded dramatically. Suddenly, our country was faced with the challenge of resettling nearly 80,000 Afghan evacuees through a resettlement infrastructure that had welcomed just 11,400 refugees the year before. The handful of government-funded groups that had traditionally overseen all resettlement efforts were quickly overwhelmed with the volume of new arrivals, which created a bottleneck for evacuees in desperate need of refuge.

In the midst of this crisis, veterans and veteran-led organizations, businesses, faith communities, and Afghan-American organizations quickly stepped in to fill gaps and help Afghan families resettle successfully in communities all across the United States.

It was through this work that I met Dr. Latifa Hamidi. Latifa had worked with the U.S. Government as an interpreter and program manager, and No One Left Behind was trying to help get her family out of Afghanistan. As I spoke to Latifa, I was struck by our similarities — we were the same age — and the vast differences in our situations. A former medical doctor turned translator, Latifa was the SIV recipient for her family, an unusual circumstance for an Afghan woman. She faced a new and uncertain future in the United States with her husband and two young children.

As our relationship developed, I wanted to do whatever I could to support Latifa. Coincidentally, my home in Stephens City, Virginia was a duplex, and the previous tenants in one unit had just moved out. I had extra room. But this felt like more than coincidence — it was my chance to make a real difference for a family that was suddenly forced to rebuild their lives. Before long, Latifa and her family had moved in and lived with me for 15 months as Latifa found work as a translator and navigated re-entry into the medical field. Last fall, the family moved to Dallas, Texas where Latifa accepted a position with the Dallas Health Department and is currently working toward getting the certifications and credentials needed to obtain a position commensurate with the medical work she did in Afghanistan.

My friendship with Latifa has become one of the most rewarding parts of my life. Yet, the reality is, even three years after U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, there are still many Afghans living abroad who worked alongside American service members for two decades and are in desperate need of safety. Now, through new resettlement pathways established by the U.S. government, anyone looking to get involved in this same work has an opportunity to do so. The Welcome Corps (https://rly.pt/WelcomeCorps), a State Department program launched in January 2023, allows groups of Americans — including military veterans — to sponsor eligible Afghan refugees for resettlement in the United States. With sponsorship, communities come together to create the financial and social support systems to help our allies establish a new beginning. And nonprofit organizations like Welcome.US are making it easier for U.S. veterans and active military members to engage in sponsorship, by providing resources to support Welcome Corps sponsor groups (https://rly.pt/SponsorGroups).

Welcoming doesn’t have to be a huge gesture — you don’t even need to have an extra room in your duplex like I did. It can be as simple as helping refugee newcomers set up their new home or showing them the best place to get groceries in the neighborhood. For me, being a welcomer is about sharing the sense of home I have found since retiring from the military. Getting to know Latifa and her family has shown me that service to others does not end when you hang up your uniform. If anything, it marks the start of a new chapter — one where we can all play a part in helping our allies build a new life in safety and with hope for the future.

Nonprofit | No One Left Behind

No One Left Behind is the nation's oldest charitable organization dedicated to evacuating, resettling and advocating for our Afghan and Iraqi allies.

Response by SSG William Jones made Nov 15 at 2024 12:20 PM

2024-11-15T12:20:14-05:00

I pray that they will love our country.

Response by SPC Jeff Daley, PhD made Nov 15 at 2024 5:05 PM

2024-11-15T17:05:58-05:00

It is commendable that members of the military are offering assistance to those who aided the United States in Afghanistan. This is in stark contrast to the current administration's approach of allowing undocumented individuals to cross the border and transporting them into the country without proper vetting. The distinction between those who have earned the right to enter and those who have not is noteworthy.

Congratulations on this well-deserved endeavor.

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Nov 18 at 2024 6:02 PM

2024-11-18T18:02:26-05:00

Good afternoon LTC Private RallyPoint Member. Excellent post. Thank you for sharing this Ma'am. I'm sure they're finally happy to get away from that infamous Taliban over there.

Response by 1SG John Millan made Nov 21 at 2024 9:07 PM

2024-11-21T21:07:42-05:00

Great post colonel

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2024 10:04 AM

2024-11-22T10:04:42-05:00

This is an incredible story of service and dedication. As someone with a 35-year Army career, I deeply appreciate the commitment you’ve shown to continuing the mission beyond the uniform. Supporting our Afghan allies is not just an extension of the duty we all shared in uniform; it’s a testament to the enduring bonds formed during those challenging years.

Your example highlights that service doesn’t have to be monumental to be meaningful. Even small acts of kindness and connection can have a profound impact on those starting over in unfamiliar circumstances. Programs like the Welcome Corps are great opportunities for veterans and civilians alike to step up and support these families. Thank you for sharing your journey and for reminding us all that the mission continues — not on the battlefield, but in our own communities.

This is a call to action that speaks directly to our shared values: loyalty, service, and the responsibility to leave no one behind.

Response by PFC Nick Fullmer made Nov 28 at 2024 2:36 PM

2024-11-28T14:36:25-05:00

Simultaneously tragic and heartwarming. What our Afghan partners have had to endure is a travesty, and really puts into perspective how well we have it here, which is something most people don't understand.

Response by LTC George Morgan made Dec 1 at 2024 2:48 PM

2024-12-01T14:48:53-05:00

Saw this play out from before service in RVN and before. Can work out if treat people as human. Lived with Cubans from boatlift during college year. Knew refugees from WWI and a number from WWII while growing up in a coal town. Had a well over 100 South Vietnamese work for me in RVN. A number who had joined American Military in Europe and members from diverse military like the Polish free military service connected with service during time in Europe. People are people with their own ideas. Some go back to countries they came from, others have made very productive citizens during their long life time.

Response by LTC George Morgan made Dec 1 at 2024 2:50 PM

2024-12-01T14:50:35-05:00

Good luck on work. It is a worthwhile endeavor. Am sure a lot of them will appreciate our country.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Apr 17 at 2025 10:10 AM

2025-04-17T10:10:22-04:00

It’s amazing how small gestures-like helping someone find the nearest grocery store-can make a huge difference. Your work with No One Left Behind and the Welcome Corps really shows how we can keep serving even after leaving the military.

Response by CPT Francis Seminski made Jun 2 at 2025 4:56 PM

2025-06-02T16:56:00-04:00

Very enlightening!

Response by CW4 William Kessinger made Jun 3 at 2025 5:33 PM

2025-06-03T17:33:41-04:00

Sounds like she is going to make a great American.

Response by SFC Jerry McLellen made Jul 10 at 2025 2:21 PM

2025-07-10T14:21:19-04:00

Thank you Mariah for becoming involved with this resettlement program. That said, I fear that our present political situation could pull the plug on some, or all of these initiatives. Right now it doesn't appear that any immigrant, legal or otherwise is safe.

Response by Mustafa Ahmadi made Jul 15 at 2025 12:52 AM

2025-07-15T00:52:31-04:00

To my American brothers and sisters in uniform,
I served proudly alongside U.S. and coalition forces as a sergeant in the Afghan National Army. Like thousands of Afghan soldiers, I fought shoulder to shoulder with you — not just as allies, but as family.

Today, I and many others like me have been left behind. Despite our sacrifices, despite risking our lives in the name of shared values, we now live in fear — hunted, forgotten, and without protection.

This is not a call for pity. It’s a call for recognition, for solidarity, and for action. Many of us still believe in the promise we stood for together. We only ask that you don’t forget us

Response by Tj Pandolfino made Aug 26 at 2025 12:30 PM

2025-08-26T12:30:36-04:00

I see 50 and I also see 50 in relation to how I would feel but that’s OK thank you for sharing! There is good people everywhere!