Ramstein Air Base

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Photo: Faiza Nguyen translates medical needs for evacuees during the evacuation operations at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 13, 2021. Nguyen was the only female translator for the first five days of the evacuation operation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Branden Rae)

The Ramstein Air Base in Germany was used as a 'lily pad' or transit base by the Department of Defense to house Afghan evacuees on a temporary basis until they are moved to the United States. Most of the evacuees came via the 'lily pads' located on U.S. Air Bases in the Middle East. The evacuees came from flights originating in Afghanistan, flown to a U.S. air base in the Middle East, and went through initial processing. From their they went to Ramstein Air Base for more thorough processing before flying to the United States.

Photo: Afghan evacuees board the final outbound flight to the United States from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Oct. 30, 2021. Intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals conducted screening and security vetting for all Afghans prior to their departure. This flight marked the completion of Ramstein’s role in the largest humanitarian airlift in history.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Milton Hamilton)

News Articles about Ramstein Air Base

October 14, 2022. "Escaping Afghanistan - Between Two Worlds - a Story of Loss", by Christopher Williams, Small Wars Journal. A former Airman who served as a Pashtu linguist provides interpreter duties at Ramstein Air Base, Germany during the Kabul NEO of August 2021.

October 31, 2021. "Ramstein Air Base Completes Role in Afghanistan Humanitarian Airlift", Afghan Report.

October 22, 2021. "Aviano supports Operation Allies Welcome", by Senior Airman Elihah Dority, DVIDS.

Photo: U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 86th Medical Support Squadron work in the Expeditionary Medical support system pharmacy set up for evacuees during Operation Allies Refuge at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 9, 2021. EMEDS Functions as an intermediary hospital for evacuees with more emergent medical needs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexcia Givens)

Photo: Matthew Jira, left, foreign service officer with US AID, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Angela Morrow, middle, assigned to 361st Civil Affairs Brigade, 7th Mission Support Command and civilian interpreter Lina Zaman speak with U.S. Citizens returning to the United States at Rhine Ordnance Barracks, Kaiserslautern, Germany, Aug. 30, 2021. The 361st Civil Affairs Brigade assists other agencies in the onward movement of Afghan evacuees as Operation Allies Refuge continues across the European Theater. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Megan Fischer)

Videos about Ramstein Air Base and Afghan Evacuation

October 30, 2021. "Bound for US: Last Afghan evacuees depart Ramstein", DVIDS, B-Roll, 3 minutes. See also this B-roll.