AFGfree
AFGfree is a U.S. based NGO and 501(c)(3) consisting of a volunteer group of U.S. Special Forces veterans and citizens. AFGfree was created in order to evacuate U.S. citizens and their families, as well as Afghan allies, following the Fall of Kabul. After the initial chaos, AFGfree obtained “safe houses”, provided “food drops”, support for several orphanages, U.S. Visa assistance, and hostage negotiation.[1] Upon the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, AFGfree brought their evacuation and humanitarian aid program into Europe, while offering assistance to Taiwan in the event of future conflict.[2]
History
AFGfree was founded by U.S. Special Forces Green Beret, Lieutenant Colonel Perry Blackburn, on August 23, 2021.[3] After hearing reports that U.S. Citizens and their Afghan allies were being hunted by the Taliban in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal and collapse of the Afghan Government, he and a team of other special forces veterans and U.S. citizens, along with many other organizations, created networks on the Signal app in order to securely evacuate, hide, and assist individuals trapped in Afghanistan.[4] Prior to the foundation of AFGfree, several of the original members were part of the earlier, larger evacuation effort often referred to as Task Force Pineapple.[5]
On May 15, 2023, US Veteran, Green Beret, and AFGfree partner, Nicholas Maimer, was killed in Ukraine during the Battle of Bakhmut.[6][7] His body was filmed by Wagner Group Mercenaries, including Yevgeny Prigozhin, and posted to Telegram.[8] [9] AFGfree led repatriation efforts.[10] On May 25, 2023, Prigozhin appeared in an interview on CNN, reporting that he had returned Nicholas to Ukrainian control earlier that day.[11]
Several of the existing board members and partners operating in Ukraine were posted to a Russian Telegram channel named TrackANaziMerc, a website known for targeting individuals participating in pro-Ukraine efforts, and part of a broader Russian disinformation campaign.[12][13]
Notable Operations
Afghanistan
The Umbrella Pax
On August 24, 2021, AFGfree conducted harrowing operations now known as 'The Umbrella Pax' mission. Nine individuals trapped in Kabul were shepherded by members of AFGfree, directing them to a large umbrella at HKIA. AFGfree had been informed they were allotted seats on a flight out of the country and they needed to bring their passengers to the airport as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the Kabul airport was in total chaos. Several families were instructed in the Signal chat to meet under the umbrella near Abby Gate; that would become their rally point where they would meet for several days. Satellite imaging of the airport and surrounding grounds were obtained in order to assist the individuals in navigating through Taliban checkpoints. The overall operation took more than 3 days to complete, and occurred during the time of the 2021 airport suicide bombing. All nine passengers made it safely on board and into the United States.
Ukraine
In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, AFGfree activated their network of Ukrainian partners, sent some of their team in-country, and began providing medical supplies and other humanitarian aid.[14][15] By May 2022, founder Perry Blackburn journeyed to Kyiv and began working alongside the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces and fellow Green Beret, Nicholas Maimer.[16][17][18][19]
Organization
Volunteers
AFGfree's register of volunteers consists of U.S. special forces veterans, active duty service members, former U.S. and foreign Intelligence Community members, U.S. Department of Defense personnel, elected officials, intelligence analysts, diplomats, military aviators, former special operators, attorneys, and others in the defense industry. The volunteers operate primarily in Signal chat groups and work with a large coalition of similar organizations. Their primary goal is to coordinate medical efforts, raise funds, implement evacuation and exfiltration strategies, cooperate with Department of State initiatives, bring food and shelter to denied areas, and navigate the SIV immigration process. The organization is run by LTC Perry Blackburn, LTC Ed Clark, Maureen Boyette, Alanna Wade, and Amy Dahm.
Recognition
Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler introduced a House resolution to honor the veterans and organizations that assisted in the evacuation of American Citizens and Afghan allies in Afghanistan after the withdrawal.[20] AFGfree was one of the named organizations in this resolution.[21]
References
- ↑ "No One Left Behind: Helping Afghan Allies". NYC Daily Post. 2021-11-24. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ↑ "The Network of Care for Service Members, Veterans & Their Families City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania". philadelphia.pa.networkofcare.org. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ↑ "Detail by Entity Name". search.sunbiz.org. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ↑ "Afghans are being evacuated via WhatsApp, Google Forms, or by any means possible". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ↑ News, A. B. C. "US special operations vets carry out daring mission to save Afghan allies". ABC News. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ↑ "Retired U.S. Special Forces soldier killed in Ukraine said he felt 'compelled to come help'". NBC News. 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
- ↑ Marquardt, Josh Pennington, Sandi Sidhu, Jennifer Hansler, Haley Britzky, Alex (2023-05-16). "US Army Special Forces veteran killed in 'barrage' of Russian artillery in Bakhmut". CNN. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
- ↑ "Wagner boss claims US veteran Nick Maimer killed in Bakhmut". 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
- ↑ Cohen, Rebecca. "A Russian warlord posed over the body of a US Army vet killed in Ukraine — then bizarrely said he'd send him back to America draped in a flag as a sign of respect". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
- ↑ Bonenberger, Adrian (2023-05-26). "Body of US Special Forces Veteran Turned Over by Russian Mercenary Group". Military.com. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
- ↑ "Wagner chief claims to have handed over body of US Army veteran killed in Bakhmut". www.kake.com. Archived from the original on 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
- ↑ "TrackANaziMerc". Telegram. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
- ↑ Smart, Charlie (2022-07-02). "How the Russian Media Spread False Claims About Ukrainian Nazis". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
- ↑ "Ветеран спецсил США: Сили рф не мають повного контролю у «зонах окупації»". Новини України та світу | NEWS UA (in українська). Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ↑ Afghanistan Volunteers Help With Evacuation Efforts in Ukraine, retrieved 2022-06-16
- ↑ Philipps, Dave (2022-07-05). "U.S. veterans are training Ukrainians near the front lines in the fight against Russia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
- ↑ "Ветеран Спеціальних сил США, засновник AFGfree.org Перрі Блекберн: «Росіяни не контролюють повністю зон, позначених на картах як окуповані»". Урядовий Кур'єр. 2022-06-07. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ↑ "US Special Forces veteran, founder of AFGfree.org Perry Blackburn". www.ukrinform.net. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ↑ Cook, Ellie (2023-05-17). "Who is Nick Maimer? Former U.S. soldier killed by Russians in Bakhmut". Newsweek. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
- ↑ "Hartzler Introduces Resolution to Honor Veteran Heroes Who Stepped Up When Biden Administration Stood Down". Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler. 2021-10-20. Archived from the original on 2022-05-19. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
- ↑ https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/4/5/45cb88cd-3b9d-4757-8fa7-ce4af0f55608/324CFECCEE673D8D6D5A100E6004C7CE.afghanistan-volunteers-res..pdf [bare URL PDF]
External Links
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