Military medicine has a long history of humanitarian efforts globally, including responses to natural disasters and as planned medical civil action projects. However, ending two decades of war in Afghanistan, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) was tasked to receive up to 63 injured patients with less than 96-hour notice on August 27, 2021. As part of Operation Allies Refuge and transition to Operation Allies Welcome, this article highlights the complicated cross-organizational and multidisciplinary response at WRNMMC where ultimately 277 Afghan patients and nonmedical attendants received medical care and other requirements for resettlement. Lessons learned from coordinating the complex short suspense medical, cultural, and logistic efforts are noted as considerations and practical recommendations for future missions.
Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2022. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.