'Concerning reports, photos' of soldier treatment at Ft. Pickett: Rep. Good

by Elizabeth Thomas

Tue, November 16th 2021, 6:32 PM UTC

Afghan individuals board a bus to depart Fort Pickett, Virginia, Nov. 8, 2021. A group of Afghan individuals left Fort Pickett after completing the initial resettlement process and will begin travel to different parts of the United States. The Department of Defense, through 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. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Zachary Zephir)

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan Oblon, a finance officer assigned to Task Force Pickett, holds an Afghan infant while her parents pick out clothes at a clothing drive on Fort Pickett, Virginia, Nov. 6, 2021. The clothing drive provides Afghan guests with an additional opportunity to collect donated clothing items for themselves and their families. 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. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Zachary Zephir)

Afghan individuals stand for the Afghanistan National anthem during the International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup on Fort Pickett, Virginia, Oct. 25, 2021. The Afghanistan versus Scotland match in Cricket World Cup was streamed to allow Afghan individuals to relax and bond over shared sporting interests. 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. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Corey Mathews)

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Afghan individuals board a bus to depart Fort Pickett, Virginia, Nov. 8, 2021. A group of Afghan individuals left Fort Pickett after completing the initial resettlement process and will begin travel to different parts of the United States. The Department of Defense, through 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. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Zachary Zephir)

BLACKSTONE, Va. (WSET) — A Congressman representing Central Virginia is asking questions about the quality of life for soldiers at Fort Pickett in Blackstone, Nottoway County.

Thousands of Afghan refugees poured into Virginia over the summer as a result of the United States Military pulling out of Afghanistan. Gov. Ralph Northam said in late August that the Commonwealth had received 6000 refugees and more were expected. The refugees were sent to either Fort Lee near Petersburg or Fort Pickett in Blackstone after being processed and receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations.

About 10% of those refugees, Gov. Northam said, would end up staying in Virginia.

Fast forward a few months, and Afghan refugees are still at Fort Pickett. Republican Congressman Bob Good said Tuesday that "Virginians deserve to know the truth about the conditions" there, and that he was "demanding answers" from fort leaders.

In a letter to Brigadier General Richard A. Harrison, dated Tuesday, Rep. Good starts, "I am writing to inquire regarding the conditions facing our soldiers as they await deployment from Fort Pickett."

Good continues, stating his office has received "concerning reports, photos and videos" from his constituents that show soldiers at Fort Pickett sleeping outside in tents, claiming the barracks are occupied by Afghan refugees.

"These reports indicate that our soldiers are sleeping in temperatures below 40 degrees, have been denied hot meals, and have limited opportunities to shower as they prepare for deployment," Good writes.

His letter requests answers to the following questions by no later than Thursday:

How many Afghans are currently housed in barracks?
How many soldiers are being, or have been, forced to sleep outside in tents as temperatures dip below 40 degrees?
Are soldiers being, or have they been, required to eat MREs instead of regular pre-deployment meals?
Have female soldiers currently or previously had limited access to showers?
Are there other pre-deployment conditions that have been adjusted to accommodate the Afghans on-post?
Are Afghans being, or have they been, permitted to photograph soldiers during training or at other times?

"Virginians deserve transparency regarding matters that impact the men and women who serve in our National Guard," Rep. Good closed.

Previous reports have noted several issues stateside with the Afghan resettlement program. Unvaccinated refugees in Virginia tested positive for measles, potentially exposing Americans at Fort Pickett, the Army National Guard base southeast of Farmville.

More than 700 Afghan evacuees were said to have departed military bases prematurely, before receiving proper resettlement services.

In another incident last month in Montana, an Afghan teen who is part of the federal resettlement program was charged in the rape of an 18-year-old.

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