Maj. Rebecca Brawner, center, Department of Defense gender and protection lead advisor at Fort McCoy, talks to a group of Afghan women evacuees during a town hall meeting at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Oct. 12, 2021.
The U.S. military has sent "gender and protection advisors" to Fort McCoy to handle domestic abuse, child care emergencies and the upcoming winter for the thousands of Afghan refugees still housed at the army base.
The advisors hope to address gender-specific needs of the nearly 13,000 men, women, boys and girls at Fort McCoy and eight other U.S. military installations since the Afghan government fell to the Taliban in August, the military said in a statement. Gender advisors for the Department of Defense were created by a 2018 law that mandates the U.S. military to address the gender needs of people and minorities in war and conflict zones.
“We realized that this is a perfect kind of deployment,” said in the statement Sharon Feist, the chief gender advisor for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. “What better place to help women and children and different gender needs than at U.S. installations hosting Afghan evacuees.”
The Wisconsin State Journal reported in September that some Afghan women at the base had faced harassment by Afghan men, many of them former members of the Afghan military. One Afghan man at the base was charged in federal court for sexually abusing two underage boys, while another is charged with choking and suffocating his wife.
Such harassment and sexual abuse would be handled by these gender advisors, the military said, with personnel getting victims to safe places and coordinating with law enforcement.
“Everyday there’s calls for domestic violence, mediation, trying to get victims to a safe place, coordination with law enforcement such as the FBI, the military police, and other agencies, child abuse, nutrition, and marriage,” Feist said.
Problems with abuse also impacts preparing the Afghans for the impending winter, said the military, where household tensions and domestic violence could worsen.
"We’re trying to prepare to help mitigate that by finding more recreational spaces that are warm, and not just for women to go into but men, too,” Feist said.
Other priorities for the gender advisors include treating chronic child malnourishment. Afghans have previously complained of the Western, often bland food served to them at the base.
Children already malnourished from their time in Afghanistan have struggled to transition to a U.S. diet, and military personnel have recommended a daily bottle of Pediasure for children under five. Other recommendations include opening an emergency childcare facility, though providing long term care at the base is still in its early planning stages.
“It’s like an emergency respite child center,” Feist said. “Essentially, victims of domestic violence can come and have a safe place to come where they can be interviewed, and if they have children, the children are here and it's a safe space as well, that's really the intent of it.”
Photos: Afghan refugees at Wisconsin's Fort McCoy receive clothing donations
Fort McCoy donations
Three Afghan evacuees look thorough women’s pants at a donation facility run by U.S. Soldiers and civilians at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Sept. 7, 2021. Led by Team Rubicon, several local nonprofits are accepting clothing and other donations for the refugees. Many evacuees have arrived with only one set of clothing.
Fort McCoy donations
An Afghan evacuee holds up a pair of donated children’s pants to see if they will fit her child at a donation facility at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin Sept. 7, 2021. Fort McCoy is one of eight U.S. military bases that will temporarily house vulnerable Afghans who have fled Afghanistan after the recent collapse of the government to the Taliban.
Fort McCoy donations
Afghan evacuees look through shoes at a donation facility run by U.S. Soldiers and civilians at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin Sept. 7, 2021. Led by Team Rubicon, several local nonprofits are accepting clothing and other donations for the refugees. Many evacuees have arrived with only one set of clothing.
Fort McCoy donations
An Afghan evacuee examines a piece of clothing covered with butterflies and trees at a donation facility run by U.S. Soldiers and civilians at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin Sept. 7, 2021. The Department of Defense is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan refugees fleeing from Afghanistan after the collapse of the country's government to the Taliban.
Fort McCoy donations
U.S. Army Sgt. Brandon Boriboun folds clothing for Afghan evacuees at a donation facility run by U.S. Soldiers and civilians at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Sept. 7, 2021. Led by Team Rubicon, several local nonprofits are accepting clothing and other donations for the refugees. Many evacuees have arrived with only one set of clothing.
Fort McCoy donations
An Afghan evacuee child is given a new backpack and coloring book during the reception process at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin Sept. 3, 2021. The Department of Defense is providing support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees who have fled from Afghanistan after the recent collapse of the country's government to the Taliban.
Lucas Robinson | Wisconsin State Journal
Breaking News Reporter
Lucas Robinson covers breaking news for the Wisconsin State Journal. He can be reached at (608) 252-6186.
