MENU HOME SEARCH Afghan American Soldier supports Operation Allies Welcome evacuees By Staff Sgt. Marc Heaton, Task Force SpartanSeptember 3, 2021 Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn Share via Email KUWAIT — Spc. Toraj Rozbeh, an information operations specialist deployed to Kuwait with the Virginia Army National Guard’s 29th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan, U.S. Army Central, is maximizing his ethnicity as an Afghan American to help build bridges during Operation Allies Welcome. Rozbeh was born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan, but immigrated with his family to the United States via the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) process in 2015. “My dad was a staff employee at the U.S. embassy in Kabul. That’s how we were able to get the visas and come to the United States,” said Rozbeh. After living in the United States for two years, he enlisted in the Army National Guard in 2017 as an automated logistics specialist. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2020 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and now to Kuwait for Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Allies Welcome. Growing up in Afghanistan, U.S. service members were a common sight for Rozbeh. “The image of U.S. Soldiers appealed to me so much as a kid. Seeing the convoys and Soldiers walking. … Seeing those images, I knew that when I got to the United States, I wanted to join the military,” he said. He is now using his experience to assist fellow Afghans. “Given my background and expertise … knowing the culture and speaking the language, both Dari and Pashto, it gives me a perspective to be an asset and help in this mission,” said Rozbeh. He is serving as an interpreter and cultural adviser to his command team, working with communication efforts, and helping civil affairs teams distribute food and supplies to evacuees housed temporarily in Kuwait. He said Afghan evacuees going through the SIV process are experiencing very different circumstances than he did when he immigrated to the United States. “The people here are going through a similar process, but at a much faster pace. Mine was a bit slower, and it wasn’t during a crisis,” said Rozbeh. He said he is dedicated to doing everything he can to help Afghan evacuees have the chance at a safer, more stable life. “These people are leaving their homes and coming here for a better life. I want to do my job the best I can to provide them the best support we can. There are a lot of kids … desperate to go to the United States because it’s the American dream and the freedom that everybody is looking for,” Rozbeh said. For more National Guard news National Guard Facebook National Guard Twitter RELATED STORIES NOVEMBER 19, 2021U.S. Army STAND-TO! | Army Digital Transformation Strategy NOVEMBER 17, 2021The U.S. Army releases a two volume book about Operation Enduring Freedom OCTOBER 8, 2021Army releases Unified Network Plan OCTOBER 8, 2021Army announces upcoming 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, unit deployment AUGUST 27, 2021Army Statement on Soldier killed in Afghanistan JULY 6, 2021Army announces upcoming 1st SBCT, 4th Infantry Division, unit rotation JULY 6, 2021Army announces upcoming 1st ABCT, 1st Infantry Division, unit rotation JUNE 18, 2021Study Estimates Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Risk Across Army Installations, Units, and Occupational Specialties MAY 14, 2021National Museum of the U.S. Army to reopen on June 14 MARCH 25, 2021Army announces upcoming 3rd ABCT, 1st Armored Division, unit rotation Official U.S. Army Facebook Official U.S. Army Twitter Official U.S. Army Youtube Official U.S. Army Flickr Official U.S. Army Instagram HOME CONTACT US PRIVACY TERMS OF USE ACCESSIBILITY/SECTION 508 FOIA NO FEAR ACT