War on the Rocks The Marines That Led the Evacuation of Afghanistan, Four Years Later
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Feb 6, 2026 Lee Bowden, an EOD officer who led explosive teams at Hamid Karzai International Airport, and Aaron Reep, a Marine infantry leader who commanded Charlie Company during the Kabul evacuation, recount their roles. They describe arrival chaos, the intense first 96 hours to secure the airfield, indicators before the Abbey Gate bombing, balancing force with compassion, and lessons for future noncombatant evacuations.
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Training Played Out In Real Time
- Charlie Company ran TDG-driven white-space training that matched the chaos they later faced in Kabul.
- Aaron Reep recalled the TDG packet scenarios playing out almost surreal on the deck during the evacuation.
Calm Before Rapid Escalation
- The initial arrival felt eerily calm before rapidly escalating into combat and NEO operations within hours.
- Aaron Reep described a shift from routine RSO&I to live-fire assaults and securing the airfield in under three hours.
The 96-Hour Crucible
- The first 96 hours became a crucible that tested combat endurance, improvisation, and leadership at every level.
- Aaron Reep said training and small-unit leadership enabled Marines to switch instantly between combat and humanitarian tasks.