The End of the War

In July 2021, Colonel Matt Hardman deployed on short notice to support 10th Mountain Division operations in Afghanistan. As the country started to fall to Taliban forces, he served as chief of staff at United States Forces–Afghanistan while also commanding elements of his brigade. Having taken command during COVID-19 and shortly thereafter enduring two hurricanes, Hardman and his soldiers were no strangers to chaos and uncertainty. The rapid collapse of Afghanistan, however, was a challenge for them all. He shares the story in this second episode of a two-part series.