Jobs available to help Afghans housed at Ft. Bliss

FORT BLISS, Texas -- As Afghan refugees begin to arrive at Fort Bliss, both paid jobs and unpaid volunteer positions have begun to open up. 

In a press briefing Monday, Pentagon officials said there are currently 1,200 Afghan refugees being housed at U.S. military installations including Fort Bliss.

In that briefing. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said the goal is to get the Army bases - Fort Bliss, Fort Lee, Fort McCoy and Joint Base Mcguire-Dix-Lakehurst - to a point where they can accommodate 25,000 Afghan refugees.

Congresswoman Verionica Escobar said Monday that over 650 evacuees had already arrived at Bliss.

International Rescue Committee, a worldwide agency that responds to assist during humanitarian crises, has posted job openings for SIV (Special Immigrant Visa) Cohort Assistant in El Paso.

The full-time positions would last for 14-days at a time and pay $16 an hour, according to the post. Speaking Pashto or Dari are a plus, but not required.

According to the IRC's website, they have a presence in more than 40 countries and more than 20 U.S. cities.

According to a posting from the 1st Armored Division, the American Red Cross (ARC) is also seeking volunteers. You can volunteer immediately, through the ARC, if you are a registered volunteer. 

The ARC is specifically seeking volunteers for this mission who have language skills, but they will accept those who don’t also.

In that same post, the 1st Armored Division said the "hierarchy to contribute locally is still being established."