The images of desperate Afghans swarming to flee Kabul at the end of the mission filled me with a painful sense of loss.
Chase Spears
Chase Spears is a military officer, communicator, and educator who served as a brigade communications director in Afghanistan’s Khost Province from 2011 to 2012. He has a passion for helping leaders improve team culture and enjoys studying how discourse shapes perceptions. He is pursuing a doctorate in leadership communication at Kansas State University, with a focus on the paradox between policy wording and cultural impact across institutions. The views in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of any agency or department in the U.S. government.

