OUT OF WAR
Mission
The "Out of War" project aims to develop a global database of life history interviews of formerly armed actors (FAAs). The project defines FAAs as individuals who understand themselves as having engaged in violence as a function of their membership in a group of some kind (e.g., military veterans, former insurgents, ex-gang members, among many others). The underlying premise is that while individual, group, and contextual differences among these populations are legion, there exist dynamics related to their transitions – e.g., role exit, redefining purpose, and multiple aspects of human security - that serve as valuable points of comparison for improving the current conditions and future possibilities.
Case Study
Resettlement for Afghan National Army's Special Forces in the United States and United Kingdom
In Their Own Words
The narratives of the US war in Afghanistan and its withdrawal have largely been shaped by American and British perspectives, often overshadowing the voices and experiences of Afghan operators who played a significant role in the conflict. This project addresses this imbalance by giving prominence to Afghan operators' accounts, providing vital insights into their challenges, aspirations, and unique perspectives. By foregrounding these voices, the project contributes critical knowledge that can inform policy and program design to better support the resettlement and well-being of Afghan operators following the US withdrawal, fostering a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of the conflict and its aftermath.
The Corioli’s Institute’s Project Out of War, in collaboration with Honor the Promise, is serving Afghan Special Operations veterans and their families by acting as a catalyst and connector assisting newly-arrived members of the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command (ANASOC) and Female Tactical Platoons (FTP) community and their families build resilience as they resettle in the US and UK so they can live a dignified and fulfilling life, become contributing members of society, and feel a sense of belonging. The Out of War team is conducting life history interviews over five months to tell the stories of war and transition in the fighters’ own words. These interviews capture narratives of ANASOC and FTP members’ service in Afghanistan, their evacuation from Afghanistan to the US, their journey of being an immigrant and a reintegrating former combatant, and finally their vision of their future life and sense of purpose. These interviews are audio recorded, and where consented, anonymized audio recordings and transcripts will be published for future generations of researchers working on topics of demobilization, reintegration, and resettlement.