School of War Ep 225: Geoff Ball on the Evacuation of Kabul
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Aug 26, 2025 Major Geoff Ball, a Marine Corps officer and co-founder of the Connecting File, shares gripping insights from the evacuation of Kabul in 2021. He recounts the chaos and courage of his troops during the desperate evacuation at Abbey Gate, where critical decisions were made under extreme pressure. Geoff discusses the intense camaraderie among Marines, the emotional toll of that mission, and reflects on the sacrifices made, including the profound personal impacts on those involved. His stories illuminate the complexities of leadership in crisis.
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Training Built The Company That Deployed
- Jeff Ball describes preparing Company G in Jordan and building trust through intensive, varied training and leader delegation.
- That cohesion and trust became crucial when they received the sudden call to deploy to Kabul.
Coordination With Local Adversaries
- The deployment required working alongside the Taliban as a practical necessity despite the moral and operational awkwardness.
- Mutual coordination with the Taliban was essential to keep evacuation lines functional.
Plugging The Abbey Gate Hole
- Ghost Company landed and was ordered to take and 'make better' the Abbey Gate amid a sea of desperate civilians.
- Marines charged into the crowd, held the line, and gradually pushed forward to reestablish a blocking obstacle by dawn.
