FAMIL is an immigration nonprofit founded in 2021 that supports Afghan nationals who served the United States during the Afghanistan War  as they resettle in America following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. ¹ It helps Afghan immigrants find employment, education, and integration. ² FAMIL sees these Afghan immigrants as fellow veterans and has asserted a moral obligation to help them resettle in America. ³

Wounded Heroes Program

FAMIL’s Wounded Heroes Program works specifically with Afghans who were injured in combat while helping U.S. forces. It helps Afghans who are living with physical injuries such as amputation and paralysis, as well as mental injuries like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), find proper medical care. This program’s goal is to help wounded Afghan veterans “achieve self-sufficiency, restore their dignity, and pursue opportunities to rebuild what they sacrificed on the battlefield.” ²

Areas of Focus

Employment

FAMIL contends that Afghan immigrants have marketable skills in industries including security, technology, machinery, communication, and medicine while being loyal and hard-working. FAMIL aids these individuals in finding suitable job openings and working with them during early job processes such as submitting job applications, building resumes, and preparing for job interviews. ²

Education

FAMIL states that Afghan immigrants of all ages seek to learn basic skills, learn English, and get driver’s licenses, but they also want to finish their schooling and pursue higher education or trade programs. FAMIL helps these individuals find proper schooling options and helps them with “enrollment, financial aid, and digital learning resources.” ²

Integration

FAMIL aids immigrants in the resettlement process by teaching them how to “enroll in benefits; navigate medical processes; banking and budgeting [and] navigat[e] the immigration process.” ²

Leadership

Geeta Bakshi is the founder and as of 2025 was the CEO of FAMIL. Bakshi was born in Virginia and began her career in the defense sector after 9/11. Bakshi joined the CIA’s Directorate of Operations where she worked for 14 years specializing in counterterrorism in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. She received the CIA Certificate of Distinction for her work in Afghanistan and retired from the CIA. Bakshi was running FAMIL full time as of 2025. ⁴

Haibatullah Alizai is the Chief of the Afghan Army and sits on the board of advisors for FAMIL.  Lieutenant General John F. Mullholand, who also sits on the board of advisors for FAMIL, spent his career in the Army’s special forces division  commanding groups in Afghanistan and Iraq ending his career as the Associate Director of Military Affairs for the CIA. ⁵ Vik Bakshi is a former U.S. Army infantry officer who served in Iraq. After retiring from the Army, he got his MBA from Harvard. He now works for an energy company investing in carbon capture equipment, solar and wind energy sources. He sits on the board of advisors for FAMIL as well. ⁶

Organizations that have received grants from FAMIL include Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, Jewish Communal Fund, PayPal Charitable Giving Fund, and Seattle Foundation. ⁷

1. “FAMIL.” FAMIL USA. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://www.familusa.org/.
2. “About.” FAMIL USA. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://www.familusa.org/about.
3. “FAQ.” FAMIL USA. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://www.familusa.org/faq.
4. “Team.” FAMIL USA. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://www.familusa.org/team#directors.
5. “Lt. General John F. Mulholland, Jr. (Ret).” SOAA. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://soaa.org/team/lt-general-john-f-mulholland-jr-ret/.
6. “Vik Bakshi.” Atlantic Council. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/expert/vik-bakshi/.
7. “FAMIL.” ProPublica. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?sort=best&form%5B%5D=IRS990ScheduleI&q=87-2243748&submit=Apply.