US military asks law enforcement to watch for Afghans gone AWOL while training at Texas base

Alert issued for Afghans gone AWOL from Texas base

SAN ANTONIO — U.S. military investigators are asking law enforcement nationwide to be on the lookout for Afghan military members who went AWOL while training in Texas.

Air Force spokesman Gary Emery said Friday that 17 Afghans disappeared from Lackland Air Force Base one-by-one over the last 18 months. A federal law enforcement official speaking on the condition of anonymity says seven have been accounted for.

Emery says the men were vetted by the military and aren’t believed to be connected to one another or to any terrorist group. All had been studying English as a precursor to training sponsored by the U.S. and Afghan militaries.

The disappearances were reported to immigration and federal officials when they occurred, but a nationwide alert was issued Wednesday.