Retired Marine Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews shared insights on the chaotic evacuation of Afghanistan in an episode of “The Big Weekend Show.” He revealed the struggles Marines faced due to inadequate preparation and support during the operation in Kabul.

Vargas-Andrews, who suffered severe injuries including the loss of his right arm and left leg in the bombing on August 26, 2021, described how Marines at Hamid Karzai International Airport were left to adapt in rapidly changing situations. Despite warnings from leadership, the evacuation process became challenging due to overwhelming crowds.

“Everything we were doing while we were there was like figuring it out on the go,” he said. Marines are trained to “adapt, improvise and overcome.”

Marines lacked support, providing refugees with their own food and water without proper systems for processing evacuees. The chaotic scenes were compared to a movie scenario, showcasing the immense number of people present.

Vargas-Andrews highlighted that better preparation over weeks and months could have eased the precarious situation they faced. He noted intelligence warnings about potential threats weren’t acted upon effectively, pointing to decades of ineffective decision-making across multiple administrations and agencies.

He appreciated the Department of War’s recognition of Marines involved in the evacuation, yet insisted on the need for accountability.

“It’s a good step in the right direction,” Vargas-Andrews said, expressing hope for meaningful actions beyond awards.

Max Bacall, an associate editor at Fox News Digital, contributes to media and cultural coverage.