Headquarters, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

Story by Sgt. Johnathon Jobson

CAMP LIBERTY, BAGHDAD, Iraq — Enlisting in the United States Army is not dependant on being a U. S. citizen, however becoming a commissioned officer is.

For approximately 160 Soldiers currently deployed in the Multi-National Corps - Iraq area, 41 of those from Task Force Marne units, those things are now possible. Those Soldiers became U. S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony held at Al Faw Palace in Baghdad, Nov. 11.

Before the ceremony could take place there was a naturalization process were the Soldiers all traveled from their respective deployment sites to Baghdad to participate in a mass ceremony. Soldiers were present from all of the U. S. divisions in Iraq. Task Force Marne was represented by Soldiers from the 130th Engineer Brigade, from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; 2nd and 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Teams, 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood, Texas; 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, from Fort Riley, Kan., and 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, from Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii.

"How fitting it is that so many, on this Veterans Day, will gain their citizenship while serving in "America's Corps"," said Lt. Gen. Charles H. Jacoby, Jr., the commander of Multi-National Corps- Iraq. "I can think of no better time, no better place and no better way to honor them."

In addition to being able to further their military careers, these Soldiers now receive all the same provisions and protections that natural-born U. S. citizen do. They can now receive a U. S. passport, make use of embassy and consulate programs when traveling outside the U. S., sponsor their Family Members as legal immigrants in the U. S., and apply for certain federal jobs that are not open to non-citizens.

Specialist "Tom Smith", an interpreter, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 130th Engineer Brigade, Task Force Marne, moved to the U. S. in 2007 from the Middle East. After joining the Army in 2008 and completing the English as a Second Language course at the Defense Language Institute as well as basic training and advanced individual training, Spc. Smith was deployed to Iraq to support the 18th Engineer Brigade. When the 18th Eng. Bde. re-deployed, he was transferred to the 130th Eng. Bde.

"It is a wonderful thing to become a U. S. citizen," expressed Spc. Smith. "It is an honor to receive my citizenship here in this uniform."

The process to become a citizen is a lengthy one. To begin the process, a non-U. S. citizen must have lived in the U. S. for five years and have someone who is already a citizen sponsor them. The five years requirement is shortened to two years for those who enlist in the Armed Forces. The naturalization process includes background checks and interviews with personnel from U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Receiving his citizenship puts Spc. Smith one step closer to his goal of becoming a communications warrant officer in the Army.

"Step by step, as I go through the process, I can feel my dreams coming true," Spc. Smith said.

After taking the oath of allegiance, the final step in becoming a citizen, the Soldiers received their citizenship certificate from Ms. Lori Pietropaoli, the deputy director of the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Rome; a coin from Lt. Gen. Jacoby; and a U. S. Flag from Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Grippe, the MNC- Iraq command sergeant major.

For Spc. Smith and the other Soldiers from Task Force Marne, the ceremony signified a new beginning and the opening of many doors to their future. While their current mission may not change, their lives have been changed forever. Congratulations to all of our newest American citizens.

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