Photo By Staff Sgt. Christopher Calvert | Pfc. Gabriela Ortiz (left), a motor transport operator with Company E, 3rd Assault...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas – Born in western Mexico, Pfc. Gabriela Ortiz and her family relocated to the U.S. when Ortiz was just 3 years old.
Now a Trooper in the Air Cav and a recently naturalized U.S. citizen, Ortiz is serving the country she grew up in, while still remaining true to her Hispanic roots.
“I grew up with Mexican traditions, but I was raised in America,” she said. “I’ll always be attached to my roots, but I’ve always felt like this is my home.”
Growing up in a family of four with her father, Transito, mother, Maria, and younger sister, Itzel, Ortiz’s father had already begun planning on bringing his family to America from their hometown of Michoacán, Mexico, before Ortiz was born.
“My father wanted to move us out of the country, so that my sister and I could have better opportunities,” said Ortiz, a motor transport operator with Company E, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. “He received his green card and worked his hardest to get the paperwork, so the rest of our family could move.”
Ortiz and her family eventually received the required documentation and settled in California, where they still reside today.
After graduating high school, Ortiz went on to earn her associates degree in biology while attending Citrus College at Glendora, Calif. Soon, she would make a decision that would shake the very core of her family, she said.
“I decided to join the military, but my father was hesitant for me to join,” she said. “I wanted to show him I was more than capable. I told him this is what I want for myself; this is where I want to be.”
Additionally, Ortiz’s mother and sister have provided encouragement which still drives her today, she said.
“They’ve been nothing but supportive,” she said. “My mom often jokes that she spent all her life trying to protect me from being around fuel trucks, and now I find myself on top of them all the time while doing my job.”
After completing initial entry training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Ortiz arrived at the Air Cav in August.
Shortly afterward, she was granted the one thing she said she strove to obtain for years – her U.S. citizenship.
“I’ve wanted to become a citizen since entering this country,” she said. “Honestly, I lived here almost my whole life, so I felt sort of like a citizen. It just wasn’t on paper.”
“I gave up my rights to my Mexican citizenship, though, for a reason – this is my home,” she added. “I will always be proud of my heritage, but I belong here. Now I have the right to vote – it’s a privilege and an honor I’m proud of, and I plan on putting [it] to use.”
During the naturalization ceremony, Ortiz said she felt overwhelmed with emotions as she stood on stage.
“I looked out at the audience, and my entire platoon was there,” she said. “It made me very emotional, because I’ve only been in the unit a short time, and many of these Soldiers I’ve never even spoken to. Even though my family couldn’t attend, I still felt appreciated and welcome.”
Still early in her career, Ortiz said she has her mind set on remaining in the military and serving for the long haul.
“I find it exciting to do things in the military that you don’t see in the civilian world,” she said. “If given the chance, I’d definitely want to make this a career until I could retire.”
First Lt. Jennifer Lara, distribution platoon leader for Co. E, 3-227th, has supervised Ortiz since her arrival to the unit, and said she sees a bright future ahead.
“She’s a hard worker, and is very dedicated to getting the job done,” the Rockville Centre, New York, native said. “It was an honor to be able to attend the naturalization ceremony and witness her gain her citizenship – something which so many of us take for granted.”
| Date Taken: | 10.08.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.08.2014 16:26 |
| Story ID: | 144656 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Hometown: | MICHOACAN, TAB, MX |
| Hometown: | ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 103 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 1st Air Cav Soldier receives citizenship, recalls Hispanic roots, by SSG Christopher Calvert, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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