Photo By Tatum Vayavananda | Since coming to America from Wexford, Ireland, 14 years ago, Petty Officer 2nd Class...... read more read more
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MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania – Most Americans might take benefits of citizenship for granted. Those born as U.S. citizens don’t have to experience life as an immigrant, the difficulties and extensive process of naturalization, and the affects it can have on the opportunities, pride and future career of a service member.
For Petty Officer 2nd Class Anastatia M. Dobbs, hospital corpsman, these rights, opportunities and privileges have been an inspiration and dream for her since she traveled from her hometown in Wexford, Ireland, to America, almost 14 years ago.
On July 12, Dobbs, an Irish-born U.S. sailor with almost 10 years of Navy service, pledged the Oath of Allegiance to finally become a U.S. citizen while deployed to Romania with Black Sea Rotational Force 11.
“I’ve given so much to come [to America]; I’ve sacrificed so much since I’ve been here and I’ve worked so hard, so I feel that I deserved this,” said Dobbs.
“It’s unbelievable to have my Navy and Marine Corps family with me to witness it here in Romania,” added the Chicago, Ill., native.
Dobbs, 38, came to New York in 1997. Before enlisting in the Navy, she worked as a waitress, in an Irish pub, a baby sitter and then a nanny. She then enlisted as a hospital corpsman in the Navy Reserves in November of 2001.
“When 9/11 went down, I decided to join,” said Dobbs. “It was my deciding factor. It feels great to be able to say I’ve been in [the Navy] ten years! I’m staying, too.”
Dobbs has been deployed all over the world, including Thailand, Iraq and now Romania, in support of the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force deployed to the Black Sea, Balkan and Caucasus regions.
“I don’t think that this has happened ever,” said Pamela G. Hutchings, field office director of the USCIS, Vienna, Austria, “and I don’t know if it will happen ever again. My predecessor who was in Vienna for four years before me didn’t have a single case [like this],” added the Atlanta, Ga., native.
“It’s important that we reach out to the service members,” said Hutchings. “We really try to go wherever and whenever; it’s just the service we do.”
Congress has only allowed naturalization outside of U.S. soil in times of conflict. Prior to the post-9/11 era, the last naturalization ceremony conducted overseas was during the Korean War.
“It is unique and exciting that she is getting the opportunity to do this in another country,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Julissa Flores, hospital corpsman.
“I’m surprised that they flew someone all the way out here but I’m glad the government is supporting this, because America needs good citizens and she demonstrates [one],” said Flores.
Flores has been serving with Dobbs for five years from their home reserve unit, Marine Air Control Group 48, Great Lakes, Ill.
“She’s honest, hard working and I’m happy that she’s becoming a citizen. We need more people like her,” added the Chicago, Ill., native.
Any member of the U.S. armed forces is eligible to become a citizen if they demonstrate good moral character, knowledge of the English language and of U.S. government and history (civics), and are serving honorably in the U.S. military. An expedited process exempts other naturalization requirements for residency and fees for qualified members of the U.S. armed forces.
“Citizenship is always an individual choice,” said Hutchings. “We really try to reach out to the military and make sure they know how to do this.”
“It’s been a goal for [Dobbs] and it’s an expression of her commitment to the U.S. by her service to her country,” said Hutchings. “I think it’s very meaningful to take the oath and the next step to fully participate in our country.”
“It’s the best part of my job and I feel so privileged,” said Hutchings. “I get to give an oath to a person who is honorably serving our country and stepping forth to become a citizen. Wow, lucky me!”
The USCIS has naturalized more than 53,400 members of the U.S. armed forces since September 2001, with over 7,400 being on foreign soil. Dedicated resources for naturalization for U.S. service members, can be found on the USCIS website at http://www.uscis.gov/military.
“You’re serving the country already. You had no problems joining a military that was ‘foreign’ to you. If you’re willing to serve a country, you should want to become a citizen of that country,” said Flores.
Dobbs is looking forward to many of the privileges of being a citizen, including the right to vote, being able to receive federal financial education loans and grants, and just being able to call America her new home.
“I’m excited about the freedom to come and go without having to feel like a ‘foreigner,’” said Dobbs. “It’s going to be nice to not have to deal with immigration agents; to pull out my passport and instead of being asked, ‘What is the nature of your visit?’ I’ll get a ‘welcome home!’ instead.”
Dobbs and Flores are corpsman assigned to Black Sea Rotational Force 11, a rotational deployment of Marines to the Black Sea, Balkan and Caucasus regions of Eastern Europe to participate in security cooperation to build military capacity, provide regional stability, and develop lasting partnerships with nations in the region. BSRF-11 will be operating as a Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force until September of this year.
| Date Taken: | 07.12.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.12.2011 05:22 |
| Story ID: | 73574 |
| Location: | MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, RO |
| Web Views: | 595 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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