Madigan Army Medical Center Soldier Receives Citizenship

Photo By Staff Sgt. Adeline Witherspoon | Spc. Sajalupadhyaya Nepal, a medical logistics specialist assigned to Madigan Army Medical Center maintains the flags used by the medical center as part of his work for the command team at Madigan, July 7, on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Nepal, a native of Biratnager, Nepal, was awarded citizenship during a naturalization ceremony at the Seattle Center, June 15. (Photo by Spc. Adeline Witherspoon, 20th Public Affairs Detachment)  

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

07.06.2016

Story by Capt. Rachael Jeffcoat 

20th Public Affairs Detachment

LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash.-His eyes gleamed without any sense of nervousness as Spc. Sajalupadhyaya Nepal stood tall and recited the United States of America’s Pledge of Allegiance at his naturalization ceremony at the Seattle Center June 15, 2016.
“As I sang the national anthem I couldn’t stop smiling,” Nepal said. “I just kept thinking I am finally done waiting to become a citizen.”
Nepal’s journey to become a U.S. citizen started at 18 years old. He came to the U.S. from Biratnagar, Nepal on a student visa to attend Colorado State University at Pueblo.
His father convinced him to apply to universities in the U.S. and to tackle the challenges of earning an education overseas.
“No one wants to move away from home when things are easy and where you are comfortable with your friends,” Nepal admitted. “When I moved to the United States everything got harder.”
The only person Nepal knew when he moved to the U.S. was his older sister, who was also on a student visa attending the Colorado State University at Pueblo. Even though they attended the same school he was still in a new environment, with new people, half way around the world from what was comfortable.
“When I moved here I did not even know how to do simple things like cook,” Nepal acknowledged. “The United States taught me everything that I know because I moved here when I was so young. I am truly grateful for the experience, it made me grow as a person.”
Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, Nepal accepted a job in the District of Columbia working as a healthcare contractor. Not surprisingly, he challenged himself again – working by day and completing his master’s degree in business administration from Columbia College at night.
While working in the District, Nepal made friends in the military. As a child he had always wanted to join the armed forces, and seeing his friends in uniform motivated him to sign up even more.
“Wanting to join the military became my passion,” Nepal eagerly explained. “I liked the idea of the lifestyle, discipline and the comradery.”
Nepal was persistent about joining the military and after several years joined the Army as a new recruit.
Immediately after donning the uniform as a newly enlisted Soldier, Nepal applied to become a U.S. citizen while attending Army basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
Noncitizen service members are allowed to apply for citizenship while attending basic training; they must demonstrate good moral character, knowledge of the English language, knowledge of U.S. government and history, and take an oath of allegiance to the American Constitution.
While once again balancing two jobs – the rigors of basic training and the hours required to study for citizenship, Nepal diligently prepared to become a Soldier and attain U.S. citizenship.
After graduation, Nepal embarked on another long journey taking him even farther from home, traveling the 3,000 miles from South Carolina to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where he was assigned as a medical logistics specialist.
With one goal achieved, Nepal furiously focused on the next: taking the naturalization exam and preparing for the face-to-face interview. But his focus wasn’t singular -- during this time he was nominated for and selected as the driver for the Commander of Madigan Army Medical Center.
“When I passed my citizenship test, I finally relaxed,” Nepal explained. “I was so happy but my command team was more excited than I was.”
Col. Michael Place, the commander of Madigan, said that Nepal showed superior motivation, determination and performance through the entire process of receiving his citizenship.
“We were very excited for him to received his citizenship; he is a self-motivator,” said Sgt. 1st Class Marisa Richardson, noncommissioned officer in charge of the Madigan command group.
Naturally, Nepal has new goals. Now that he is a citizen he would like to sponsor his mother and father in order for them to become U.S. citizens. Additionally, he hopes to apply to attend Officer Candidate School in order to become an officer within the Medical Service Corps.
“Team Madigan is enormously proud of his hard work, and his decision to become an American citizen,” Place said. “We appreciate his on-going contributions to the defense of our great country:”

• Date Taken: 07.06.2016
• Date Posted: 07.08.2016 14:33
• Story ID: 203450
• Location: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US