Naturalization Ceremony aboard Camp Foster: 20 members of the military community become U.S. citizens

Photo By Staff Sgt. Danielle Prentice | CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan—A child waves an American flag during a Naturalization Ceremony Sept. 13 in the theater aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act. Families, friends, and leadership filled the seats to support and congratulate the new U.S. citizens. Children raced up and down the aisles waving small American flags saying things like “Mommy’s going to be an American!”  

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

09.13.2017

Story by Lance Cpl. Danielle Prentice 

Marine Corps Installations Pacific

Twenty candidates for naturalization became U.S. citizens during a Naturalization Ceremony Sept. 13 in the base theater aboard Camp Foster.

Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act.

During the ceremony, Marines and members of the military community took the oath of allegiance, and officially became U.S. citizens after months of processing.

“As a first generation immigrant, getting naturalized is always one part of the American dream,” Cpl. Bohou Li, a motor vehicle operator with Marine Headquarters Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “I would rather serve this country and earn it instead of just waiting a couple of years and getting it.”

Li was inspired to join the Marines after seeing them in a movie.
“I have no regrets about being a Marine,” said Li. “It’s the best branch in the United States Armed Forces.”

After speaking to a recruiter, Li’s naturalization process began. It can take a lot of time and paperwork to complete this process, so it is important to start as soon as possible, according to Li.

“It was tough,” said Li, a Tengzou, Shangdong Province, China, native. “I have been waiting for a very long time for this. It has been almost two years. It’s a milestone in my career. Now that I have my citizenship, I’m able to pursue other clearances to be able to do other Military Operational Specialties.”

Families, friends, and leadership filled the seats to support and congratulate the new U.S. citizens. Children raced up and down the aisles waving small American flags saying things like “Mommy’s going to be an American!”

“It takes courage to do what you did today, and I salute you for it,” said Brig. Gen. Paul Rock Jr. the commanding general of Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan, as he was on stage speaking to the new U.S. citizens. “I wish you the absolute best as American citizens. God bless you all, and God bless America.”

• Date Taken: 09.13.2017
• Date Posted: 09.18.2017 00:51
• Story ID: 248368
• Location: CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP