Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class John Bellino | 201116-N-PC065-3011 NORFOLK, Va. (Nov. 16, 2020) Seaman Sokoudjoou Tchalaou, assigned...... read more read more
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Joining the Navy and becoming a U.S. citizen was his desired path for quite some time, but it was a risk to leave his old life behind. Everything changed when Seaman Sokoudjoou Tchalauo’s daughter was born.
Tchalauo was working as a custodian and attending college for cybersecurity at the time his daughter was born. Dreams of a better life for her immediately became a top priority.
One day, his wife Andrea brought their daughter to visit Tchalauo at work and he found himself staring down into her glistening, little brown eyes, as she innocently stared back up at him. That was the moment everything clicked in his head; it was time to join the Navy.
People from all corners of the globe have dreams of becoming U.S. citizens and it’s important for them to take advantage of opportunities when they arise.
Tchalauo is 38 years old and originally hails from Togo, Africa, a small country in western Africa squeezed between Ghana and Nigeria.
He joined the Navy in January 2020 and reported to the amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24) in May. It was on the Arlington that his path toward citizenship began.
Yeoman 1st Class Ishaka Jacobs, one of the Arlington’s citizenship representatives, assisted Tchalauo throughout the process of obtaining the application to ultimately swearing in as a U.S. citizen.
“Making sure these Sailors get help is a major factor in their professional and personal development,” Jacobs said. “It means a lot to me because I went through the same process as a young airman.”
Seaman Nicolette Brown is another Arlington Sailor who has ambitions of providing a better life for her daughter as a U.S. citizen.
Brown is 30 years old and is originally from Portmore, Jamaica.
Before coming to the U.S. and joining the Navy, Brown was going to school and working in Jamaica. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a Master of Arts in teaching.
Coming to America was a risky decision because she would be leaving her accolades behind and starting over.
Brown kept her daughter’s future in mind, regardless of any setbacks. She felt joining the Navy and becoming a U.S. citizen was the best way to ensure a sense of stability, based on the experiences she witnessed from a close friend.
“She was living successfully and talking about how well things were going and asked me if it was something I would like to do too,” Brown recalled.
Friends and family expressed their willingness to step up and take care of her daughter while she was away, so Brown decided to take the leap of faith.
She started the citizenship application soon after reporting to the Arlington in February 2020.
When becoming a U.S. citizen in the Navy, it’s standard procedure to have the commanding officer of the Sailor sign the application before the Sailor can proceed with any further steps.
“I was surprised by the speed of the responses…I was so happy our chain of command is really taking serious some of the issues of their Sailors,” Tchalauo said. “I feel like I have a lot to offer and the citizenship was something that was standing in my way, so it really opens up some doors for me.”
Tchalauo has ambitions of becoming an information system technician while he finishes his college degree, then he wants to commission as a naval officer. None of which is possible without becoming a U.S. citizen first.
Most jobs and all security clearances in the Navy require Sailors to be citizens.
Brown sees herself pursuing a career outside the Navy, but she is grateful for the opportunities the Navy has provided her.
“It means a lot that I can make a life, especially for my daughter…it gives us opportunities to build a life here,” Brown stated.
Brown and Tchalauo both swore in as U.S. citizens on Nov. 16, 2020 at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Norfolk, Virginia.
Now they are one step closer to the future they envisioned for themselves and their children.
| Date Taken: | 11.20.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 11.20.2020 14:13 |
| Story ID: | 383473 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 321 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
This work, USS Arlington (LPD 24) Sailors become US citizens, by PO1 John Bellino, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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