By Spc. Nathan Hoskins
1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – It was a little over four years ago when the Bodeas, a couple from Sibiu, Romania, first set foot on American soil.
Ten months later, not even U.S. citizens yet, they enlisted to defend America against all enemies, foreign or domestic.
Now they are in Iraq, serving as official U.S. citizens with the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, in the war against terror.
Sgt. Ciprian Bodea, a unit supply specialist for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th "Guns" Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, and his wife, Sgt. Iuliana Bodea, a unit supply specialist for Company A, 615th "Cold Steel" Aviation Support Battalion, – who now both call New York home – re-enlisted for six more years of service during a ceremony Aug. 20.
Orlando, Fla., native Lt. Col. Timothy DeVito, commander of the Guns Battalion, was shocked the day he met the couple nearly two years ago.
"Very seldom do we have the privilege of serving with someone from another nation who has committed themselves to protect our country. That's a pretty humbling thing as Americans," DeVito said.
It seemed luck was what got the Bodeas to the states – a privilege in and unto itself, said Ciprian.
For most people who put their name in for the annual Diversity Visa Program, it takes them several years before they get picked, if at all.
But for Ciprian and his wife Iuliana, they put their names in and got picked that same year, he said.
According to U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs, the DV Program randomly selects 50,000 people from all over the world to come to the U.S. on a permanent resident visa, but the Bodea's wanted to take it a step further.
After ten months of living in New York, they decided to join the Army and start the process of becoming naturalized U.S. citizens, said Iuliana. So far, she said joining the Army has worked out on many levels for the couple.
The Army has enabled them not only to master the English language faster, but it has also given them new and useful skills and educational opportunities. It also helped speed up the citizenship process which, in turn, brought their daughter, Alexandra, 6, to the states, she said.
Alexandra, who is currently staying with family in Romania, is a major motivator in the Bodeas' plan for the future. The Bodeas had to take their daughter back to Romania because they had no relatives living in the states, said Iuliana.
"A lot of people who win (the DV Program) lottery have family already in the U.S., but not us. We had no one," she said.
Ciprian touched on the sensitive subject of leaving their child for so long.
"There are (pros and cons) because we are both deployed together," he said. "With (my wife) here, we are a family, but our daughter is without her mother for almost a year and a half."
Like most couples who deploy and leave their child or children behind, they stress that this is the most difficult part about being deployed. Still, even with the difficulty of leaving loved ones behind, the Bodeas are staying positive and are excited about the next six years they have dedicated to the Army, said Iuliana.
Iuliana has already made plans to take advantage of the educational benefits, she said. In the near future she plans to pursue a degree in business administration.
Ciprian is thinking about the future, as well. He is working on getting promoted to the rank of staff sergeant. If this plan works out, he'll take it further and apply for warrant officer school, he said.
Ciprian's current commander, Baton Rouge, La., native Capt. Josh Burton, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4-227th, found it amazing that the Bodeas reenlisted as a family in Iraq.
"With the current operational tempo, and the fact that we are currently almost 11 months into a tough deployment, (re-enlisting) is no small gesture," said Burton. "It shows the amount of dedication, purpose, and commitment this family has for this mission, our country and our Army."
Iuliana's former company commander, Liberty, Ill., native, Capt. Shawn Muder, commander of Co. E, 4-227th, has seen the Bodeas' progress as Soldiers.
"I have known and worked with both Bodeas for almost two years now. During that time, I have seen both of them grow into a couple of dedicated Soldiers and, most recently, (noncommissioned officers)," said Muder. "It was an honor to have Sgt. Iuliana Bodea in my company. She is a great Soldier and person."
DeVito said it is a privilege to serve with Soldiers like the Bodeas and it's something he won't soon forget.
"When you put this day in perspective years from now you'll be pretty amazed that you not only knew the Bodeas, but you had the privilege of serving with them in combat," he said to those in attendance for the ceremony.
The next six years, like the first four years, should prove beneficial to the Bodeas – if they have anything to say about it. So far, with their good track record, it should work out fine.