By Sgt. Angiene L. Myers
4th Sustainment Brigade
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Madera, Calif., native Enrique Moreno De La Cruz, a specialist in the U.S. Army, became a U.S. citizen on April 5 at a naturalization ceremony held at the chapel.
De La Cruz, an Infantryman with the 1-160th Infantry Battalion based out of Inglewood, Calif., is originally from Mexico and is currently serving his first tour in Kuwait in support of the global war on terror.
Like the rest of the Soldiers, De La Cruz was inspired to become a citizen of the country that he pledged to protect when he enlisted in the California National Guard.
"My inspiration for becoming a citizen was my plans to become an officer in the Army. Now that I have my citizenship, I can complete my schooling and attend Officer Candidate School," said De La Cruz.
"My naturalization took four months and the Army made the process faster. I didn't have to spend any money or stand in any long lines for my application to be processed. This would take months back in the sates, if not years. I am grateful for all of that," said De La Cruz.
During the ceremony, De La Cruz promised to support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic, as a Soldier, this promise is not far off from the oath he took as recruit when he enlisted in the Army.
"Being a citizen feels good and it's something I achieved with the help of my family and my chain of command," said De La Cruz.
Sixty-two service members from 25 different countries representing three different branches of the U.S. military participated in the naturalization ceremony.
"It is really a commitment that all 62 are about to make," said Lt. Gen. James J. Lovelace, the U.S. Army Central Command commanding general, "it's a commitment they made long ago when they joined the military and pledged allegiance to the Constitution of the United States."
"The treasure of freedom is great," he said, "because we as service members serve in countries that don't have the liberty that we as Americans do."
"These 62 individuals took an oath and began a journey of honorable service to our country, which is to become their country," Lovelace said.
"These service members are about to become equal members of the American family," he said.