By Sgt. Angiene L. Myers
4th Sustainment Brigade
CAMP AIRIFJAN, Kuwait – San Diego, Calif., native Diobanjo S. San Agustin, a specialist in the U.S. Army, became a U.S. citizen on April 5 at a naturalization ceremony held at the chapel.
San Agustin, an Infantryman with the 1-160th Infantry Battalion based out of Inglewood, Calif., is originally from the Philippines and is currently serving his first tour in Kuwait in support of the global war on terror.
Like the rest of the Soldiers, San Agustin was inspired to become a citizen of the country that he pledged to protect when he enlisted in the California National Guard.
"I was inspired to become a citizen because there are more opportunities and freedom given to U.S. Citizen," said San Agustin.
Applicants applying for citizenship of the Unites States would have to wait at least 10 years, but as a member of a military service, San Agustin was eligible to apply as soon as his enlistment began.
"It took three to four months and being in the military helped speed up the process. In the civilian world it can take years," said San Agustin.
During the ceremony, San Agustin 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.
"I feel excited about my naturalization because more opportunities have opened up to me," said San Agustin.
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.