VICTORY BASE COMPLEX, Iraq - Eighty-three servicemembers from 40 different countries received their citizenship in a ceremony at the Victory Chapel on Camp Victory in May.
This particular ceremony was the sixth held for servicemembers deployed to Iraq.
Spc. Edgar Estrada-Perez, a unit supply clerk with the California National Guard's 756th Transportation Company, was happy that he was able to take care of his paperwork and receive his citizenship with the help of the Army and support from other servicemembers.
Getting his citizenship while deployed made the event very special for Estrada-Perez. "The ceremony was great, especially being in Iraq. How many people can say that they got their citizenship in Iraq, serving their country?" Estrada-Perez said.
He only wishes his mom and his best friend were able to attend and see him take the oath.
Spc. Ana Flores feels the same way. "It is good to have the opportunity to get my citizenship faster because I am in the Army," she said.
The food service specialist from Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, Brigade Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, joined the Army because she always wanted to be a Soldier.
"I love the service," she said.
Flores moved to the Unites States with her family when she was 14, so she remembers life in El Salvador well.
"I feel so lucky to be able to get my citizenship. I am lucky to be living in the United States instead of back home. I remember when I was little, I remember what I saw. It was hard," she said.
Better opportunities brought the family of Estrada-Perez to the United States as well. They are originally from Mexico.
He wanted to become a citizen to improve his life, open up new windows of opportunity and most important of all, to bring honor to his family.
"They did the first step to come to the United States, so it was only natural to take the next step and become a citizen," he said.
Although the road to the becoming a citizen was not the smoothest for all participants, they are all very happy to call themselves citizens of the United States.
"It was a mission trying to get a hold of everybody, trying to e-mail everybody and get everything settled," said Pfc. Nadia Miranda, a small arms and artillery repairman from the 503rd Maintenance Company currently deployed to Logistical Base Seitz.
She started her paperwork at their home station in Fort Bragg, N.C., back in November.
A proud citizen today, Miranda urges non-citizen Soldiers to take advantage of the opportunity of getting their citizenship faster and at no cost with the help of the Army.
Flores has the same message: "Take advantage of what the military offers you. It is free, it is a good benefit. If you are serving the country, why not become a citizen?"