Photo By Giancarlo Casem | Spc. Souliyoung Kantharinh, 2-142 Field Artillery Brigade, takes the oath of...... read more read more
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By Spc. Giancarlo Casem
50th Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait -- It was a long and arduous journey for some, but it was worth it. This road culminated in a naturalization ceremony at the Zone 1 Chapel at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, June 29.
Twenty-eight service members from the Third Army/U.S. Army Central area of operation became the newest U.S. citizens.
"I feel proud," said Sgt. Noli Batac, 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment. "I feel happy now that everything is complete and official."
The ceremony on Friday capped off an eventful week for Batac. Batac was also just recently promoted.
Batac was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. His parents moved to the U.S. in 1993 and he followed almost a decade later. He emigrated to Juneau, Alaska, in May 2001. A few months later, in November, he enlisted in the Alaska National Guard.
Batac said his decision to join was because of his pride for his newly adopted country. He answered the call of duty after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
"I joined right after 9/11, because I felt like it was my duty to defend this country that I was living in," Batac said. "I also saw it as a way for me to give thanks to my country. This country has provided so much for my family, it was the least I could do."
During the ceremony, 27 other service members from 14 countries took the oath along with Batac. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, non-naturalized service members who opt to become U.S. citizens may do so if they are eligible. Qualified service members are exempt from certain naturalization requirements including residency and physical presence in the U.S.
"It's a great day, I'm really happy for him," said Chaplain (Capt.) Kirk Thorsteinson, 3rd Batallion, 297th Infantry, "I know he has been trying for six years. Now he can petition for his family to come if he wants to."
Thorsteinson said newly-naturalized Soldiers in his unit deserve praise.
"The ceremony gives a lot of these guys credit," he said. "They were willing to fight for a country that they weren't even citizens of. I wish all Americans felt that way about their country."
Batac's wife is still living in the Philippines with their two children. Batac said his wife and children are proud of him as a Soldier.
"My wife is proud of what I do," he said. "My children know what I do and they are going to be even more proud of me today. Now, it's my turn to better my family."
He said although his wife and children do not know about his naturalization yet, his parents already know.
"They are part of the reason why I became a Soldier and why I wanted to be a citizen," Batac said. "When I moved here, I saw the good that it did for my family. They moved here because we were poor, my parents wanted to improve our lives. This is my way of saying thanks to my parents and to my country."
Since the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism the USCIS has naturalized more than 32,500 service members. Of the more than 700,000 newly-naturalized citizens each year, roughly 8,000 of them serve in the military. Each military installation has a point of contact for service members wishing to become U.S. citizens. The process was relatively easy, Batac said.
"It wasn't hard at all," he said. "I just signed some paperwork and waited for my application to come through."
Batac's good friend in the unit, Sgt. Erwin Durano, also from Manila, Philippines, decided to become an American citizen for similar reasons.
For Durano, a light wheel vehicle mechanic with 3-297th, a strong sense of nationalism for the U.S. led to him joining the military even though he wasn't a citizen yet.
"I felt like it was my duty, I wanted to support and defend my country," Durano said. "As soon as I set foot in the U.S., I felt like it was already my country. I felt like I was already an American, but now it is official, and I feel even more proud. I wish every American citizen felt this way about defending their country."
While the 28 service members were being sworn in by Joseph Hackbarth, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field director, great pride swelled inside Batac and Durano.
"While I was saying the oath, I was thinking to myself, 'this is for real, I can now proudly say I am an American,'" Durano said.
Batac said he had similar thoughts.
"I thought, 'wow, I'm an American citizen. I'm leaving behind my Filipino citizenship,'" Batac said.
These 28 service members were only a small number compared to the many other service members who become naturalized each year. Although there are many more non-naturalized service members who serve in the military, Durano said he urges every one of them to become citizens.
"If you're willing to fight for the country, you might as well be a citizen. You deserve it," he said.
For these newly-naturalized service members, returning home as a citizen bares a very significant meaning. Even though his citizenship has changed, his pride and sense of nationalism has not wavered. Rather, it has been fortified, Batac said.
"I can't say enough how proud I am," Batac said. "Even when I wasn't a citizen, when I joined I felt like it was my duty to defend my country, now it feels even more important. I am now part of this country."
| Date Taken: | 06.29.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 06.29.2007 14:06 |
| Story ID: | 11043 |
| Location: | CAMP BUEHRING, KW |
| Web Views: | 444 |
| Downloads: | 410 |
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