Courtesy Photo | 186 Soldiers were initiated as United States citizens on Nov. 4, at a naturalization...... read more read more
By Jodi Krause
34th Combat Aviation Brigade
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Ecuador. Russia. Mexico. Three Task Force 34 Soldiers have left their roots to call the United States home.
These Soldiers were initiated as United States citizens on Nov. 4, at a naturalization ceremony held in the Water Palace at Camp Victory, Iraq.
One of these Soldiers was Sgt. Edison Cevallos, D Company 3rd Battalion, 159th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion technical inspector. A native of Ecuador, being a citizen of the U.S. has been a life's journey.
"Becoming a U.S. citizen was one of my goals in life," Sgt. Cevallos said. "My family is very happy that it finally [has] become a reality."
Sgt. Cevallos has lived in the U.S. for nearly 20 years, and serviced in the military for half of that time.
"I came to the U.S. in 1989. I was 23 years old," Sgt. Cevallos said. "I traveled alone. It took me a couple of weeks to reach my destination."
After becoming a legal resident of the U.S., Sgt. Cevallos joined the Army in 1999. Since being stationed in Germany, he has been deployed three times, twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan.
After serving the United States over the years, Sgt. Cevallos, along with Spc. Jose Aguirre, E Co. 1st Battalion, 244th Assault Helicopter Battalion (AHB) Maintenance Specialist from Mexico, and Spc. Yuriy Skrubert, E Co. 1-244th AHB Maintenance Specialist from Russia, took the proper steps to gain his citizenship.
"To become a citizen, a Soldier has to initiate the process by filling out various forms, getting his or her fingerprints and photographs," said Staff Sgt. Artem Bunin, TF 34 Headquarters Paralegal.
Once the paperwork is approved, the applicants are ready for an interview.
"Interviews are held within days of the actual naturalization ceremony," Staff Sgt. Bunin said. "For the current ceremony, the interviews began on Oct. 30."
The interview is conducted by a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer.
"He checked my paper work and asked me questions about it. [There were] also a couple of civic and American history questions," Sgt. Cevallos said. "The interview lasted about 15 minutes."
At the Nov. 4 ceremony, each of the 186 Soldiers being granted their citizenship were given a certificate, American flag and coin by Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, Commanding General of the Multi-National Force in Iraq.
| Date Taken: | 11.04.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 12.13.2008 03:26 |
| Story ID: | 27631 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 285 |
| Downloads: | 229 |
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