Photo By Spc. Alex Cano | U.S. Army Spc. Hakeem Campbell, 372nd Military Police Company, District of Columbia...... read more read more
Hailing from Jamaica, Army Spc. Akeem Campbell, a dedicated member of the 273rd Military Police Company, always had a deep-rooted desire to serve his country. However, upon immigrating to the United States, he decided to channel that drive into joining the U.S. Army.
"I remember the pride of wearing a uniform back in my home country, and I wanted to continue that legacy," he said.
Campbell's journey of going through the naturalization process alongside his military service was an uncomplicated one. He described it as fairly easy, recalling that during basic training, the liaison inquired if anyone wanted to become a citizen. Campbell eagerly raised his hand for the paperwork, and by the conclusion of basic training, he had obtained his citizenship.
He mentioned that there were no significant obstacles in balancing his military service with the naturalization process. Campbell also noted that since English was the language spoken in his home country, he didn't face any language-barriers.
Campbell expressed gratitude as he reflected on the support he received during this process. "Everybody was supportive. We have incredible battle buddies here, to the left and right of us,” he said. “We encourage each other to show up to drill every month, and we make sure you do the right thing at the right time with the proper appearance."
Campbell has also been actively sharing his story with others who might be interested in joining the military. He worked with recruiting, canvassing the D.C area to provide information about the National Guard to individuals of various nationalities who were curious but uncertain about joining.
When asked about his future goals in the military, Campbell confidently stated, "My aim is to retire in 20 years and transition into civilian life. I have a clear vision of my path ahead, and I'm excited to see what the future holds."
| Date Taken: | 06.11.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 07.03.2023 14:05 |
| Story ID: | 447764 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 56 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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