BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (Jan. 30, 2015) -- In a deployed environment, Soldiers are often faced with tough decisions on a daily basis.
Recently Spc. Jesus Medina, Spc. Isaac Natera, Pfc. Bobby Ngendung, Pvt. Hector OrtizPerez, and Pfc. Filip Vaco made a decision that will change both theirs and their families lives, as they were sworn in as U.S. citizens during a ceremony in Afghanistan.
The administrative portion of the journey took on average 10-14 months for these Soldiers, but for most of them, this dream has been a longtime coming.
"Back from where I am from, we don't get opportunities like this," said Ngendung, an infantryman from Task Force Thunder, originally from Yaounde, Cameroon. "Ever since I was a little kid, I admired Soldiers, and I always wanted to be a Soldier, especially in the U.S. Army. I saw them on TV and saw them always helping people out, and that made me want to be a part of that."
In the crowd watching the naturalization ceremony, was another enlisted Soldier, who remembers being in their shoes.
"I took the oath in February 1992," said Command Sgt. Major Christopher Gilpin, U.S. Forces Afghanistan -- Support, Senior Enlisted Leader. "The process was difficult but that was because the system was different back then."
With the former system, Gilpin had to try more than once to become a U.S. citizen. During his first attempt, he had all his paperwork completed, but there was a problem.
"Back then you had to first serve three years in the military, and I applied just before Desert Storm started," said Gilpin, originally a Jamaican citizen. "I was in Desert Storm when I finalized my application which was approved, but I was in the desert so I could not be sworn in. I missed my swear-in date, so when I redeployed after the war I had to start everything over again."
Since Gilpin's experience, the rules have changed for Service members.
"In 2002, Congress changed the law so that a Service member only needs one year of active service to become eligible to be a citizen," Gilpin said. "Then President Bush signed an executive order stating that during periods of hostility, any Service member serving one day of active duty can apply for citizenship. Also, they can now be sworn in overseas."
Gilpin stressed that there are multiple ways to start the process. In garrison, you can visit Army Community Service, when deployed you can check in with anyone that works for the embassy to point you in the right direction, or you can start the process online at http://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learners/apply-citizenship.
As the five Soldiers finished the Oath of Allegiance, Gilpin could not help but remember his own experience.
"I saw the Soldiers and they reminded me of myself, I was so emotional that I felt tears coming out and I had to compose myself," Gilpin said. "I remembered during Desert Storm, they always played Lee Greenwood's 'God Bless the U.S.A.' That was our theme song, and I was proud to sing it but at the end I would say I am proud to be an American…Soldier, because I wasn't a citizen yet. So I remember being so proud that day, because I could sing I am proud to be an American and not have to say Soldier at the end."
As the ceremony finished, just like Gilpin has been sharing his knowledge to the younger generation, this group of U.S. citizens are trying to pass on their experiences to the next generation.
"Just keep your head up, and eventually it will all be better," said OrtizPerez, a Task Force Thunder infantryman, originally from Mexico. "You might go through a lot of hard times, but eventually you will get to the top of the mountain, and it feels great."
Related Links:
More photos from the Naturalization Ceremony
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Application Website
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