FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- Jae Kim, a first lieutenant in the Army Reserve, prayed that he would become a U.S. citizen before he graduates this week from Fort Jackson's U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School.
His prayer was answered Aug. 18 when he, along with seven other Soldiers, raised his hand and swore allegiance to his new country.
The event was noteworthy not only because eight Soldiers achieved their dream of becoming American citizens, but also because it marked the first time that a naturalization ceremony took place at Fort Jackson.
It took about 2 1/2 months from the time Kim, who was born in South Korea, applied for citizenship until he raised his hand for the oath of allegiance.
That was much less time than the nearly yearlong process he went through to join the Army as a legal resident of the United States.
"This happened sooner than I expected," said Kim, who first came to the United States as an exchange student in 1994. "I'm really happy. It is my honor and privilege to become a U.S. citizen and serve this wonderful country."
Approximately 43,000 military service members have attained citizenship since 9/11 with the help of a 2002 law that expedited the naturalization process.
Kim said he wanted to be an American citizen since he was a small boy living in South Korea, learning to speak English by watching television shows broadcast from the local U.S. military installation and making friends with the servicemen and women there.
"I was very much 'Americanized,'" said Kim. "I felt like I was called by God to join the Army and serve the Soldiers."
Soldiers like Kim will find that their path to citizenship is a lot less complicated now that citizenship services are being offered on Fort Jackson as part of an effort to make the process easier and more streamlined.
"Normally, the Soldier would have to travel to the immigration office in Charleston," said Miranda Broadus, Army Community Service Relocation Program manager. "This brings immigrations services to the troops."
About 75 Soldiers a year from Fort Jackson become naturalized citizens and that number is expected to grow now that an immigration field officer will have a presence on the
post, said Jerri Adair, field office director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Adair said her office in Charleston will now have someone at Fort Jackson at least one day a week to help Soldiers become naturalized citizens.
The naturalization process can be a lengthy one, involving filling out a lot of paperwork, background check, passing a test on U.S. government and demonstrating a command of the English language.
"It's pretty intensive, and (is) on top of their regular military duties," Adair said.
One of the biggest steps in the naturalization process is the interview with an immigration officer, which will now take place on Fort Jackson.
The interview involves verifying background information, checking the immigration status and administering the citizenship test.
"This will definitely speed things up," Adair said. "Sometimes by the time we would try to interview a Soldier, he or she would have left Fort Jackson for another (post). Now we'll have someone right here to interview them quickly."
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