Every basic combat training class ends with a day for families followed by graduation day. Soldiers anticipate the joys of family day, since they haven't seen their families in almost two months.
A Battery, 1st Battalion, 79th Field Artillery, had a family day with a historic first on Oct. 22.
Unlike every other family day, which starts with a ceremony followed by free time with the family, this BCT family day included a citizenship ceremony for five Soldiers who, through basic training, became citizens of the United States.
According to the Department of Defense Web site,"MAVNI is Military Accessions Vital to National Interest," a recruitment program. The Secretary of Defense authorized recruiting of certain legal aliens whose skills are considered vital to the national interest.
Today's Soldiers are eligible for expedited citizenship under a July 2002 executive order, and the military services have worked closely with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to streamline citizenship processing for servicemembers. Those considered vital to national interest are those holding critical skills - physicians, nurses and certain experts in language with associated cultural backgrounds - are eligible for the program.
"I wanted to be U.S. citizen and the MAVNI program gave me that opportunity," said Spc. Raj Chakraborty. "I also wanted to serve. My best friend and college roommate is currently in the Army.This was a great opportunity to join the Army and serve, and I feel this was the best way to earn my U.S. citizenship.To serve my country. I have my bachelor's degree and master's in electrical engineering. Army experience will help me in my career. I have lived in the United States for nine years. I love it here."
"Every day the Army is accepting volunteers who can meet the qualifications for enlistment service from those who happen to be non-U.S. citizens," said Maj. Rhonda Williams, 1-79th FA battalion executive officer. "This is not a new trend. It's important to know not every non-U.S. citizen that comes through our doors is a MAVNI candidate. Nearly every basic training class does have non- U.S. citizens in its cycle and our leaders assist them as they work toward attaining their U.S. citizenship status.
The individuals arrive into our unit just as every other Soldier. So there is no preferential treatment shown toward them, special identity given to them or special privileges afforded them during the course of their training. They fall into the same ranks as every U.S. citizen volunteer does, more importantly the MAVNI candidates have to meet the same stringent standards as their U.S. citizen battle buddies do to graduate from basic training."
Spc. Sanjog Patel, Spc. Mu Song, Pfc. Hyon Lim and Spc. Oriole Owokaya are the other four Soldiers who became U.S. citizens during the ceremony.
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