1st TSC supports dedicated Soldier's US citizenship quest

By Staff Sgt. Neil W. McCabeApril 22, 2021

Army Reserve Spc. Feiyu He, a yard specialist deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, with the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based 1185th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion, stands in one of the yards his battalion operates at Kuwait's Shuaiba Port. The Chinese-born He is applying for U.S. citizenship with the support of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command's operational command post at the camp. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Neil W. McCabe)
Army Reserve Spc. Feiyu He, a yard specialist deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, with the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based 1185th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion, stands in one of the yards his battalion operates at Kuwait's Shuaiba Port. The Chinese-born He is applying for U.S. citizenship with the support of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command's operational command post at the camp. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Neil W. McCabe) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Neil W. McCabe) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - A Chinese-born Army Reserve specialist, deployed with the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based "Sentinels" of the 1185th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion, recently submitted his application packet to become an American citizen.

"The reason I joined the military was for the citizenship, the GI Bill and all kinds of benefits," said Spc. Feiyu He, who works as a yard specialist at the unit's posting at Shuaiba Port, Kuwait.

"I joined the Army in 2017, but there was a little problem with my background check, so it took a two-year investigation,” said He.

The specialist finished his citizenship packet with help from the G-1, or the manpower and personnel shop, at the 1st Theater Sustainment Command's operational command post.

Army Reserve Spc. Feiyu He, a yard specialist deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, with the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based 1185th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion, reviews paperwork March 26, 2021 for rolling stock at Kuwait's Shuaiba Port. Chinese-born He is applying for U.S. citizenship with the support of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command's operational command post at the camp. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Neil W. McCabe)
Army Reserve Spc. Feiyu He, a yard specialist deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, with the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based 1185th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion, reviews paperwork March 26, 2021 for rolling stock at Kuwait's Shuaiba Port. Chinese-born He is applying for U.S. citizenship with the support of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command's operational command post at the camp. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Neil W. McCabe) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Neil W. McCabe) VIEW ORIGINAL

Army Reserve Capt. Stephanie Parker, deputy chief of the 1st TSC-OCP G-1, said 1st TSC Commanding General Maj. Gen. John P. Sullivan told her section that helping Soldiers become U.S. citizens was a priority.

"Maj. Gen. Sullivan tasked the G-1 with putting together the guide for becoming citizens, directly," Parker said.

The Columbus, Ohio, resident said she personally worked on He's paperwork.

"Spc. He did complete his packet. It was sent to me at the G-1 section for review. I QC'd it and made sure he had all the documents he required," said Parker, who is a federal law enforcement officer in her civilian career.

"When I got the packet, I went through the checklist and ensured that his packet was good to go to be submitted to USCIS," she said. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, is the federal agency concerned with matters of naturalization and immigration to the United States.

"It is a lengthy process and it can be expensive," she said. "It can take years, so I can understand if there is some hesitancy."

Due to their service, Soldiers who are eligible for naturalization do not have to pay the application fees and some of the requirements for naturalization may not apply.

Parker encourages Soldiers who wish to become U.S. citizens to take advantages of these benefits. She believes “they deserve U.S. citizenship," she said. "They serve our country. They sacrifice for our country."

Army Reserve Spc. Feiyu He, seen here as a toddler, deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, with the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based 1185th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion. The Chinese-born He is applying for U.S. citizenship with the support of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command's operational command post. (Photo courtesy of Feiyu He)
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Reserve Spc. Feiyu He, seen here as a toddler, deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, with the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based 1185th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion. The Chinese-born He is applying for U.S. citizenship with the support of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command's operational command post. (Photo courtesy of Feiyu He) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Neil W. McCabe) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army Reserve Spc. Feiyu He, deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, with the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based 1185th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion, is held by his mother in this undated photo. The Chinese-born Soldier works as a yard specialist at Kuwait's Shuaiba Port. He has applied for U.S. citizenship with the support of 1st Theater Sustainment Command's operational command post at the camp. (Photo courtesy of Feiyu He)
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Reserve Spc. Feiyu He, deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, with the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based 1185th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion, is held by his mother in this undated photo. The Chinese-born Soldier works as a yard specialist at Kuwait's Shuaiba Port. He has applied for U.S. citizenship with the support of 1st Theater Sustainment Command's operational command post at the camp. (Photo courtesy of Feiyu He) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Neil W. McCabe) VIEW ORIGINAL

He was born in the coastal Guangdong Province in southern China. "I moved here when I was 13, seventh grade, middle school," the Philadelphia resident said.

"It definitely was a transition, there was a language barrier, the food, the school - it was a hard transition for me traveling to the United States," he said. "It took me three years to get used to the new place."

The prospective citizen said he did not study English in China. "I picked up my English skills here," He said. "Just talking to people is the most helpful. Even if you don't have a lot of vocabulary, you still have to talk. There is no faster way to learn a language."

Army Reserve Command Sgt. Maj. Rafael A. Saldana, senior enlisted advisor, 1185th DDSB, who signed a Feb. 6 memorandum in support of He's application, said helping the specialist was a profound honor.

"The Soldier has shown perseverance through the many challenges of becoming a United States Soldier; protecting our vital assets and resources from all enemies foreign or domestic, he said.

"Spc. He has committed himself to these values of protecting others from harm and sacrificing himself for the greater good for all," the command sergeant major said. "I'm proud of his accomplishments and his desire to continue to serve a higher entity than himself, his contributions to the 1185th DDSB are noteworthy."

Army Reserve Lt. Col. Dion S. Haverstraw, the 1185th DDSB commanding officer, said he also backed He's application.

"I supported his recommendation for citizenship because of his display of dedication to our unit and our Soldiers, and also the positive qualities he possesses that make him a good candidate for citizenship," Haverstraw said.

"He is a responsible person supportive of American principles of equality and fairness and shows a determined presence to be a productive member of society," Haverstraw said. "His service in the 1185th DDSB as an active member of the U.S. Army Reserve has been honorable and without incident."