Troops Born Abroad Take Citizenship Oath

By C. Todd Lopez
American Forces Press Service

April 23, 2010 - Two dozen U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, born in countries from Brazil to Tobago, stood before U.S. President Barack Obama in the White House Rose Garden today to take the oath of citizenship for the country they serve.

The naturalization ceremony was hosted by Obama, who was joined by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, and Alejandro Mayorkas, director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The servicemembers hailed from nations such as Brazil, China, Colombia, England, Ethiopia, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago.

"It is a great honor to serve as your commander in chief and it is my greatest pleasure to be among the first to greet you as a fellow American," said Obama, following the oath of citizenship.

"Some of you came to America as children, holding tight to your parents' hands as you arrived in a new world," he said. "Some of you came as adults, leaving everything you knew behind as you pursued a new life. While your stories are your own, today, we celebrate the common spirit that lives within each of you -- the spirit that has renewed and strengthened America for more than two centuries."

The president told the new Americans -- each already serving the nation as members of the Armed Forces -- that being a citizen comes with responsibilities.

"Citizenship is not just a collection of rights, but it is also a set of responsibilities," he said. "Like so many others, these men and women met their responsibilities, they have earned their citizenship."

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. has naturalized more than 58,000 members of the Armed Forces, Napolitano said.

"It takes a very special individual to serve and defend a nation that is not yet your own, but that is what each of you are doing, that is testimony to your strong sense of patriotism," she said.

Among the troops who became U.S. citizens today were: Pfc. Andrew Smith, 400th Military Police Battalion, Fort Meade, Md.; Spc. James Muchoki, 634th Battle Support Group, Springfield, Ill.; and Pfc. Michael Z. Armstrong, 450th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne).

"It means a lot to me -- I believe in freedom," said Smith, on becoming a citizen. "There's no better way to go if you live in this country -- I love this country. I want to be a citizen."

Hailing from Jamaica, Smith has been in the United States for eight years. He says it was the professionalism of the Army that drew him in.

Muchoki, who is originally from Kenya, said he originally served in the U.S. Air Force, but was attracted to the Army because it offered him the option to serve as an X-ray technician. He said he's been in the U.S. since 1992, and chose to pursue citizenship after getting a family and "finally settling down."

"It's a very exciting day, finally, it feels like it was the last thing I needed to do," he said.

Armstrong, originally from England, has been in the United States for six years now. His father is a member of the U.S. Air Force. He said he joined the Army "to try something new," and says meeting the president and getting citizenship was an important moment in his life.

"It was brilliant, one of the most memorable moments in my life, actually," he said.

Following the naturalization ceremony, the president asked Marine Corps Sgt. Ledum D. Ndaanee to come forward.

Ndaanee was presented with the "Outstanding American by Choice" award. The award highlights the importance of citizenship rights and responsibilities through recognition of the outstanding achievements of naturalized U.S. citizens. Ndaanee, originally from Nigeria, joined the Marine Corps in 2004, and became an American citizen in 2007.

The following 24 servicemembers became American citizens today:

• Pfc. Michael Zach Armstrong, U.S. Army, originally from England
• Senior Airman Lenard Canlas Belvis, U.S. Air Force Reserve, originally from the Philippines
• Seaman Tei Aristide Bislao, U.S. Navy, originally from Togo
• Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony Cabalerro, U.S. Navy, originally from Spain
• Airman Maria-Antonette Capio Cabantog, U.S. Air Force, originally from the Philippines
• Aviation Machinist Mate Perla Conception Ramos de Chavira, U.S. Navy, originally from Mexico
• Petty Officer 3rd Class Rommel Cruz Cuenco, U.S. Navy, originally from the Philippines
• Seaman Affeya Tiffany Christine Grant, U.S. Navy, originally from Guyana
• Sgt. Therica Tameica Hutchinson, U.S. Army, originally from Jamaica
• Senior Airman Oscar Gaspar Manrique, U.S. Air Force, originally from Peru
• Cpl. Granger Lawrence Michael, U.S. Marine Corps, originally from Papua New Guinea
• Petty Officer 3rd Class Roosevelt Joseph, U.S. Navy, originally from Haiti
• Petty Officer 3rd Class Raquel De Olivera Moura, U.S. Navy, originally from Brazil
• Spc. James Nyaga Muchoki, U.S. Army, originally from Kenya
• Seaman Recruit Jerdaine Devon Oldacre, U.S. Navy, originally from Jamaica
• Soraya Conceicao Ross, U.S. Marine Corps, originally from Brazil
• Capt. Charlyston Schultz, U.S. Marine Corps, originally from Brazil
• Cpl. Raul Pagaduan Sibayan, U.S. Army, originally from the Philippines
• Private 1st Class Andrew Hopeton Smith, U.S. Army, originally from Jamaica
• Pfc. Marcin Dominik Staniszewski, U.S. Marine Corps, originally from Poland
• Pfc. Berhan Kifetew Teferi, U.S. Army, originally from Ethiopia
• Seaman Recruit Pitrianne Natoya Williams, U.S. Navy, originally from Jamaica
• Airman Yu Yuan, U.S. Air Force, originally from China
• Petty Officer 3rd Class Jhonathan Zapata Garcia, U.S. Navy, originally from Colombia