By Carmen L. Gleason
American Forces Press Service
March 13, 2007 – Better job and educational opportunities or family reasons may have led them from the lands of their birth to the United States, but serving in the armed forces made it possible for four servicemembers to become citizens yesterday. Three soldiers and a Marine took the oath of citizenship in a naturalization ceremony at Washington's Walter Reed Army Medical Center hosted by the Defense and Homeland Security departments.
"By your willingness to become citizens, you keep alive the dream of countless immigrant soldiers who have come before you and will surely follow in your footsteps," Emilio Gonzalez, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services director, said.
After he administered the oath, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told the new citizens that immigrants have long been a benefit to the United States by boosting the economy, strengthening the culture, and blessing communities.
"You four who became citizens today have done something more," he said. "You have already done what you just swore to do."
Not only did the four sign up to defend their adopted home, they all were injured when serving the nation while deployed in Iraq.
"Even before you took the oath, you put duty, honor and country ahead of yourselves," Chertoff said. "You put your lives on the line for Americans you haven't even met. I thank you deeply for your sacrifice.
"For those who just became citizens," he continued, "we're honored you have joined us in carrying out this sacred mission. I am grateful for your service, moved by your sacrifice, inspired by your courage and humbled by your devotion to your adopted home."
Army Spcs. Angel Regalado-Contreras and Eduardo Garcia-Gonzalez and Pfc. Dwishnicka Randolph, and Marine Lance Cpl. Carlos Lopes became citizens in the fifth such ceremony hosted at Walter Reed since President Bush signed an executive order in 2002 expediting naturalization for servicemembers.
To date, USCIS has naturalized more than 26,000 servicemembers, with 1,006 of those becoming citizens while serving outside the United States. About 40,000 members of the armed forces are eligible to apply for naturalization.
Recent changes of the Immigration and Nationality Act have streamlined the naturalization process for military personnel serving on active duty or those who have recently been discharged. Since October 2004, servicemembers no longer have to pay a fee when filing for citizenship.
Randolph, who was born in Haiti, said that although her fellow soldiers were very open to her serving in the Army without being a citizen, she now has an even greater sense of belonging since taking the oath.
"It feels great to be a citizen," Randolph said. "It's a blessing to be in the military. I think it's a great honor to wear the military uniform."
The 26-year-old soldier said the first thing she's going to do as a citizen is to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles so she can register to vote.
For soldiers like Garcia-Gonzalez, being a citizen will make life better once out of the military. Originally from Mexico, he is awaiting medical discharge following a tour with the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq.
"I feel relieved," he said. "Now I have better job opportunities when I get out of the Army."
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Military Organization Honors Supporters
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
March 13, 2007 – The Military Officers Association of America announced it will present its highest award to an actor and a corporation for their strong support of military servicemembers. Gary Sinise and the DuPont Company, with headquarters in Wilmington, Del., will receive the MOAA Distinguished Service Award for 2007.
MOAA looks for indicators of strong support for military employees when considering organizations for this award, retired Air Force Col. Steve Strobridge, MOAA's director of government relations, said.
"(That includes) making up the pay between military pay and their old salary, continuation of benefits, support for the families, (and) recognition when they return," he said.
The criteria are a little different for an individual to receive the MOAA Distinguished Service Award. "Selfless service, achievement of results and reflections of credit on the military community" are key the elements, Strobridge said.
"DuPont and Sinise clearly demonstrated a great deal of caring and personal involvement involving the military," he said.
Sinise stars in CBS's "CSI: NY." As one of the founders of the "Lt. Dan Band," named after his "Forrest Gump" character, the actor has toured the world playing concerts for military personnel and their families.
DuPont earned MOAA's recognition for its strong support of military personnel, in general, and specifically for its employees who are military reservists.
The Military Officers Association of America is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program highlighting the ways Americans and the corporate sector are supporting the nation's servicemembers.
DuPont also helps "Treat the Troops," an America Supports You organization that sends cookies to deployed servicemembers, with shipping costs.
MOAA also will recognize five members of Congress and two congressional staffers. Sens. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, as well as Reps. Chet Edwards of Texas, and Walter Jones of North Carolina, will receive the Col. Arthur T. Marix Congressional Achievement Award for championing legislation to protect retired military families against health fee increases.
Virginia Sen. John Warner is being recognized with a special achievement award for his eight years leading the Senate Armed Service Committee. The two staffers, John Chapla and John Conger, also are being recognized for their broad support of military personnel.
The awards bring awareness to those offering strong support to the military, Strobridge said. They also let servicemembers know they're not forgotten.
"It is important to show the men and women who are serving and have served that the American people do care about them and recognize and appreciate them for their service," he said.
The awards will be presented in a ceremony on Capitol Hill on April 17.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
March 13, 2007 – The Military Officers Association of America announced it will present its highest award to an actor and a corporation for their strong support of military servicemembers. Gary Sinise and the DuPont Company, with headquarters in Wilmington, Del., will receive the MOAA Distinguished Service Award for 2007.
MOAA looks for indicators of strong support for military employees when considering organizations for this award, retired Air Force Col. Steve Strobridge, MOAA's director of government relations, said.
"(That includes) making up the pay between military pay and their old salary, continuation of benefits, support for the families, (and) recognition when they return," he said.
The criteria are a little different for an individual to receive the MOAA Distinguished Service Award. "Selfless service, achievement of results and reflections of credit on the military community" are key the elements, Strobridge said.
"DuPont and Sinise clearly demonstrated a great deal of caring and personal involvement involving the military," he said.
Sinise stars in CBS's "CSI: NY." As one of the founders of the "Lt. Dan Band," named after his "Forrest Gump" character, the actor has toured the world playing concerts for military personnel and their families.
DuPont earned MOAA's recognition for its strong support of military personnel, in general, and specifically for its employees who are military reservists.
The Military Officers Association of America is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program highlighting the ways Americans and the corporate sector are supporting the nation's servicemembers.
DuPont also helps "Treat the Troops," an America Supports You organization that sends cookies to deployed servicemembers, with shipping costs.
MOAA also will recognize five members of Congress and two congressional staffers. Sens. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, as well as Reps. Chet Edwards of Texas, and Walter Jones of North Carolina, will receive the Col. Arthur T. Marix Congressional Achievement Award for championing legislation to protect retired military families against health fee increases.
Virginia Sen. John Warner is being recognized with a special achievement award for his eight years leading the Senate Armed Service Committee. The two staffers, John Chapla and John Conger, also are being recognized for their broad support of military personnel.
The awards bring awareness to those offering strong support to the military, Strobridge said. They also let servicemembers know they're not forgotten.
"It is important to show the men and women who are serving and have served that the American people do care about them and recognize and appreciate them for their service," he said.
The awards will be presented in a ceremony on Capitol Hill on April 17.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Gates Reflects on Leadership, Troop Support
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
March 13, 2007 – Beyond making budget and administrative decisions, leadership is about setting a tone of integrity and caring, and working for lasting change, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today. In an interview with the Pentagon Channel, Gates, who took office in December, said he brought his leadership style from the Central Intelligence Agency and Texas A&M University to the Defense Department, focusing on including established professionals in the organization in decision-making processes.
"It seems to me it's up to the leader to set the goal, but then to include as broad a group of people as possible in the decision making about how do we get from where we are to achieve that goal, and that kind of an inclusive decision-making process, I think, ensures that change is actually lasting because those who are left behind after the leader departs have embraced it and it's their change," he said.
To keep in touch with the professionals he manages, Gates said he has started having lunch with the senior enlisted advisors from each service, and when he visits installations, he is hosted by the senior enlisted servicemembers.
When President Bush asked Gates to take over as defense secretary after Donald Rumsfeld's resignation in November, Gates recognized it would be a challenge, he said, but he couldn't deny his sense of duty.
"When we have soldiers, when we have young people fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan and we face challenges from Iran, North Korea, all the other challenges that we face around the world, there are so many servicemen and servicewomen making sacrifices and their families are making sacrifices, and when the president came to me and said he thought I could help, I don't know how you say no under those circumstances," Gates said.
An important aspect of honest, accountable leadership is ensuring the needs of servicemembers and their families are met, Gates said. When reports first surfaced in February about shoddy conditions and poor outpatient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, DoD leaders acted quickly to evaluate the situation and improve conditions for wounded soldiers, he said.
"I haven't heard a single complaint anywhere about the acute care at Walter Reed and the doctors and the nurses and the staff are just terrific," Gates said. "They are the best in the world. There is just no doubt about that, but the outpatient care, clearly, had some problems and it was evident from the news articles, and I felt it was important to take it very seriously from the very beginning."
The president's bipartisan panel and the independent review group established by Gates are working now to assess the situations at military medical facilities and come up with solutions, Gates noted, but no one is waiting for these findings before making improvements. The Army already has created an action plan for Walter Reed and has repaired many facilities on post, and as the commissions report their findings, they will be implemented immediately, he said.
"We have action in place, and we will see a continuing series of actions down the way, and what I have told people is that after the war itself, I think, this department has no higher priority than taking the best care in the world of our wounded troops, and I am prepared to allocate whatever resources we need to make that happen," he said.
While at his last post as president of a huge university, Gates said he felt a sense of personal responsibility for every young person under his leadership. Now, with millions of troops following his lead, he feels the same way, he said.
"I feel personally responsible for each and every one of them, and I care about what happens to them," he said of the troops. "I care about their safety. I care about their families. I'm mindful of the sacrifices, not only the troops make, but their families make, and anything we can do to make their lives better and to make sure that they know how much they're appreciated, I'm prepared to do, but I take it as a very personal responsibility."
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
March 13, 2007 – Beyond making budget and administrative decisions, leadership is about setting a tone of integrity and caring, and working for lasting change, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today. In an interview with the Pentagon Channel, Gates, who took office in December, said he brought his leadership style from the Central Intelligence Agency and Texas A&M University to the Defense Department, focusing on including established professionals in the organization in decision-making processes.
"It seems to me it's up to the leader to set the goal, but then to include as broad a group of people as possible in the decision making about how do we get from where we are to achieve that goal, and that kind of an inclusive decision-making process, I think, ensures that change is actually lasting because those who are left behind after the leader departs have embraced it and it's their change," he said.
To keep in touch with the professionals he manages, Gates said he has started having lunch with the senior enlisted advisors from each service, and when he visits installations, he is hosted by the senior enlisted servicemembers.
When President Bush asked Gates to take over as defense secretary after Donald Rumsfeld's resignation in November, Gates recognized it would be a challenge, he said, but he couldn't deny his sense of duty.
"When we have soldiers, when we have young people fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan and we face challenges from Iran, North Korea, all the other challenges that we face around the world, there are so many servicemen and servicewomen making sacrifices and their families are making sacrifices, and when the president came to me and said he thought I could help, I don't know how you say no under those circumstances," Gates said.
An important aspect of honest, accountable leadership is ensuring the needs of servicemembers and their families are met, Gates said. When reports first surfaced in February about shoddy conditions and poor outpatient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, DoD leaders acted quickly to evaluate the situation and improve conditions for wounded soldiers, he said.
"I haven't heard a single complaint anywhere about the acute care at Walter Reed and the doctors and the nurses and the staff are just terrific," Gates said. "They are the best in the world. There is just no doubt about that, but the outpatient care, clearly, had some problems and it was evident from the news articles, and I felt it was important to take it very seriously from the very beginning."
The president's bipartisan panel and the independent review group established by Gates are working now to assess the situations at military medical facilities and come up with solutions, Gates noted, but no one is waiting for these findings before making improvements. The Army already has created an action plan for Walter Reed and has repaired many facilities on post, and as the commissions report their findings, they will be implemented immediately, he said.
"We have action in place, and we will see a continuing series of actions down the way, and what I have told people is that after the war itself, I think, this department has no higher priority than taking the best care in the world of our wounded troops, and I am prepared to allocate whatever resources we need to make that happen," he said.
While at his last post as president of a huge university, Gates said he felt a sense of personal responsibility for every young person under his leadership. Now, with millions of troops following his lead, he feels the same way, he said.
"I feel personally responsible for each and every one of them, and I care about what happens to them," he said of the troops. "I care about their safety. I care about their families. I'm mindful of the sacrifices, not only the troops make, but their families make, and anything we can do to make their lives better and to make sure that they know how much they're appreciated, I'm prepared to do, but I take it as a very personal responsibility."
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
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