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New Americans

Oct-16-2004 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

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By BETH IPSEN, Staff Writer

U.S. Army Sgt. Reyes Fernandez was already an American citizen in his heart, now he's one on paper.
As an infantryman, Fernandez has been willing to sacrifice his life for a country of which he wasn't a citizen. Fernandez--who moved to the United States from Honduras when he was 10--changed that on Friday.

The 27-year-old was among a group that included 10 soldiers from Fort Wainwright, an Eielson Air Force Base airman and seven civilians who took an oath of allegiance to the United States at the post chapel.

With their right hands raised, they swore to defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, bear arms in defense of the country if needed and perform noncombative service in the armed forces when required by law.[...]

The process took 14 months to complete and started with 22 soldiers. Some have moved on to other duty stations, some have gotten out of the military and two have already obtained their citizenship, Sutton said. One soldier's citizenship is pending final approval.

The push to get the soldiers naturalized started because of the need for all to have a security clearance to work with some of the computer equipment associated with the Stryker Brigade.

It was the first time the ceremony has been conducted on post. All of the soldiers, with the exception of Fernandez, enlisted in the Army after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. They all have lived in the United States many years, Sutton said.

Since the start of the war on terrorism, it's become easier for non-Americans serving in the U.S. military to be granted citizenship because some were fighting and dying in Afghanistan and Iraq, Sutton said. The 172nd is slated to deploy next year.

It cost these soldiers $310 each to go through the process, but it will be free for other military people because of a policy that went into effect Oct. 1, Sutton said.

"I'm proud of them," he said. "They're going to be great citizens. They already have been. Everyone of them serves very well."


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