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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Feb 9, 2012 - 5:06:14 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| United States Forces-Iraq headquarters was the site for 106 Soldiers and 1 Airman receiving their U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony held at Al Faw Palace Bagdad, Iraq. The ceremony was held on Feb. 15, 2010. More than 1,400 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines have been naturalized in Iraq since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Army Photo/Staff Sgt. Yarnall) |
BAGHDAD, Iraq - More than 100 Servicemembers walked into the headquarters of the United States Forces-Iraq this morning and gazed upon the large American flag that drapes down three floors of the marble covered rotunda of Al Faw Palace. Their hands and feet were still. Their backs were straight as rods and their chins were held a little higher than the day before; for today was indeed a day to raise their heads with a greater sense of pride.
Today 106 deployed Soldiers and 1 Airman became U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony that gave them the right to officially say that the flag that hung before them was the flag of their country.
Lt. Gen. Charles Jacoby, Deputy Commanding General for Operations United States Forces - Iraq and I Corps Commanding General, played the role of host for the ceremony and delivered the keynote address.
"I'm truly honored to part of the 16th naturalization ceremony held in Iraq as we add 107 Servicemembers from 44 countries to the melting pot of America and in so doing we will have welcomed 1,428 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines into citizenship in the United States of America," Jacoby said.
"Through their military service they have all made significant contributions to our nation's strength long before they were granted citizenship," he said. "They have embraced the call to serve our country while still looking forward to the day when they could claim America as their very own."
Robert Ford, U.S. Ambassador Deputy Chief of Mission in Baghdad, also attended the event along with hundreds of other people who provided plenty of congratulatory handshakes and hugs for their new fellow American citizens.
Robert Daum, field office director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Rome, presided over the ceremony and certified each of the Servicemembers had fulfilled all the requirements for the naturalization process. In this process a participant is referred to as a candidate once USCIS declares him or her eligible for citizenship.
Becoming a citizenship candidate alone can be a challenge.
According Maj. Robert Baker, USF-I human resources officer in charge of plans and policies, most traditional citizenship applicants must possess a green card for five years before becoming candidates. However, if a person joins the U.S. armed forces, that time may be reduced to one year. In addition, a military member may be declared eligible for citizenship after serving one day in country, if serving in combat.
Once eligible, the process takes about 90 days to complete. During this time, the candidate will be required to pass two important exams. One exam is used to evaluate the proficiency of a candidate's basic reading, writing and speaking of the English language. The other exam tests the candidate on basic knowledge of U.S. history and government. This is commonly known as a "civics" test.
If a candidate passes the two exams, he or she will then be interviewed by a USCIS agent. The oath of allegiance to the United States may then be administered, during a naturalization ceremony held at a later date. For 107 deployed Servicemembers that date was today
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