Immigrant Marines

Immigrant Kenyan in the Marines

2010-10-27T18:44:00.001-07:00

In a small jungle in Africa, a 10-year-old boy was on an adventure with a few of his friends. As they were crossing the river, he stepped on what he thought was a rock, but the rock was a crocodile. It swung its tail, causing him to lose balance and find himself in a life-threatening situation. The crocodile had the boy’s legs in its mouth and was twisting and dragging him in the water.

“As the crocodile was trying to amputate my leg, one of my big friends held the reptile down and my other friends were beating it with sticks and stones,” said Recruit Paul W. Wangai, Platoon 1026, Company B, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment. “He finally released me from his mouth and I got away. If they hadn’t beaten him, I wouldn’t have survived. They saved my life.”

It was this life-threatening experience that gave Wangai, a Nairobi, Kenya, native, a drive to do more than others in his family did before him. He wanted to succeed and do something that would bring his family pride—Especially his mother.

“My mom worked very hard to save a lot of money that would help me come here,” said Wangai. “In Kenya most people don’t work at night, but my mom did. She had two jobs and would work on weekends too.”

His mother wanted to give Wangai, his older brother and his two cousins the opportunity to be successful by paying their way through school. According to Wangai, in Kenya, pre-primary to secondary education is not free and must be paid for by the families of the students.

While in secondary school, Wangai’s mother applied for a United States Permanent Resident Card for him. It took him five years to obtain his resident card after submitting the required documents to the government, he said. At age 17, after finishing school, Wansai came to the U.S.

“My brother came here two years before me to study medicine, but after I got here he went back to Kenya,” said Wangai.

Wangai stayed with his father who was living in Bolingbrook, Ill., and had been in the U.S. for 13 years.

“It was difficult finding a job here,” said Wangai. “When I thought of America before, I thought it was a free country and they live life large here. Most Kenyans think you make a lot of money here without struggling, but it’s a lot harder succeeding in America than I thought.”

After a couple years, Wangai got in touch with a friend, who knew a Kenyan in the Marines.

“The Kenyan had told my friend that when you join the Marines, it gives you a sense of belonging and pride. And at that moment, I felt something change in my heart,” said Wangai.

Since Wangai’s life was far from easy, it is important to him to help other people who may have been through what he experienced. He would love to get involved with humanitarian work, he said.

“It’s my goal to make lives better for everyone who crosses my path,” said 20-year-old Wangai. “I will do that by having a positive mental attitude and make them feel comfortable around me.”

Wangai admires how the Marine Corps carries their values very deep and will strive to live his life everyday demonstrating Corps’ values among everyone around him.

Since the beginning of recruit training, Wangai’s feelings toward America has increased. In addition, Wangai has noticed the Corps’ values have a much deeper meaning now than they did at the beginning of training.

“When he first got here, he wasn’t confident in himself,” said Staff Sgt. Mateo A. Gordon, senior drill instructor, Platoon 1026, Co. B. “He’s improved in that aspect. He is also dependable. I know I can count on him if I want something done. He is very obedient and he takes orders and gives orders when needed.”

Wangai’s has a heavy accent and is still learning English and his pronunciation has improved dramatically throughout recruit training. There were occasions he did not understand what the drill instructors were asking the recruits to do, but his peers helped Wangai through, Gordon said. “

My family has given me their full support,” said Wangai. “My family will be proud of me for making it big in their eyes and for making a difference.”

Wangai looks forward to his cousins and family members looking up to him as a Marine.

“I owe America for this opportunity because even though I worked hard to get here, being a Marine is an opportunity I would not want to lose,” said Wangai. “It’s a chance not many others have.”

Illegal Immigrants Arrested at USMC Base Camp Pendleton

2010-09-05T11:05:00.001-07:00

Nearly 2 dozen suspected illegal immigrants were arrested Friday on a beach near Camp Pendleton after they allegedly tried to enter the United States without visas or passports.

U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested 22 people as they tried to come ashore in a panga boat.

Source: KTLA

Immigrant Marines can be deported

2010-08-27T18:07:00.000-07:00

Here are a few articles on the internet concerning deportations of immigrant veterans. Despite having sworn the Oath of Enlistment, immigrants can still be deported if and when found guilty of certain offenses.

I reported earlier this month on the deportation of immigrant U.S. military veterans -- people who have served our country honorably, yet are rewarded by being kicked out of their home. Turns out, deportations are on the rise, almost doubling from 2008 to 2009.

- Deportation of Immigrant Military Veterans on the Rise

Here's another article:

They put their lives on the line in the service of the United States of America, and ended up being booted out of the country they fought for. They should be honored, not deported.

Immigrant military veterans of wars from Vietnam to Iraq have returned home from their service only to find detention and deportation awaiting them. More wound up on ICE's list after committing a criminal offense, most often drug-related. Veterans frequently end up in trouble with the law because they suffer from untreated Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which the country has done a notoriously bad job of taking seriously and providing treatment for. These veterans should and do serve out jail sentences for their crimes, like any citizen veterans; but to then also deport them from the land they served is despicable. They served our flag, and they are our responsibility, for better or worse.

Will the U.S. Marine Corps help me apply for a Green Card?

2010-07-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

The answer is no. Neither the United States Marine Corps nor the Department of Defense has a policy of assisting in the application of a Green Card. If you want to join the U.S. Marines, you will need to go through the Immigrantion process yourself.

Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest Pilot Recruiting Program MAVNI

2010-07-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

The US Army has a program that allows for the enlistment of Non U.S. Citizens and Non U.S. Green Card holders (Lawful permanent residents). It is called the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest Pilot Recruiting Program or (MAVNI)

Here's an explanation from the U.S. Army:

What is it?

The recently launched Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) pilot recruiting program. It enlists legal non-citizens who have skills in a designated foreign language for which there is a critical need or are licensed health care professionals who meet Army standards. While the Army has long enlisted lawful permanent residents (holders of "Green Cards"), this expands the eligible market to include others here legally but do not have permanent residence. In return for their service, those enlisting through this program can apply for U.S. citizenship on an expedited basis. Expediting a citizenship application cuts a years-long process down to about six months.

Why is the Army doing this?

To address personnel shortfalls in health care- including surgeons, dentists and nurse anesthetists- and in certain foreign languages and cultures the Army deems critical- including Arabic, Persian, Punjabi and Turkish.

How will the MAVNI pilot program help the Army?

It will strengthen Soldiers' medical care and, through improved capabilities in critical foreign language and cultures, enhance military missions.

Is the Army lowering recruiting standards?

No. This pilot program's participants will be held to higher standards than other recruits. They must have a high school diploma, score 50 or higher on the Armed Forces Qualification Test and must not require an enlistment waiver for any kind of previous misconduct. That's in addition to meeting all criteria required by their specialties (medical or other occupations).

How does this program assure applicants' legitimacy?

Applicants for the MAVNI pilot program are screened thoroughly by the Army and the Department of Homeland Security.

What's the way ahead?

The program seeks to recruit up to 333 people with the needed medical/dental skills and up to 557 people with critical foreign language and culture skills. The program is scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2009, unless the Secretary of Defense extends the cutoff date. The program's results and the Army's needs will determine whether it continues or is expanded.

Resources

To find more information and/or apply go to:

A factsheet has been prepared by the Department of Defense:

The Secretary of Defense authorized the military services to recruit certain legal aliens whose skills are considered to be vital to the national interest. Those holding critical skills – physicians, nurses, and certain experts in language with associated cultural backgrounds – would be eligible. To determine its value in enhancing military readiness, the limited pilot program will recruit up to 1,000 people, and will continue for a period of up to 12 months.

ELIGIBILITY
The applicant must be in one of the following categories at time of enlistment

a. asylee, refugee, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), or
b. nonimmigrant categories E, F, H, I, J, K, L, M, O, P, Q, R, S, T, TC, TD, TN, U, or V

The applicant must have been in valid status in one of those categories for at least two years immediately prior to the enlistment date, but it does not have to be the same category as the one held on the date of enlistment; and An applicant who may be eligible on the basis of a nonimmigrant category at time of enlistment (see 1b above) must not have had any single absence from the United States of more than 90 days during the two year period immediately preceding the date of enlistment.

Health Care Professionals
• Applicants must fill medical specialties where the service has a shortfall
• Applicants must meet all qualification criteria required for their medical specialty, and the criteria for foreign-trained DoD medical personnel recruited under other authorities
• Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English
• Applicants must commit to at least 3 years of active duty, or six years in the Selected Reserve

Enlisted Individuals with Special Language and Culture Backgrounds
• Applicants must possess specific language and culture capabilities in a language critical to DoD
• Applicants must demonstrate a language proficiency
• Applicants must meet all existing enlistment eligibility criteria
• Applicants must enlist for at least 4 years of active duty
(Services may add additional requirements)

Languages
Albanian
Amharic
Arabic
Azerbaijani
Bengali
Burmese
Cambodian-Khmer
Chinese
Czech
Hausa
Hindi
Hungarian
Igbo
Indonesian
Korean
Kurdish
Lao
Malay
Malayalam
Moro
Nepalese
Persian [Dari & Farsi]
Polish
Punjabi

BACKGROUND
Non-citizens have served in the military since the Revolutionary War. The Lodge Act of 1950 permitted non-citizen Eastern Europeans to enlist between 1950 and 1959. Additionally, the United States officially began recruiting Filipino nationals into the Navy in the late 1940s, when it signed the Military Bases Agreement of 1947 allowing U.S. military bases in the Philippines. In total, over 35,000 Filipinos enlisted in the Navy through the program between 1952 and 1991.

Today, about 29,000 non-citizens serve in uniform, and about 8,000 legal permanent resident aliens (green card holders) enlist each year. Law ensures that the sacrifice of non-citizens during a time of national need is met with an opportunity for early citizenship, to recognize their contribution and sacrifice. In fact, today's service members are eligible for expedited citizenship under a July 2002 Executive
Order, and the military services have worked closely with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to streamline citizenship processing for service members. Since Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 43,000 members of the Armed Forces have attained their citizenship while serving this nation.

Can a Non US Green Card Immigrant still join the Marines?

2010-07-22T17:22:00.000-07:00

There are many forums that ask this question. In theory it is possible for Immigrants who aren't U.S. Green card holders to join the Marines.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2006, authorizes the enlistment of (1) nationals of the United States; (2) aliens who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (green card); (3) residents of several former U.S. territories; and (4) any other person if the Secretary of Defense determines that such enlistment is vital to the national interest.

The U.S. Army has began to recruit Immigrants who are not Green Card holders under a program called: "Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest Pilot Recruiting Program". There has not been any similar programs for the U.S. Marine Corps.

Immigrants who are not Green Card holders (or Lawful Permanent Residents) are generally in the United States under one of the following Visas:

Symbol	Type	Description
A-1		Foreign government officials and families: ambassadors, public ministers, career diplomats, or consular officers
A-2		Foreign government officials and families: other foreign government officials or employees
A-3		Foreign government officials and families: attendants, servants, or personal employees of A-1 and A-2 classes
B-1	Non-immigrant	Temporary visitors: for business
B-2	Non-immigrant	Temporary visitors: for pleasure
C-1	Non-immigrant	Transit aliens: aliens in transit
C-2	Non-immigrant	Transit aliens: aliens in transit to the United Nations
C-3	Non-immigrant	Transit aliens: foreign government officials and families in transit
DV-1	Immigrant	Diversity visa: lottery winner
DV-2	Immigrant	Diversity visa: spouses and children
E-1		Treaty traders and investors: treaty traders
E-2		Treaty traders and investors: treaty investors
E-3		Treaty traders and investors: Australian Free Trade Agreement
EB-5	Immigrant	Immigrant investors
F-1	Non-immigrant	Students and exchange visitors: academic students
F-2	Non-immigrant	Students and exchange visitors: spouses and children of academic students
F-3	Non-immigrant	Students and exchange visitors: Canadian or Mexican national academic commuter students
G-1		Representatives to international organizations and families: principals of recognized foreign governments
G-2		Representatives to international organizations and families: other representatives of recognized foreign governments
G-3		Representatives to international organizations and families: representatives of nonrecognized or nonmember foreign governments
G-4		Representatives to international organizations and families: international organization officers or employees
G-5		Attendants, servants or personal employees of representatives
GB		Temporary visitors: for business, visa waiver, Guam
GT		Temporary visitors: for pleasure, visa waiver, Guam
H-1B	Dual-intent	Temporary workers and trainees: specialty occupations
H-1B1	Dual-intent	Temporary workers and trainees: Chile and Singapore Free Trade Agreement
H-1C	Dual-intent	Temporary workers and trainees: registered nurses participating in the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas
H-2A		Temporary workers and trainees: seasonal agricultural workers
H-2B		Temporary workers and trainees: seasonal nonagricultural workers
H-3		Temporary workers and trainees: industrial trainees
H-4	Dual-intent	Temporary workers and trainees: spouses and children of H-1, H-2, and H-3 workers
I-1		Representatives of foreign information media and families
IR-1	Immigrant	Immediate relative of U.S. citizen: Spouse of a U.S. citizen. This visa is called CR-1 (for conditional resident) if the marriage is less than 2 years old at the time of application. The CR-1 visa has to have its conditionality "removed" two years after entry in a separate process.
IR-2	Immigrant	Immediate relative of U.S. citizen: Unmarried child, under 21 years of age, of a U.S. citizen.
IR-3	Immigrant	Immediate relative of U.S. citizen: Orphan adopted by U.S. citizens, whose adoption was finalized outside the U.S. Note: In order for an IR-3 visa to be issued, U.S. regulations require that both adoptive parents take part in the overseas adoption and actually meet with the child in the child's home country. If only one parent travels to pick up the child, the child will be issued an IR-4 visa instead.
IR-4	Immigrant	Immediate relative of U.S. citizen: Orphan whose adoption by a U.S. citizen will be finalized in the citizen's home jurisdiction.
IR-5	Immigrant	Immediate relative of U.S. citizen: Parent of a U.S. citizen; the citizen must be at least age 21.
J-1	Nonimmigrant	Students and exchange visitors: exchange visitors
J-2	Nonimmigrant	Students and exchange visitors: spouses and children of exchange visitors
K-1	Dual-intent	LIFE Act: fiances(ees) of U.S. citizens
K-2	Dual-intent	LIFE Act: children of fiances(ees) of U.S. citizens
K-3	Dual-intent	LIFE Act: spouses U.S. citizens, visa pending
K-4	Dual-intent	LIFE Act: children of U.S. citizen, visa pending
L-1	Dual-intent	Intracompany transferees: principals
L-2	Dual-intent	Intracompany transferees: spouses and children of intracompany transferees
M-1		Students and exchange visitors: vocational students
M-2		Students and exchange visitors: spouses and children of vocational students
N-1 to N-6		NATO officials and families
N-8 and N-9		Immediate relatives of certain SK-3 special immigrants
O-1		Temporary workers and trainees: extraordinary ability or achievement
O-2		Temporary workers and trainees: accompanying and assisting in performance of O-1 workers
O-3		Temporary workers and trainees: spouses and children of O-1 and O-2 workers
P-1		Temporary workers and trainees: internationally recognized athletes or entertainers
P-2		Temporary workers and trainees: artists or entertainers in reciprocal exchange programs
P-3		Temporary workers and trainees: artists or entertainers in culturally unique programs
P-4		Temporary workers and trainees: spouses and children of P-1, P-2, and P-3 workers
Q-1		Temporary workers and trainees: workers in international cultural exchange programs
R-1		Temporary workers and trainees: workers in religious occupations
R-2		Temporary workers and trainees: spouses and children of R-1 workers
S visa [two types: S-5/ S-6]		Aliens Assisting Law Enforcement
T-1		Victims of human trafficking
T-2		Victims of human trafficking: spouse of victim
T-3		Victims of human trafficking: children of victim
T-4		Victims of human trafficking: parents of victim who are children
TD		Temporary workers and trainees: spouses and children of NAFTA workers
TN		Temporary workers and trainees: NAFTA professional workers
V-1		LIFE Act: spouses of permanent residents, visa pending
V-2		LIFE Act: children of permanent residents, visa pending
V-3		LIFE Act: dependents of V-1 and V-2, visa pending
WB		Temporary visitors: visa waiver, business
WT		Temporary visitors: visa waiver, pleasure

Can an Immigrant (Non U.S. Citizen) Join th Marines

2010-07-22T15:46:00.001-07:00

In order to enlist in the U.S. Marines, you need to be:

Between 17 and 29 Years of Age
Have a high school diploma
Be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident

Therefore, if you are not a U.S. Citizen but are a Lawful Permanent Resident (i.e. in possession of a Green Card), you are eligible to enlist in the US Marine Corps

Can an Illegal Immigrant join the Marines

2010-07-22T15:45:00.000-07:00

As Illegal Immigrants are in the United States, by definition, illegally, an illegal immigrant is not eligible to join the U.S. Marines.

Read about Eligibility to join the Marines.

There have been, however, cases in the past where an Illegal Immigrant has joined the US Marine Corps through deception and ended up gaining U.S. Citizenship. One case in recent history was Sgt Danny Lightfood.

Here's an excerpt of a news article:

For more than 11 years, Marine Sgt. Danny Lightfoot lived with a secret even as he served on the front line of America's defense forces - he was an illegal immigrant. On Friday, at a special ceremony in downtown Los Angeles, Lightfoot was granted legal residency status under an executive order recognizing his service in the Gulf War. ''Being an American means everything to me,'' Lightfoot said. ''The Marines are my life. I'm prepared to die for my country. This is all just wonderful.'' A native of the Bahamas, Lightfoot, 30, is one of dozens of people serving in the armed forces who are not American citizens and who have been fearful of discovery and possible deportation to their native countries, attorney Carl Shusterman said.

Asians Thinking of Joining the Marines

2010-07-22T15:38:00.000-07:00

These are a collection of questions posed by Asians thinking of joining the Marines

Q:Asians in Marine Corps Boot Camp?
I'm going to Marine Corps boot camp in a few weeks. I'm not a physical badass or anything, but I can easily exceed the physical strength requirements for Marine Corps Basic Training. I don't consider myself stupid. I can recall the 11 general orders without difficulty. I can follow instructions.

However, one issue just popped into my mind. I'm not a full American. Although I have U.S. citizenship, I came from a different country, so I have accent. I look different (I'm Asian as the title implies). But, I'm fully capable of understanding, speaking, and writing English... Well, sometimes, I make people repeat themselves because I couldn't understand them the first time, but no major difficulties. And most importantly, I'm willing to serve this country.

I'm kinda worried that I would be treated differently because of my ethnicity. I'd be singled out and picked on a lot by Drill Sergeants. I DO NOT mind taking on the challenges that every other recruit does. If others have to crawl in the mud, then I will crawl in the mud too. If they do 50 push-ups, I will do 50 push-ups too. But I wouldn't like it if I get some sort of punishment from Drill Sergeants just because of the way I look or speak.

I won't be stupid at boot camp. I will shut my mouth and open my eyes and ears. I won't look for any negative attention from Drill Sergeants. If I mess up, I will take responsibility for that. But, will they pick on me a lot beccause I'm Asian? I know there aren't many Asians in U.S. military, but theres gotta be at least 1 or 2. right? And I bet some of you that went to Marine Boot camp saw how Asians were treated there.. any comments?

A:The intentions of the drill sergeants are to strengthen and prepare you to become a strong soldier in their army. You show a lot of loyalty and patriotism towards America, which is good. I'm pretty sure they will be tough on many other people as well. At the end, all the drill sergeant will have strong people in his army, people who becomes monstrous fighting machines, or warriors.

Good luck bro.

Another Question was posed:

Q: i'm about to graduate from high school and i'm looking into joining the marines. i'm mostly asian though and my parents think that i'll be singled out during boot camp because of my race. is it a good choice to join the marines?

i'm just looking into the marines, its suppose to be the hardest military to join and i wanna see how far i can push myself. i'm already in great shape, just that my parents are afraid of me being teased or singled out for being asian
A: No you won't be singled out just for being Asian. You might be asked about your ethnicity from time to time, but most of the time, Marines won't care about who you are as long as you do your job. There were 3 Asians in my platoon including myself and my DI.

Latino Immigrants die while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps

2010-07-22T15:31:00.001-07:00

This New York Time article describes several Latino Immigrants who were not U.S. Citizens who died while fighting for the United States in Iraq.

Lance Cpl. José Gutiérrez, 27, was among the first to die, in a tank battle outside Umm Qasr on March 21.

Cpl. José Ángel Garibay, 21, fell in combat near Nasiriya. Pfc. Francisco Martínez Flores drowned when his tank plunged into the Euphrates River. Lance Cpl. Jesús Suárez del Solar, 20, was killed on Saturday fighting with the First Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion.

They had this in common: they were marines, and they were not Americans. They died for a country not entirely theirs.

Corporal Gutiérrez was an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, an orphan who made his way through Mexico to the promised land of California and into the Marines. His 3 fellow marines were Mexican by birth and citizenship, 3 among roughly 36,000 soldiers in the United States military but not of the United States -- green card holders and other legal residents who hope for full legal status as American citizens.

Corporal Gutiérrez's only survivor, his sister, Engracia Cirín, lives in a shack without a telephone on the edge of Guatemala City. ''It makes me sad,'' she told a local reporter in Guatemala, ''because he fought for something that wasn't his.''

Corporal Gutiérrez and Corporal Garibay will receive citizenship posthumously, military officials said today.

Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/04/world/a-nation-at-war-immigrant-marines-latinos-gave-their-lives-to-new-land.html

Green Card Warriors

2008-04-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - An estimated 20,500 U.S. service members are "non-citizens," according to a March 20 article on CNN.com. They choose to serve, fight and possibly lay down their lives for a country to which they owe no allegiance.

Staff Sgt. Javier Castro, one of the many U.S. "green-card warriors" who has avoided applying for citizenship because of work and training commitments, overseas deployments and because of how complicated they thought it was, gained his citizenship during a ceremony in Charlotte N.C., March. 27.

Castro, originally from San Andreas Island, Columbia, immigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was seven years old.

"I would say that 90% of all immigrants come to this country for a new life and change," Castro said. "America has always been the land of opportunity, which is the reason why they and I came."

At the end of high school, Castro decided to join the U.S. Marine Corps, becoming one of the thousands of immigrants who decided to serve in the U.S. military.

"When it came to that point whether to join the military or go to college, I decided I wanted to join the military," Castro explained. "Several recruiters came to the school...but the Marine recruiter was the one I always looked at. He always looked like the baddest in town."

After nine years of service in the Marine Corps, Castro, now the Current Operations Chief of Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, deployed to Iraq twice and served as a Marine Corps recruiter - often considered one of the Corp's toughest jobs.

Castro was finally enlightened as to how simple it was to receive his citizenship by a fellow Marine on recruiting duty.

"I thought the process was so complicated," Castro exclaimed. "I had a buddy, a staff sergeant on recruiting duty, that I called up and one day told, 'I am getting ready to pick up staff sergeant.'"

"Administration had already told me that I should probably get my citizenship," Castro continued. "I told my buddy this and he said, 'I just got mine last year, do you know how easy it is?'"

With help from this friend Castro was able to get the number to Base Legal and begin the naturalization process.

"They made it so easy," Castro declared. "All I had to do was complete the N-400 form, which is the application for naturalization, a couple of other simple forms that verify your information and have a FBI background check."

Once the forms were filled out and the background came back clean, the application was sent to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, where it began processing. At the end of the processing, Castro was set up with an interview with a USCIS Adjudications Officer at one of their offices in Charlotte, N.C.

According to a USCIS Adjudications Officer, the interviewing process involves a short U.S. History and English exam and screening that ensures applicants are fit to become U.S. citizens.

After Castro completed this interview and was accepted for U.S. citizenship, he and the other 27 people receiving their citizenship (14 of who were military) were officially instated as U.S. citizens at a small ceremony.

"The ceremony was amazing," Castro said. "It was kind of a touching moment for me. You don't really realize it until you are there and see all those people from so many countries who had to struggle to get their citizenship. Just to see them receive it and see how fortunate I was to be in the military and get it so quickly was very emotional for me."

This event was a pivotal moment for Castro and 14 of his fellow service members, some of who have been waiting for years to receive their citizenship. Though the U.S. Government has made it easier for service members to receive their citizenship through the Immigration and Nationality Act, thousands of our troops remain "non-citizens," an issue that was important to the CLR-2 Headquarters Company Commander, 1st Lt. Mark A. Wlaschin, who attended Castro's ceremony.

"It's hard for many Marines to balance the work and training requirements they have with finding the time to go and apply for citizenship," Wlaschin stated.

"I think that every command and every leader on every level should do all in their power to overcome every obstacle and get these Marines their citizenship," Wlaschin said. "We are very proud of Staff Sgt. Castro and his accomplishments. Not only was our country founded on immigrants but it is strengthened by people like Staff Sgt. Castro and his family and the service members who hold 'green cards.