The 52nd Interpreter Translator Company, 162nd Infantry Brigade, has five Soldiers in its ranks that can call themselves new U.S. citizens.
Immigration Office officials in New Orleans swore the Soldiers in Feb. 23. It marked the end of their journey to become U.S. citizens and the beginning of their lives as both citizens and Army Soldiers.
One of these Soldiers, Al, must be referred to by his first name only in accordance with Army policy. Al was born in Iraq and worked as an Iraqi local-national translator and interpreter for U.S. forces from 2005 to 2008.
Al had little knowledge of the U.S. while Saddam Hussein was in power. After U.S. forces removed Hussein from power, Al felt that the U.S. Army “had accomplished something no one else could accomplish for Iraq.”
After Al’s work as a translator, he decided to go to the U.S. and enlist in the Army. His decision to become a U.S. citizen and equally important, a U.S. Soldier, was due to his experience with U.S. forces in Iraq and his desire to serve the U.S.
Al is currently a translator and interpreter. Many of the Soldiers in the 52nd ITCO are not U.S. citizens, but wish to serve in the Army. Not only do Soldiers like Al have to undergo extensive background checks, but they also need to pass writing and fluency tests.
Al said he is proud of becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen.
“The U.S. is in Iraq to protect and defend,” Al said. “I am proud to wear the uniform of the U.S. and display the U.S. flag on my shoulder while deployed. I am proud and happy to be a part of this new unit.”
To date, the 52nd ITCO has had seven of its Soldiers complete the naturalization ceremony and become U.S. citizens.
