Airmen officially become U.S. citizens on Independence Day aboard naval vessel

Published July 8, 2014
By Staff Sgt. Scott Saldukas
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Three active-duty Airmen stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst took their oath of allegiance to the USA during a naturalization ceremony July 4, 2014, aboard USS New Jersey in Camden, N.J.

Airmen 1st Class Eric Re Guerrero, Bonelnelson Rosset Bouangalolo and Belinda Wilson from JB MDL were three of 38 attendees who became official U.S. citizens on Independence Day.

"It was a really great reminder of how amazing and welcoming this country is and I really wanted the ability to vote and right to call myself American," Rosset Bouangalolo said, 87th Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental engineer apprentice and Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, native.

The Airmen, like all other naturalized citizens, filed applications to become citizens, pass all requirements to include history, civics, English reading, writing, and speaking test as well as have background security checks. The last requirement in order to become a U.S. citizen is for the candidate to swear their allegiance to the USA during the ceremony.

"I think the ceremony being held on USS New Jersey on the nations birthday made it that much more special," Re Guerrero said, 87th Contracting Squadron contracting specialist and Ensenada, Mexico, native. "Now, every Fourth of July is that much more special and I will never forget it."

While the event was a special and joyous day for all of the Airmen, they all shared the same opinion about their reasons of wanting to become an American citizen.

"Becoming a U.S. citizen was important to me because I would be able to enjoy all the rights as an American, be able vote and voice my opinion," said Wilson, 87th AMDS Health Service Management apprentice and Agona Swedru, Ghana, native.

Even though becoming a citizen was a major priority for the new citizens, they wanted to give back to their new country by serving in the Armed Forces.

"Freedom is the reason why I am in this country and wanted to be part of those that sustain that freedom, Rosset Bouangalolo said. "It's a great feeling to know you're the backbone of the greatest nation on earth. I felt so special to have the honor of being naturalized on the most decorated U.S. Naval vessel."