Press Release
☷5 service members become U S citizens at Fort Leonard Wood
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
May 06,2022
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The Directorate of Human Resources and the U . S . Citizenship and Immigration Services conducted a virtual naturalization ceremony May 5 for five service members who are attending training at Fort Leonard Wood . The event helped mark the return of naturalization ceremonies to the installation after a five - year hiatus . The next ceremony on Fort Leonard Wood is scheduled to take place in late June . Call 573 . 596 . 0132 for details . FORT LEONARD WOOD , Mo . — The Directorate of Human Resources and the U . S . Citizenship and Immigration Services conducted a virtual naturalization ceremony May 5 for five service members who are here attending training . The event helped mark the return of naturalization ceremonies to the installation after a five - year hiatus , and according to Mike Beando , DHR director , this is not only a “momentous” occasion for the installation but for the service members and their families and friends . “Deciding to become a U . S . citizen is one of the most important decisions in a person’s life , ” Beando said . “Service members who apply for naturalization , show their commitment to the United States and their loyalty to the Constitution and its people . ” One service member who took part in the ceremony was Spc . Mikael Spence , a Chemical , Biological , Radiological , and Nuclear specialist with Company B , 84th Chemical Battalion , who said “becoming a U . S . citizen is one of the greatest privileges one can gain . ” “Becoming a U . S . citizen guarantees life , liberty and the pursuit of happiness , ” Spence , who is originally from Jamaica , said . Airman 1st Class Kediecia Malcolm , also from Jamaica , agreed . “I wanted to become a U . S . citizen because I am aware of the rights and responsibilities that come with such a privilege , ” said Malcolm , who is attending engineering training with the Air Force ' s 368th Training Squadron here . “Most times , only the benefits are highlighted , which are all extremely excellent . However , rights , such as , the Bill of Rights , and just the pride and freedom of belonging to the greatest nation in the world are my main reasons . I am happy to have been able to earn that privilege and right . ” Prior to this year , service members travelled from Fort Leonard Wood to Kansas City , Missouri , to attend naturalization ceremonies and take the Oath of Allegiance . Beando said it took a lot of coordination to get the ceremony back on the installation , but said the hard work has paid off . “Conducting the ceremony on Fort Leonard Wood saved service members’ and units’ time and money , ” he said . “And Ms . Jean Kish with DHR did all of the heavy lifting to make this ceremony possible and really put in a lot of time and energy to make it successful and special for the service members involved . ” The next ceremony on Fort Leonard Wood is scheduled to take place in late June , and according to Beando , “the goal is to have in - person naturalization ceremonies on post in conjunction with Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training graduations . ” Call DHR at 573 . 596 . 0132 for more information about the installation’s naturalization ceremonies .
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