New Mexico Minuteman - Fall 2011

PROUD TO BECOME AN
AMERICAN
By Staff Sgt. Anna Doo, 200th Public Affairs Det.
CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – Just days after America celebrated
her 235th birthday, Pfc. Jose Manuel Valdez was sworn
in as a citizen of the U.S. in a ceremony held at the U.S. Embassy
in Pristina.
Valdez, an infantryman with the U.S. contingent of Kosovo
Forces 14 rotation, had been working on the administrative process
to offi cially become a citizen for about six months and completed
the interview and offi cial ceremony while on a yearlong
deployment to Kosovo.
The process of obtaining citizenship for Valdez, who has been
living in the U.S. for more than 22 years, was relatively quick.
Valdez said he was relocated to California from his birthplace of
Ceballos, Durango, Mexico, when he was just 2 years old. He lived
in California for the next 11 years and then moved to Roswell, N.M.,
where he has spent the past 12 years.
Valdez enlisted in the U.S. Army in March 2007 and has been
an infantryman ever since. He said his cousin was in the military,
and while on a tour to Iraq, earned his citizenship. Learning that
Soldiers serving in the military, while on deployment can earn citizenship,
prompted Valdez’ interest in travelling the same path to
naturalization. Valdez is currently serving in Company C, 1-200th
Infantry, based in Las Cruces, N.M., as part of KFOR14 in Multinational
Battle Group East.
The reasons for Valdez to work toward citizenship were numerous,
but a couple stood above the rest. Valdez said he wanted to
make sure he prepares for future possibilities and is eligible for
as many jobs as possible. He is looking forward to being able to
plan for the future. Right now, he plans to complete this current
tour of duty and return home to his civilian job as a supervisor with
Penasco Valley Telecommunications.
“Just the fact of being able to vote, and looking down the road
toward jobs in law enforcement or border patrol are the best reasons
to get citizenship,” Valdez said. “I’m looking forward to reenreenlisting, do at least three more years, and then we’ll go from there.”
Valdez said he had been preparing for the interview process
and the ceremony since he learned the application paperwork
was complete. Before the ceremony, Valdez said, “I’m not nervous
about the ceremony; I’m actually nervous about the interview proprocess; I don’t know what that’s going to be like.”
With the application complete and the interview process
behind him, Valdez stood in front of the American fl ag, ready to
take the Oath of Allegiance. MNBG-E commander, Col. Michael D.
Schwartz, and U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Kosovo, Christopher
W. Dell, assisted Valdez in the fi nal steps to becoming a citizen.
Pamela Hutchings, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Field Offi ce director, Vienna, administered the Oath of Allegiance
to Valdez who repeated each word. Valdez was presented with a
certifi cate and received congratulatory remarks and well wishes
from both Dell and Schwartz.
“We are all glad you took the effort, and took that leap, and did
all the things you needed to do to become a citizen of the United
States of America,” said Schwartz.
Schwartz then presented Valdez with two commander’s coins—
one from pre-mobilization from N.M. and one from the deployment
in Kosovo.
Dell echoed Schwartz’s remarks and the satisfaction and pleasure
those in attendance were feeling on the occasion.
“You had a choice, a choice that you exercised to become an
American,” said Dell. “We are all extremely proud of you—proud
of your service, grateful for it, and very simply proud to call you an
American.”
Finally, Valdez, full of conviction and pride, led his fellow Soldiers
in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. His platoon sergeant, Staff Sgt.
Luis R. Sandoval, summed up the occasion with a few words.
“Every time you have somebody that looks for citizenship,
especially someone who’s been in the U.S. for his whole life, it’s
just something special,” said Sandoval. “Especially with him being
a Soldier and serving his country, it’s just a perk for him. He’s
already an American; he’s lived his whole life in the U.S.; he’s serving
his country, and now he can voice his opinion by voting. One
more great American Soldier.”
N.M. leadership visits Kosovo
The New Mexico National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Kenneth
C. Montoya, center, along with the State Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth
Adair, right, visited Soldiers from the New Mexico Army National Guard
stationed in Kosovo Aug. 9-11, 2011. Montoya and Adair, along with the
state human resources manager, Col. Carla Romero, spoke with Soldiers
on Camp Bondsteel, Camp Novo Selo, and near Camp Nothing
Hill, Kosovo. The Soldiers are currently serving as part of the NATO-led
peacekeeping operation of Kosovo Forces 14. Photo: Staff Sgt. Anna Doo
Fall 2011 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 27