The citizenship interview

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steven Wilson
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AFB, S.D. --  Most of us by now have read a few military news stories. They're all the same, aren't they? Event 'X' happened here, check out all the eye-candy photos of planes, equipment and weapons. Colonel so-and-so had these words ... and the article goes on from there. 

It's pretty status-quo, right? 

That's close to how the news story I never finished was going, but the feeling just wasn't right. I would've done a grave injustice to a very special group of Airmen if I'd kept writing it. 

So, let's try a commentary instead. The boss will either love it or hate it, which is fine - I hate middle ground! 

August 23, in a ceremony at Mount Rushmore, seven Ellsworth Airmen completed their journey to becoming United States citizens. 

I had the opportunity to interview them and these young, first-term enlistees made a crusty old NCO reflect on how lucky some of us are. 

"You know Sergeant Wilson," said Airman 1st Class Santos Rodriguez, 28th Maintenance Group and originally from Honduras, "We know how great it is to be an American. 

"All of us," he said indicating his fellow Airmen at the table, "Have personally seen or experienced things like poverty and hunger. We know how good a country this is." 

Another Airman had to overcome more than a few obstacles just to enlist. 

Airman 1st Class Joshua Ortiz-Mendoza's, 28th Mission Support Group, story begins in Peru. 

The opportunities for success just weren't available for him as his family did not have a lot of money. He wanted to come to the U.S. but simply couldn't afford it. Then, he managed to turn a grievous loss into his big chance. 

"My mother, unfortunately, passed away," he said. "But, there was insurance money. That's how my sister and I got here." 

When Airman Ortiz-Mendoza got to the United States he applied for every college scholarship he could find and worked his way through school. 

"In my case, this country gave me everything my family and I could ask ... and gave me the opportunity to go to college," said Airman Ortiz-Mendoza. "Serving as a military member is the best way to show my gratitude." 

He decided to contribute to the defense of the nation that gave him his chance for a new start, but found yet another stump in his path. 

Getting to wear an Air Force uniform was not as simple as strolling into the local recruiter's office and signing up for Airman Ortiz-Mendoza. 

"I was always interested in the Air Force," he said. "It took me one-and-one-half years and three different recruiters to finally get in.
"I was determined." 

The Air Force was of interest to another Airman who recently became a U.S. citizen.
Airman 1st Class Siane Laluangphet, 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, is Laotian but was born in Thailand. 

"I have spent 18 years in the states," he said. "There are more opportunities for citizens here ... I'd rather be here than anywhere else." 

Now that he's a U.S. citizen, Airman Laluangphet wants to look into law enforcement by perhaps training into the Air Force Office of Special Investigations career field or maybe even the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

"This country gave me so much; I really want to get into something where I can give back and help people," he said. 

These Airmen say they'll never take the rights and privileges of being a U.S. citizen for granted. 

"There's everything to help you succeed (in the United States)," said Airman 1st Class Aida Perez, 28th Maintenance Group and originally from the Dominican Republic.
"There's help available for education, a good job, medical care - it's so much better compared to where we're coming from." 

Airman Perez finished high school in the U.S. She decided to enlist in the Air Force and pursue her personal goals. 

She takes her commitment to defend her country seriously. 

"We're fighting for the same rights as (natural-born citizens) have and that's fine," she said. "But we know from experience what it's like in other places. We want to be here. It's something within us." 

Airman Rodriguez said he knew he was a different person after he graduated basic military training and becoming a U.S. citizen was a no-brainer. 

"After we graduated, I looked left and right," he said. "And I'll never forget how we all looked the same and how the core values applied to all of us. After that, I knew citizenship was something I should do." 

Opportunity. Freedom. Service. Gratitude. Core values. All powerful words used by a group of people that had to overcome red tape, fees and leg work to enjoy what most of us were lucky enough to be born into. 

To call oneself "American."
These Airmen enlisted while the continuing global war on terror is in full swing. The polls are constantly pointing out the shortcomings of political leaders, there's fluctuating gas prices and it doesn't take long to find a scandal of some sort the media is throwing around. 

But, despite all our shortcomings, America is truly the place to be. These young people know it without a doubt because they have experienced what life is like elsewhere. They all, to a person, count themselves privileged to be in our Air Force uniform. 

Now, back to my news desk. 

I am still struggling to get this in news print, but I did hope to share this story with some of you. This particular interview really made me think. And it made me ashamed of every time I ever took for granted the liberties we enjoy. Isn't it ironic that four Airmen from places like Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Thailand and Peru are capable of infusing someone who has lived here his whole life with a powerful dose of patriotism?
It was certainly my privilege to talk to each of them and they made me a better person for it. 

Well, I have to get this to the boss' desk. My staff and I are calculating the odds on whether she'll slap one of her infamous 3 x 5 pink "stickies" on it (hey boss, you know they have e-mail now, right?) with her flourishing and powerful script blazoned on top of it, "Sarge, I told you to write a simple news story!" 

Yes, ma'am you did. But this interview turned into more than a simple news story.
We needed to go grassroots with this one and use some plain language. 

Congratulations to Ellsworth's Airmen who raised their hand and took the oath of citizenship today. I am proud to look at each one of you and call you my "brother" and "sister" countrymen.