USS Cleveland Hosts Naturalization Ceremony

American Forces Press Service ^ | Petty Officer 2nd Class Brooke Raffaele, USN

[SandRat]

SAN DIEGO, April 5, 2007 – The United States gained 59 new citizens here yesterday, as 59 servicemembers took the oath of citizenship aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Cleveland.

Army Sgt. First Class Jose Vargas, center, joins 58 sailors and Marines in taking the oath of citizenship aboard USS Cleveland in San Diego, April 4. U.S. Navy photo  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

With retention and recruitment at the highest levels in recent history, officials said the Navy can now afford to focus on shaping the force to ensure the best-qualified, most diverse candidates are challenged to seek leadership roles in the senior enlisted and officer ranks of the future.

“Our true strength comes from our nation’s diversity,” said Rear Adm. Leendert “Len” Hering Sr., commander of Navy Region Southwest and keynote speaker at the ceremony. “The United States has been built upon diversity, and today’s ceremony represents our country on what it stands upon.”

During the ceremony, sailors, Marines and a lone soldier from various local commands became American citizens. They represent native countries from around the globe, including: Australia, Barbados, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ghana, India, Kenya, Mexico, Micronesia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palau, Philippines, and South Korea.

The ceremony -- co-hosted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; Commander, Navy Region Southwest; and USS Cleveland -- marked the first all-military naturalization ceremony held in the San Diego region this year.

Seven USS Cleveland crewmembers who were among the group of America’s newest citizens sworn in yesterday joined more than 50 fellow crewmembers who already had completed the citizenship process.

Last year, four such ceremonies were held in San Diego, resulting in more than 240 servicemembers becoming U.S. citizens.

(Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Brooke Raffaele is assigned to Commander Naval Surface Forces Public Affairs.)

Related Sites:
USS Cleveland

[SandRat]

Say Hello to our newest Citizens.

[Nuc1]

Welcome folks. This old citizen salutes you!

[geo40xyz]

Congratulation, you have become American citizens the

RIGHT WAY:-()

[onedoug]

Congrats all! LPD bump.

[TASMANIANRED]

WElcome through the front door.

[maxwellp]

Welcome to America my fellow citizens!

[petertare]

If I were the SECNAV—that R ADM would have been fired at the podium. Most diverse Navy....

I want a fightn Navy, Adm.——Not a beauty pageant of skin color.

[HiramQuick]

This brings back fond memories. Mid May, 1976 this very young 3rd Class P.O. carried his seabag down a long hot pier at good old Buckner Bay, Okinawa (aka Whitebeach), climbed the ladder, saluted the colors and requested “Permission to come aboard” to the on watch OOD.

I spent 39 months on board that fine ship. Made two more West Pacs with her and hundreds of local ops with her. She was called the steaming Cleve for a reason. She was always ready for any mission

#7 of the Austin class LPD’s, she has served with distinction and even with her age will continue to do so for years to come.

Last month 3 of us shipmates had lunch together in Columbus, OH. We had not seen each other in 30 years. Sea stories were swapped ... some no doubt embellished ... but the common thread was we were still shipmates ... a bond that is never established anywhere else or understood by any other organization

May she continue to serve proudly in the years to come and continue to be manned by professionals .. “shipmates”

“woofer” to those that know me best