Gacad and Manaog took the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance with the help of more than 16 US Navy Judge Advocates, Lawyers and Civilian Paralegals spread across the three states and at sea, as well as the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Washington Field Office.
“I am proud and honored to be a part of this historic event,” said Manaog, who is assigned to Command and Control Airlift Squadron (VAW) 126. “Our names will be in the history books.”
Gacad, who is assigned to the 211th Fighter Strike Squadron (VFA), also expressed his delight at reaching this milestone on his journey to citizenship.
“I am very happy after this long process,” Gacad said. “I can finally say I’m proud to be an American.”
Gacad started the citizenship process in March 2021. However, he had to postpone naturalization due to a planned deployment.
“USCIS reached out to the Navy to see if there was anything they could do to hold a naturalization ceremony during the deployment, and that made us ask, ‘Could this happen?’ said Lt. Cmdr. Kyle Doherty-Peters, Truman’s judge advocate. correct information. We knew that virtual overseas ceremonies take place on land with the help of regional legal offices, so we began to work on our logistical and technical challenges to conduct the ceremony while at sea.”
After months of planning and meticulous preparation, Gacad and Manaog’s path to citizenship was finally realized aboard the Truman. In early September, their naturalization certificates were collected from the USCIS Washington field office by a judge in Washington, D.C., who flew to the ship and hand-delivered the documents while Truman was operating in the Atlantic Ocean. On the day of the ceremony, two USCIS personnel traveled to the Pentagon to connect with Truman for a virtual teleconference.
During the virtual ceremony, the keynote speaker, Rear Admiral Paul Spedero Jr., commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8, spoke about the journey sailors take to become American citizens.
“Most of us here today are native Americans,” Spedero said. “Our citizenship was a gift we were given. But your citizenship is earned. You have earned the right to be called an American by your service to this country. You have proven yourself to be an American through these many months of doing this country’s work with all of us in defense of American ideals abroad.”
How long can an aircraft carrier stay at sea without resupply?
After the ceremony, Gacad and Manaog expressed their gratitude for all the help they received.
How long can a nuclear ship stay at sea?
How long can aircraft carriers stay at sea?
“Navy is a team,” Gacad said. “You’ll never feel like you’re alone because there’s always someone there to help you when you need it. I would not be in this position without the legal team and I would like to thank them for all their efforts.”
How long can an aircraft carrier stay at sea without supplies?
Where is the 7th Fleet now?
This event also marks the first time a naturalization ceremony has been conducted on a deployed aircraft carrier. This may interest you : The United States Does Not Allow More Immigration Than All The Countries Combined.
Where is the Pacific fleet right now?
“For Petty Officer Gacad and Petty Officer Manaog to be able to walk off the ship on U.S. soil as U.S. citizens when we return home is phenomenal,” said Capt. Gavin Duff, Truman’s commanding officer. Read also : Brunswick welcomes new company with ribbon cutting. “In 2022, to be able to virtually hold this ceremony and provide them with this opportunity is humbling to say the least. The community worked hard to help these impressive sailors realize their dreams and become citizens of the country they so proudly served. We look forward to their success and accomplishments in their future as Americans.”
Where is CSG 11?
Truman is the flagship of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG); additional elements include the nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, commanded by Capt. Patrick Hourigan; personnel and guided-missile destroyers of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 28, commanded by Captain Blair Guy; and the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56), commanded by Capt. Christopher Marvin.
Where are the US carrier strike groups?
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group currently operates in the Atlantic Ocean in support of maritime operations to maintain maritime stability and security to ensure access, deter aggression, and defend US, allied and partner interests.
How many US carriers are currently deployed?
For more news from the US 2nd Fleet, visit https://www.c2f.navy.mil/ and for more information visit http://www.facebook.com/US2ndFleet/ or http://twitter.com/US2ndFleet.
Where are US fleets now?
- For more Truman news, visit www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn75/, ww.facebook.com/cvn75, www.twitter.com/ussharrystruman or http://instagram.com/uss_harrys.truman
- Elements of the strike group include the nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 and the guided-missile destroyers of Destroyer Squadron 28, which include: USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) alongside the cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG …
- Most aircraft carriers do not require routine refueling. All eleven American ships and the French ship are nuclear powered, meaning they can cruise continuously without refueling for twenty-five years.
