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An Oath of Allegiance

By Spc. Kandi Huggins

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq - Swearing the oath to support, defend and serve the United States was not quite enough for one Soldier deployed to Iraq with 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division.

Standing before a host of Soldiers, specialist Angie Schaefer, a petroleum supply specialist serving with Company A, 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st AATF, now had the opportunity to raise her hand and swear another oath she has wanted to take since high school - the oath which will make her an American citizen.

Born in Colombia, Schaefer said she came from a very close-knit, traditional Family and attended private school. "It was definitely a different experience after I came to the states," said Schaefer.

At the age of seven, Schaefer and her grandparents moved to Miami, where she was able to get a free education, instead of the paying for a private education in Colombia.

"I knew I wanted to join the Army since taking (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) in high school," said Schaefer. She enlisted without being a citizen based on her permanent resident status in the U.S.

Two years after solemnly swearing to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, Schaefer found herself in Iraq with U.S. Division - North supporting Operation New Dawn.

"She's always working with a smile on her face," said 1st Lt. Jesse Dean Swanzy, a quartermaster officer and Schaefer's platoon leader. "Specialist Schaefer constantly contributes by volunteering to go on missions to supply our outlying forward operating bases. She leaves her mark on OND by helping her country through literally supplying the advise, train, assist mission."

Schaefer joined 1st Platoon "Road Warriors" immediately after arriving in theater. She currently drives supply trucks to bases around Contingency Operating Site Warrior.

Fellow Soldiers helped prepare Schaefer for the naturalization test and becoming a citizen of the United States for a while, said Swanzy, a Bellville, Texas native. The unit really supports Soldiers and their goals in becoming U.S. citizens, he added.

During the ceremony, Schaefer wore a smile as she shook hands with General Lloyd Austin, Commander United States Forces-Iraq who congratulated and welcomed her as a citizen to a nation she had served.

"I'm excited," said Schaefer. "Becoming a citizen makes me feel accomplished, because I will be the first one in my family to become a citizen - not just a permanent resident - and I will have a more stability in everything I am doing and plan to do."

After the citizenship ceremony, Schaefer said she wants to attain her security clearance and go to college through the Green to Gold Program, an Army program that allows Soldiers to go to college and become officers through Reserve Officer Training Corps.

"I know it will be a challenge," said Schaefer, "but I know I can do it and I welcome whatever the future holds for me."