BAGRAM AIR FIELD – With just a few dollars in his pocket, a Kosovo native came to the U.S. to chase his dream of providing his family with a better life. Lance Cpl. Betim Neziri became a U.S. citizen in a naturalization ceremony at Bagram Air Force Base, June 3.
"On June 14, 2005, I came to the U.S. with $20 in my pocket," said Neziri, 29, from Prishtina, Kosovo. "I had nobody, I had nothing. I bought a calling card so I could call home to let my family know that I'm okay. I also bought a pack of cigarettes and a hot dog, and that was it; I was flat broke."
Arriving in NYC, he was a long way from home, he explained. He had nothing and nowhere to stay, but he was determined to achieve his goal. He went to the YMCA and stayed there for a while. They offered him a job as a summer camp counselor for 3 months in Rhode Island.
Neziri's boss, Gunnery Sgt. Michael Baird, supply chief with H&S Co, 1st MLG (FWD), is amazed at how far he's come. "It gives me chills to hear him talk about his life up to this point, about the Marines and becoming a U.S. citizen, about what he's done, and what he's accomplished," said Baird.
With enough money saved up from being a counselor, Neziri bought a cell phone and contacted his cousin in Houston, Texas. He went to stay with her for a year and enrolled in college. The high tuition cost made it hard for him to financially support his family back in Kosovo, so he dropped out and moved to Dallas, where he met and married his wife. They moved to Reno, Nevada to be near his wife's family.
Neziri witnessed Marines help liberate the war-torn country of Kosovo in 1999. He decided to give back, and he joined the Marine Corps, July 13, 2009. "I wanted to give back for what they've done for me, my family and my nation," he said.
According to Baird, Neziri is mature and focused on his job, overseeing all of the gear and equipment in the 1st MLG (FWD) supply warehouse. He knows exactly what he wants out of life, and he's determined to get it, his boss observed.
"It makes me proud to be an American," said Baird, who's humbled to see Neziri, who had nothing, become a U.S. Marine and a U.S. citizen. "To see that we're allowing good people to have the opportunity to come here and become better…I'm honored to witness it all. It gave me chills just listening to it all and imagining what it would be like to be in his shoes."
The naturalization ceremony for service members is held twice a year, Memorial Day and Veteran's Day, explained Petty Officer 1st Class John McBroom, NCO-in-charge of Client Services and Legal Assistance at Bagram Air Field. Seventy service members were naturalized at the ceremony on June 3, said McBroom, 36. He said he's never experienced anything like this in his 10 years of service.
"It's a special experience," said McBroom. "It means a lot that people who came from other countries want to be part of America. I've guys who lost their arms and legs from IED attacks, and they're apologizing to me because they can't be here. They're not even Americans yet, and they're putting their lives on the line for me. I'm proud of them, and I hope they can live their dreams in America."
Neziri is happy knowing he can finally live "The American Dream," alongside his Marine Corps brothers and sisters. "As I'm holding the certificate in my hands, I still can't believe that it's true," said Neziri. "It's an honor and a privilege to be a U.S. citizen. It's a dream come true. It doesn't get any better than this. I just wish my wife and family were here to share this moment with me."
DVIDS
Brothers Reunite at FOB Sher WaliStory by Lance Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde
Lance Cpls. Aaron (left), and Adam Voelker, both 19 and machine gunners - Aaron with the Combined Anti-Armor Team, Weapons Co, 3rd Bn, 6th Marine Regt; Adam with Bravo Co, 1st Bn, 6th Marine Regt; pose for a photograph at FOB Sher Wali, Marjah, Helmand prov., June 6. The Voelkers, twin brothers, reunited for the first time in almost 5 months, after supporting Op Moshtarak in Marjah, with their respective bns.
FOB SHER WALI – Like many twin brothers, Lance Cpls. Aaron and Adam Voelker do everything together. As children and throughout high school, the 2 played on the same sports teams. When one joined the Marine Corps, the other decided he was going to do the same. They're both machine gunners. The brothers even deployed to Helmand prov., within weeks of one another to partake in Op Moshtarak with their respective bns.
"This deployment has actually been the first time we've ever been apart from each other," said Aaron. "We were rack mates at boot camp and the School of Infantry. At SOI, they didn't want us in the same plt, but we both ended up going machine gunner, so we got put together — again."
Even after Adam left for Afghanistan in Dec., the twins met up again at Camp Dwyer, Helmand prov., in Jan., as both bns were preparing to push into Marjah. "I'd be on a patrol or on post and hear stuff popping off in 3/6's AO all the time," said Adam. "It's nerve-racking, but kind of cool to think, 'hey, that's my brother." The brothers continued to do missions with their respective bns., and remained separated for almost 5 months. Then, a unique opportunity presented itself.
"Convoys are always going back and forth between our FOB and 3/6's," said Adam. "My 1st sgt knows that I've a brother with 3/6, and he basically just said, 'if you want to jump on the convoy, your brother's going to be at FOB Sher Wali.' He really hooked it up for me."
"I was sleeping when I heard somebody come into my tent this morning, and start calling my name," said Aaron. "I opened my eyes and saw that it was my brother standing there. I got up and dressed faster than I had ever before. In 5 months, a lot has happened. I wanted to get all the stories out," added Aaron. "I wanted to see how he's been, find out what's been going down in southern Marjah, tell him what's been going on in northern Marjah."
Despite being separated for the majority of their deployments, the brothers feel blessed to have both taken part in the push of Marjah. "After being over here, going home and seeing family is going to be great, but you can only tell them stories and they can only listen," said Adam. "They're not going to know how things really were. It will be cool to be able to go to my brother and say, 'hey remember that one time?' and he's going to be able to relate.
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DVIDS
Law and Order Enforced at COB SpeicherStory by Spc. Jessica Zullig
Sgt. Jason Keller, NCO-in-charge for the search team, 108th MP Co (AASLT) out of Fort Bragg, N.C., sends a radio transmission to let service members at the Provost Marshal's Office know that he has cordoned off the area affected by indirect fire at COB Speicher, June 5.
COB SPEICHER – The dead silence of a dark, summer Iraq night is interrupted by a sudden, stern knock on the door of a containerized housing unit. "Housing; military inspection. There are dogs present. Make no sudden or aggressive gestures," announces the billeting mgr of KBR housing compound.
As the tenants of the CHUs exit their rooms, the 7-man search team, 108th, assisted by 3 Military working dogs and counter intel personnel, respectfully search the living areas for violations of policies and General Order No. 1, which are prohibited activities for Soldiers. "Their mission is to reduce the number of General Order No. 1 violations, and bring the threat of info spillage down," said Sgt. 1st Class John Perry, 108th provost sgt.
Sgt. Jason Keller and his Soldiers are accustomed to late nights. This small group of Soldiers manage a big mission – inspecting all non-military personnel businesses and housing areas spread across the large base. "In the beginning, it felt like I didn't have enough personnel to complete our mission," said Sgt. Keller. However, it's all time mgt, and come to find out, yes, we do have time.
During the 3 months the search team has been in theater, they've already completed 75% of their search area. These long days allow the Soldiers to bond and grow together as a team. "We've definitely developed closeness," said Keller. "We're the same platoon we were in the rear, just in different squads. Of course with deployments, it brings Soldiers and NCOs closer together."
Force protection inspections are the main mission of the close-knit Soldiers of the search team, but they also have other duties. As MPs, they also respond to emergencies, such as indirect fire. In the event that IDF occurs, the team and their internal medic is available to cordon off the affected area and prevent casualties. They direct traffic in and out of the area until a base response force and an EOD team arrives.
The search team is a vital part of maintaining force protection at COB Speicher. Their inspections enforce law and order and help prevent espionage by confiscating media devices in the hands of unauthorized personnel. "The search team has added something to force protection that couldn't be done without them," said Perry.
Sgt. Jason Keller, NCO-in-charge for the search team, searches a duffle bag for contraband.
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DVIDS
298th SMC Receives Combat Patch
Story and photos by Pfc. David Christian
Sgt. Christopher Garhart, the 298th Support Maintenance Co (SMC), 13th CSSB, 13th ESC info mgt officer, receives his combat patch from his squad leader, Staff Sgt. Timothy Winters, the communications and electronics repair shop foreman.
JOINT BASE BALAD — Soldiers with the 298th SMC out of Altoona, Pa., received the 316th ESC shoulder sleeve insignia-former wartime service, May 15 in a ceremony here.
The ceremony awarding the SSI-FWTS, or combat patch, a tradition dating back to the Revolutionary War, was held in the JBB Field Maintenance Facility, where the 298th SMC conducts vehicular, generator, electronic and general equipment repairs.
"It was inspirational," said Pfc. Tricia White, a wheeled vehicle mechanic. "Hearing the history of the patch made me feel like I'm a part of that history now." This is the first deployment for White and many others in the unit.
"The Soldiers here on their 1st deployment, as well as those who have deployed before, now share a common bond — a patch that binds them in brotherhood," said Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Danilson, automotive NCO-in-charge with the 298th SMC.
The unit patch is a white disc within a 1/8" red border and a blue and red compass representing the worldwide deployability and readiness of the 316th ESC. It includes a white Fleur-De Lis, representing the Tenn. State flower, and the City of Knoxville, the original home of the command.
"I felt a lot of pride and accomplishment when the 316th patch was placed on my shoulder," said Pfc. Wayne Saunders, an electronic device repairman with the 298th SMC. With the patch ceremony marking the end of the first 60 days in country, the Soldiers of the 298th look forward to continuing their mission.
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US-I
ISF arrest AQI leader, criminal associate in northern Iraq
BAGHDAD – ISF arrested a suspected AQI leader during a joint security op 5 kms SW of Kirkuk, June 11. ISF and U.S. advisors conducted a vehicle stop to apprehend a suspected AQI leader with ties to other senior leaders, and who is allegedly responsible for providing financial support and facilitating explosives for AQI. Info and evidence gathered at the scene led Iraqi forces to identify and arrest the warranted leader, and a suspected criminal assoc.
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