2d Marine Division Naturalization Ceremony
6 Dec 2022

WILMINGTON, N.C. – 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division conducted a naturalization ceremony on December 2, 2022 at 10 a.m. aboard the Battleship USS North Carolina.

 

This naturalization ceremony, which granted U.S. citizenship to eighteen Marines, was one of the largest ever for a Marine Corps infantry battalion. The new U.S. citizens, who are from fourteen different countries spread across five continents, recited their Oath of Allegiance in front of the Honorable Richard E. Myers II, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

 

“Today was a great chance to recognize a significant event in the lives of these young Marines” said Lt. Col. William Kerrigan, their Commanding Officer. “They have already raised their hands and committed to defending this nation, without even being U.S. citizens. Now that they have earned their citizenship, I’m excited to see where it takes them.”

 

Now that these Marines are naturalized U.S. citizens, they are able to explore more options within the Marine Corps, to include different military occupational specialties or commissioning opportunities should they continue to serve. In addition to enhanced career opportunities, these Marines can now enjoy all the rights and privileges inherent to American citizens, such as the right to vote, run for public office, petition for permanent residency, and even seek citizenship for their family members.

 

2d MARDIV will post imagery, video, and an article of this ceremony to the Division’s Defense Visual Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS) page, accessible using the link below.

 

-USMC-

 

For imagery and video of the event, please visit

DVIDS: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/2MARDIV  

Facebook: www.facebook.com/2dMarDiv  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/2dMarDiv  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2dmardiv/  

Official Website: https://www.2ndmardiv.marines.mil/