A wish before deploying to Iraq: citizenship

[unhappycamper]

A wish before deploying to Iraq: citizenship
By Kevin Maurer and Mitch Weiss - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Dec 28, 2008 13:29:12 EST

HAMLET, N.C. — When Staff Sgt. Rene Reale deploys to Iraq for the second time early next year, he’ll risk his life fighting alongside his fellow members of the North Carolina National Guard.

But when it comes to choosing a commander-in-chief, Reale has no say. As an British citizen, Reale was unable to vote in the November election. And that’s something he’d like to change.

As a combat veteran, the 40-year-old Reale is eligible for citizenship under rules signed by President George W. Bush in 2004 that streamlined the process for service members fighting in the U.S. military. More than 5,000 soldiers have become U.S. citizens since then, and several thousand more, including Reale, are in the pipeline.

“It is important for my family and me,” Reale said in an English accent. “My kids are all Americans.”

Reale is a member of E Company, the engineer company of the 120th Combined Arms Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina National Guard. The Associated Press is chronicling the experiences of members of the company, their families, and Hamlet, N.C., the town they’re leaving behind.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/12/ap_30th_brigade_citizenship_122808/%2e