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Freedom ... That’s The Best Part!
by U.S. Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Michael Davis
September 28,
2021
The Vermont Air National Guard is proud to
provide opportunities to people from a variety of backgrounds and
cultures, giving everyone who joins a chance to not only try a new
career, but to achieve their dreams.
Meet Airman 1st Class
Komalpreet Saini, a personnel specialist with the 158th Fighter
Wing, who was unaware he could join the U.S. military. That’s
because Saini is from India, and in 2016, he immigrated to the
United States.
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September 12, 2021 - Airmen 1st Class Komalpreet Saini,
personnel specialist, force support flight, mission support
group, 158th Fighter Wing, stands for a picture at the
Vermont Air National Guard base, South Burlington, Vermont. Saini, who emigrated from India, enlisted into the 158th Fighter Wing in 2019, and after completing all of his military training became a U.S. Citizen on July 13, 2020.(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Michael Davis)
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“I came to the United States because my
family, they were living here in Vermont,” said Saini. “I always
wanted to join the Air Force, even back in India, but since I was
not an American citizen, I thought I could not.”
About two
and a half years ago, while working with his family at a local
country convenient store in Fairfax, Saini began to routinely see
Chief Master Sgt. Cynthia Fitzgerald, the Joint Force Headquarters
chief enlisted manager for the Vermont National Guard, shopping in
her uniform.
According to Saini, as Fitzgerald got to know
him, one day she asked him, “why don’t you join the Air National
Guard?”
Saini said he told Fitzgerald he could not because,
“I’m not even a citizen yet.”
In Saini’s recollection, what
Fitzgerald asked him next would change the direction of his life.
“Why don’t you get your citizenship from us?”
Thinking back to that moment, Saini paused, and with a bright smile
on his face reminisced their conversation.
“I was like can
I? She was like, ‘yes, sure.’”
The next day, after his
conversation with Fitzgerald, Saini talked with a recruiter from the
158th Fighter Wing, who worked with him on all the details to join
the unit and he confirmed one important detail.
“If you’re
not a citizen of the United States, you can join the (armed forces),
you just need to be a legal resident of the United States,” Saini
said. “You become a citizen after you join the military, all you
need to do is complete BMT (Basic Military Training) first. Once
you’re done, you are eligible to apply.”
On Jan. 15, 2019 he
enlisted into the Vermont Air National Guard, with his aspirations
of being in the Air Force fully realized, and the opportunity of
being a U.S. citizen on the near horizon.
“It feels really
good to be a part of such a great nation who accepts you. I was
feeling so blessed when I graduated from my military training. You
feel that you have achieved something,” said Saini reflecting on the
accomplishment of completing BMT. “I would say it’s an amazing
feeling.”
A little over a year after enlisting, and with his
military training behind him, Saini’s dream turned into a reality,
becoming a U.S. citizen on July 13, 2020.
“The best part, you
are free,” said Saini. “Freedom, that’s the best part of being an
American citizen.”
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