Meet 19 Of America’s Newest Marines — And Naturalized US Citizens

For 19 young men and women, earning the title United States Marine was just one of their crowning achievements this month. The other: becoming U.S. citizens.

After demonstrating their knowledge of the English language and American civics, 16 men and three women took the Oath of Allegiance to the Constitution and became U.S. citizens, during a July 13 naturalization ceremony at Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. The following day, they graduated and were minted Marines.

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“For these Marines, today's naturalization ceremony represents their final step in their journey to American citizenship,” Brenda Washington of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services said in a Department of Defense statement. “Their path to citizenship is especially remarkable because they first pledge themselves to support and defend the United States before choosing to become American citizens.”

Here are the 19 new devil dogs who recently earned the title of U.S. citizen:

Pvt. Daniel Ramirez Rodriguez from Cullman, Alabama, was born in Mexico.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Pfc. Ambar N. Zaiek Parades, from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is originally from the Dominican Republic.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Pvt. Waylon F. LaFrance was born in Canada, and hails from Hogansburg, New York.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Pfc. Dang H. Doung, from Warren, Michigan, was born in Vietnam.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Pvt. Jhonatan A. Velarde, from Newark, New Jersey, was born in Ecuador.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Pvt. Carlos L. Espana Palencia from Lehigh Acres, Florida, was born in Guatemala.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Pvt. Zetian Ni, from Pittsburgh, was born in China.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Pvt. Annalice M. Daley of Baltimore was born in Jamaica.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Pfc. Rodrigo M. Malpartida from Ossining, New York, was born in Peru.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Pvt. Khalid M. Ngwegwe from Greenbelt, Maryland, was born in Tanzania.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Pvt. Kervin Stcyr, from Brooklyn, New York, is originally from Haiti.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Pfc. Ariel Castillo, from Miami, was born in Cuba.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Born in Mexico, Pfc. Dulce F. Manriquez hails from Tuscon, Arizona.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Pvt. Jean Malhado from Secaucus, New Jersey, was born in Brazil.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Pvt. Yongchang Gao, from New York, was born in China.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Pfc. Daniel A. Guzman hails from New York, and was born in the Dominican Republic.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Born in Haiti, Pfc. Serdjhy Leger, hails from Orlando, Florida.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Pvt. Juan C. Rosales Guerin, from Miami was born in Mexico.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

Born in Peru, Pvt. Julian R. Torres, is from Fort Pierce, Florida.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Maximiliano Bavastro

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