THESE SOLDIERS ARE BOTH TECHNICAL EXPERTS AND COMBAT LEADERS HELPING SOLVE THE ARMY RESERVE’S MOST CHALLENGING PROBLEMS. AND TODAY WE’RE HONORING THEM IN CELEBRATION OF THEIR 104TH ANNIVERSARY.

HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE IMPORTANT ROLE THESE MEN AND WOMEN FULFILL IS CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 5 PATRICK R. NELLIGAN (pronounced NELL-I-GAN), COMMAND CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER OF THE U.S. ARMY RESERVE COMMAND.

BIO-Chief Warrant Officer 5 Patrick R. Nelligan
Command Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Army Reserve Command

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Nelligan assumed the duties as the 8th Command Chief Warrant Officer of the United States Army Reserve Command, United States Army Reserve on March 31, 2021. In this position, he is responsible for all Army Reserve Warrant Officers within the Army Reserve Command.

His previous duty was the 6th Command Chief Warrant Officer of the Army Reserve Medical Command, United States Army Reserve October 2018 to March 2021. 2nd Command Chief Warrant Officer of the 75th Innovations Command, United
States Army Reserve July of 2015 to September 2018. Special Mission Warrant Officer Accessions Chief, ARCD February 2015 to July 2015, 2nd Command Chief Warrant Officer of the 81st Regional Support Command (RSC from March 2012 to February 2015), Supply and Service Officer (S4) for the 405th Combat Support Hospital from October 2010 to March 2012, Officer in Charge of the Northeast Region for the Strength Management Initiative Task Force and 1st Command Chief Warrant Officer of the 804th Medical Brigade from1 October 2008 until 30 September 2010, and the 2nd Command Chief Warrant Officer of 94th Regional Readiness Command from 1 February 2006 until its deactivation on 30 September 2008.

CW5 Nelligan enlisted in the Army in March 1982, completing Basic Training and Field Artillery Cannon Crewman (OSUT) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was assigned

to the 3/35th Field Artillery (8” self-propelled) West Germany, where he served as an Advanced Party, Gun Driver, and Battery Commander’s Driver. He left active duty in 1984 and joined the 340th General Hospital and was sent to the United States Army Medical Equipment and Optical School, Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center to become a medical equipment repairman from which he completed both the basic and advanced courses and was named honor graduate. He has served
in Honduras and Guatemala providing medical equipment maintenance support to each respective task force. In June of 1990 he was appointed as a WO1, Health Services Maintenance Technician in July 1990 and was assigned to the 819th Station Hospital which converted to the 405th Combat Support Hospital in 1992.

He was activated in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and deployed to
Kuwait in 2002. His assignments included Property Book Officer, Supply and Services Officer, and Unit Logistician (Forward).
CW5 Nelligan has completed the Brigade Pre-Command Course, Warrant Officer Senior Staff Course, Warrant Officer Staff Course, Officer Advanced Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course, Medical Logistics Management Course, Medical X- Ray Survey Techniques Course, Health Services Maintenance Technician Course, US Customs Border Agent Course, and United States Department of Agriculture Food Inspector Training Course.

CW5 Nelligan’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster , Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Gold Hourglass and with “M” Device, Noncommissioned Officer’s Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, , Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon with Numeral 2, Driver Badge with Driver-W Bar.

CW5 Nelligan received an Associates Degree in Biomedical Equipment Maintenance, two Bachelor’s Degrees; one in Applied Behavioral Studies and the other in Liberal Studies, and a Masters in Business Administration with a Health Care Concentration.

CW5 Nelligan resides in Bristol Connecticut with his wife Nancy. They have three adult children, daughter Darby, son Thomas (who is an SMP Minute Man Scholarship recipient and Army Reservist), and son Owen. He also is employed by the Veterans Administration where he works as the Lead Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) onsite at the Newington Connecticut campus.

#chiefwarrantofficer #patricknelligan #armyreserve #leadershippositions #combatleaders #medical #healthservices #germany #honduras #hospitals #care #guatemala #nancynelligan

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The 144 citizenship candidates originate from the following 52 countries: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kosovo, Liberia, Mexico, Montenegro, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Serbia, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, St. Kitts-Nevis, The Gambia, Togo, Turkey, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Vietnam and Yemen. Of those naturalizing, two are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

This year, USCIS will welcome more than 10,000 new citizens in nearly 130 naturalization ceremonies between Nov. 7 and 13. Of those being naturalized, more than 250 are veterans, service members and military spouses. USCIS is asking new citizens and their families and friends to share the experience and photos at their ceremonies via Twitter using the hashtag #newUScitizen.

WHO:
USCIS New York District Director Phyllis Coven

WHEN:

Friday, November 13, 9 a.m. (media will be escorted in starting at 8:30 a.m.)
WHERE:
USCIS NY District Office
26 Federal Plaza (please use the entrance on Duane Street between Broadway and Lafayette)

CONTACT:
Katie Tichacek, USCIS Public Affairs Officer, 212-264-5098, 202-420-9581 (cell) katherine.tichacek@uscis.dhs.gov

NOTE:
Media interested in participating, please RSVP to Katie Tichacek (contact info above) no later than 9:00 am EST on November 13.

– USCIS –

News Release Nov. 9, 2015

USCIS Will Host Naturalization Ceremonies to Honor Veterans and their Families

WASHINGTON—Veterans, service members and military spouses across the country will become U.S. citizens this week as they take the Oath of Allegiance at special Veterans Day naturalization ceremonies. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will highlight the sacrifices that military members and their families have made while serving our country. From Nov. 7-13, USCIS will welcome more than 10,000 new citizens in nearly 130 naturalization ceremonies across the country and around the world. Of those being naturalized, more than 255 are veterans, service members and military spouses.

Many current and former military members and their families are eligible for citizenship, including expedited screening and overseas processing, under special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Since Oct. 1, 2001, when data collection on military naturalizations began, more than 109,000 service members have become U.S. citizens, including individuals serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, Germany, Japan and elsewhere. In 2015 alone, USCIS hosted nearly 175 naturalization ceremonies at military installations in the U.S. and abroad.

“On Veterans Day, we salute the men and women who have so courageously served our country and defended the freedoms that it was built upon. Among our brave veterans are thousands of immigrants, many of whom vowed to defend their new home even before they were citizens,” USCIS Director León Rodríguez said. “It is because of their extraordinary sacrifices, and those of their families, that we can enjoy the rights and liberties of living in this great country.”

USCIS has a robust military outreach program that provides information about immigration and naturalization to service members and veterans at military installations, Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, universities and various military organizations. USCIS also has offices on multiple military installations, including Fort Benning, Georgia; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. These offices identify recruits who may be eligible for naturalization.

USCIS’ Veterans Day activities this year will feature a naturalization ceremony at the USS Torsk and USS Constellation, located at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland, on Nov. 11. During this event, Dan Renaud, USCIS associate director for the Field Operations Directorate, will administer the Oath of Allegiance, and Sgt. Maj. Mercy A. Diez of the U.S. Army Band will be recognized as an Outstanding American by Choice.

Other ceremonies include events at:
· American Heroes Air Show in Orlando, Florida, on Nov. 7.
· Cullman Performance Hall of Tryon Palace in New Bern, North Carolina, on Nov. 11.
· Joint Base Lewis McChord in Seattle, Washington, on Nov. 13.

In addition, 12 recruits will become new citizens at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California, through the Naturalization at Basic Training Initiative. Developed with the Department of Defense, this program allows enlisted service members to complete the naturalization process during basic training.

USCIS invites new citizens, and their families and friends, to share their experiences from the ceremonies through Twitter and other social media using the hashtag #newUScitizen.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis), Facebook(/uscis), and the USCIS blog The Beacon.

– USCIS –

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Major General Shavendra Silva, WWV, RWP, RSP, USP, psc, CR is a Sri Lankan general and diplomat. The current Sri Lankan Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, he was the former Director of Operations, Sri Lanka Army and the General Officer Commanding, 58 Division during the Sri Lankan civil war. Early life Silva was born on 22 June 1964 and had his education at St. Joseph’s College, Anuradhapura, Vijaya College, Matale and St Thomas’ College, Matale. At school he was the band leader of the western band, Captain of the first XI cricket team and Sergeant of the Senior Cadet Platoon, St. Thomas’ College, Matale. Silva is married and has two daughters. Sri Lanka Army Silva joined Sri Lanka Army on 1984 and he was the former Director of Operations, Sri Lanka Army and the General Officer Commanding, 58 Division during the final phase of Sri Lankan civil war. He was a highly decorated Commando officer, being awarded the Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya, Rana Wickrama Padakkama and the Rana Sura Padakkama at once, a first in the Sri Lankan military history. He was the youngest promoted as a commanding officer. As an officer instructor at theSri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) in Diyatalawa, he trained the first foreign cadets to attend SLMA and went on to become its commanding officer. During 2002–2004 peace talks he took part in negotiations to open the A-9 Main Supply Route (MSR). With the resumption of hostilities he become the Brigade Commander of the Air Mobile Brigade and later took command of the famous 58 Division and was instrumental in the military capturing several former LTTE strongholds including the Mannar rice Bowl, Vedithalathivu, Nachchikuda, Mulangavil, Devils Point, Pooneryn, Kilinochchi, Paranthan, Elephant Pass, Dharmapuram, Vishvamadu, Suvandipuram, Thevipuram Puthukudirippu, Puthumathalan, Wellamullu vaikkal and the last inch of enemy held Karayamulli vaikkal in the mangroves of Nanthikandal lagoon in the Mullaithivu district. After the end of the war he was appointed as Director of Operations of the Sri Lanka Army and promoted to the rank of Major General. In 2010, he took up position as Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations as the only serving army officer to hold such a post at the time of appointment. As at present he holds the rank and title of Ambassador in addition to his post at the United Nations Headquarters.

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