She was born and raised in Iloilo, Philippines, located in the center of the Philippine archipelago. The province comprises the southeastern part of Panay Island with island-province of Guimaras just across its coast. It is nicknamed “the Heart of the Philippines” (www.iloilo.gov.ph).

She is Machinist Mate 2nd Class Michie Saint, a Sailor stationed aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). She joined the United States Navy and in the process became a United States citizen.

“When I decided to join the Navy, I knew that I wanted to be a citizen, I had the mindset that I would be a citizen,” said Saint. “I still consider the Philippines my home country; I love the Philippines. I grew up there, I was born and raised there, and I love it, but America is my home now.”

To become a citizen while in the Navy is not a short process, but for Saint, it was worth the time it took.

“I’ve been in the Navy for seven years. I got my naturalization when I was in boot camp in 2012,” said Saint. “Getting all of the paperwork done so I could join the Navy took a long time because everyone in my family had to be checked, and I had to pass a background check. When I passed and was told that I was naturalized, I felt very privileged and honored to be called an American. When I was little, I never thought I’d be an American. It was more than a dream for me, a dream beyond a dream.”

Our Navy reflects the nation we serve and is strengthened by the diversity of our people.

“The Navy is a melting pot of people, ideas, and experiences,” said Lt. Paul Guidry, from Marksville, Louisiana, George Washington’s command security manager. “It allows us to look at problems from different perspectives as well be more inclusive and understanding to issues a Sailor might be having, which makes us a more effective Navy.”

Having lived in different countries, Saint has different perspectives she can leverage aboard George Washington. Even though Saint considers the Philippines her home country still, she is also home in the United States.

“This is my home now. I have a family here in the states, my husband and son, but I still have all of my other family in the Philippines like my sister and my mom,” said Saint. “The Philippines is my home too, but it’s like my distant home. I want to retire in the Philippines though. Everyone has a dream retirement home, and for me, it is back in the Philippines.”

Whether she’s in the U.S. or in the Philippines, one thing remains constant: her love of service to country.

“It is a privilege for me to serve the United States and be naturalized and become a citizen,” said Saint.

It is because of Sailors like Saint that the Navy continues to maintain its maritime superiority by attracting, retaining, developing and training an agile and educated workforce and creating an inclusive environment where innovation is harnessed and diversity is embraced.

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For more news from USS George Washington (CVN 73), visit www.navy.mil/.