Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center military divers witnessed a special ceremony that is not part of the normal curriculum Feb. 23 -- a flag presentation in honor of one of their own earning a U.S. citizenship status.

In front of his peers and fellow dive-school classmates, former Italian infantry officer, now U.S. Army Specialist Ricardo Micheletto and U.S. citizen, was presented with the national ensign flown at NDSTC that day.

Micheletto earned U.S. citizenship status during a naturalization ceremony in Panama City, Feb. 20, just days before the NDSTC ceremony was held.

"It was a surprise, I certainly did not expect it," said Micheletto.

Micheletto is assigned to Alpha Company, 169th Engineer Battalion at NDSTC and will obtain a 12D military occupational specialty as an engineer diver. His journey to U.S. citizenship began when he met U.S. Army intelligence Soldier, Specialist Sunny Weber while both were serving in Afghanistan.

Micheletto was responsible for providing ground escort and protection for U.S. Navy explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams while they rendered-safe improvised explosive devices (IED) on the battlefield.

It was his second tour in Afghanistan. Prior to his deployment, Micheletto attended the Basic Officer Leadership course at Fort Benning, Georgia, with his current company commander, Army Capt. David Guerdan, in 2009 and it was there that he said he fell in love with the U.S. Army.

"I loved it; it was my dream to join the U.S. Army," he said.

Micheletto returned from deployment, resigned his commission and moved to the United States. In 2012, he married Weber. As an immigrant, Micheletto enlisted in the U.S. Army and was selected for the Army Corps of Engineers dive program.

"It is one thing for an immigrant to come to the United States, adopt our culture, our customs and our way of life -- but to join the United States military and fight for what we believe in takes a person of special character," said NDSTC Commanding Officer Cmdr. Hung Cao, USN who himself came to the United States from Vietnam as a refugee.

Micheletto's U.S.-born wife and former Army specialist said she is proud of her husband.

"Honestly, sometimes I wonder if he's not more American than me," said Weber. "He appreciates things that we take for granted because we are here all the time."

After the NDSTC ceremony, fellow service members in attendance shook Micheletto's hand, and one by one, congratulated him on becoming an American.

"We don't just make them divers, we make them Americans!" said U.S. Army dive instructor at NDSTC Staff Sgt. William D'Angelo at the event.

"Only one percent of our nation serves in the military," said Cao. "It speaks highly that a man is willing to put his life on the line for a country he just adopted."

Micheletto also holds a master's degree and speaks four languages and at 34-years old, will continue to finish dive school training alongside other military members perhaps 15 years younger. Upon graduation, he will be minted a U.S. Army deep sea diver during the year coined as the Year of the Military Diver.

For more news from Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, visit www.navy.mil/.