RAF MILDENHALL, England — Petty Officer 1st Class Benedict Delosreyes of the Naval Air Facility at RAF Mildenhall recently became the first servicemember to gain U.S. citizenship while stationed in England.

The Philippines native became a citizen under the revised U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act. The revisions simplify the naturalization process for qualified military members choosing to apply for American citizenship.

Delosreyes submitted an application after arriving in England in October of last year, according to the base public affairs office. The act’s new revisions expedite the process for military members who have served honorably during a time of conflict.

On April 20, Delosreyes passed a test and an interview with an immigration officer, recited the oath of allegiance and became an American.

“I joined the United States Navy because of all of the opportunities it had to offer,” he told The Marauder, the base newspaper. “Now that I am a United States citizen, many new jobs within my career field will be available to me.”

As a citizen, Delosreyes will be able to obtain secret clearance status, stand as command duty officer and transport registered mail.

Karen Fitzgerald of the U.S. Embassy in London confirmed that Delosreyes is the first servicemember stationed in the United Kingdom to become an American citizen.