Editor’s note: This article is the first in a series of profiles of Coast Guard members who received citizenship through service as part of the Coast Guard’s Naturalization Program. To learn more, please click here: Naturalization Through Military Service | USCIS
As the Coast Guard Commandant raised his hand to administer the Oath of Allegiance, Seaman Oz Syla took in the weight of the moment. This was more than a graduation. It was the culmination of a dream that was years in the making.
His father’s global banking career meant the family relocated and moved every two or three years. Syla’s family was stationed in Kenya when he was born, and he grew up in nine countries from Southeast Asia to the United Kingdom. The frequent relocations taught him adaptability and resilience. Eventually, he settled in Canada to pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree. And he met his wife, who was then working as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
“We had a really fabulous life in Canada,” he recalled. “We had a home, family and friends there. We had an entire professional network, but for some reason, something was missing.”
Syla’s wife planted the seed of moving to the United States. An expert in regulatory risk at a global consulting firm, Syla transferred to the United States under the Executive Leadership (L1A) Visa. After obtaining their American Sailing Association (ASA) Sailing Catamaran license, the Sylas fell in love with Charleston, South Carolina and eventually settled there. It became their anchor, a place to work hard, train harder, and set out on new adventures. Their hobbies ranged from sailing, diving, and kiteboarding along the coast to dolphin watching on the pier in front of their home with their border collie, Ari.
But something else was missing. He’d long been inspired by his wife’s stories of her time in the police force – and all the people she was proud to have helped. That legacy of service “really motivated and inspired me to go outside of my comfort zone,” he said.
Enter the U.S. Coast Guard.
Syla gravitated towards the Service’s humanitarian missions. “I always wanted to save lives and live with a purpose,” he reflected. “And I really want to make [my wife] proud, too.”
Syla did not know of the Coast Guard’s Naturalization Program, which allows immigrants to obtain citizenship through service. He’d already been pursuing citizenship before he met with a Coast Guard recruiter. Thanks to his specialized education and professional background, Syla qualified for the accelerated three-week boot camp, known as the Direct Entry Petty Officer (DEPO) Program.
Make no mistake, he said, DEPO was intense. But he appreciated the training and now feels equipped to operate and communicate during periods of stress alongside his shipmates.
A month after finishing DEPO, Syla got a call. Command staff from Training Center (TRACEN) Cape May wanted him to join Romeo-207’s graduation ceremony, to be officiated by Adm. Lunday, and to take the Oath of Allegiance.
Syla recognized just how unique his graduation experience was. “It made the moment unforgettable,” he said. “While I have lived in over nine countries, this time I felt like I belonged. I am not just serving a country – I am serving my country.” Taking the oath with his wife – who he calls the source of his inspiration – watching made it an even more meaningful experience.
Now a proud U.S. citizen and Coast Guard Reservist, Syla has begun his first assignment at Station Charleston. With his immediate sights set on becoming a Boatswain’s Mate, he’s using every opportunity to build experience, earn qualifications, and prepare for A-School. Eventually, he hopes to become a commissioned officer.
From his day job to his role in the Coast Guard, Syla has always embraced a challenge. “I have always believed that the things that matter most must be earned,” he said. “Nothing in my life has come easy, and I wouldn't want it any other way. Whether it’s summitting 20,000-foot peaks in Peru, competing in natural bodybuilding competitions, or leading teams in my professional career, I have learned that pride comes from the struggle itself. That is why becoming a U.S. citizen through service meant so much to me. It wasn’t something given, it was something to work for.”
The Naturalization Program, he emphasized, is “not just a pathway to citizenship, it’s a pathway to purpose and it’s deepened my commitment to the people, nation and the mission of the United States Coast Guard. Semper Paratus!”
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