(courtesy photo) Culinary Specialist Seaman Recruit Zhuoyi Chen, a China native, was sworn in as an American citizen at a naturalization ceremony in Baltimore Nov. 10.

Culinary Specialist Seaman Recruit Zhuoyi Chen, a native of China, has been in the U.S. for two years and has served in the military for the past nine months. He is the first member of his family to become a U.S. citizen.

‘‘Everything I do, I do for my mom to take care of her and make her proud. She was very happy I became an American citizen.,” Chen said. ‘‘The military has been very good to me ... before joining I didn’t know much English. Everything I learned in boot camp and since then has helped me get my citizenship.”

Culinary Specialist 2nd (SW) Class Andrew Ximines, a native of Jamaica who obtained U.S. citizenship a year ago, helped Chen gain his citizenship. Ximines said the process is quicker for military members than non-members.

‘‘They seem to expedite our requests,” Ximines said. ‘‘Chen got his citizenship very quickly, just a few months.”

The process is three-fold, Ximines said. The first step is filling out the paperwork, then waiting and lastly taking a test in which a board of members asks random questions about America.

‘‘They only ask about 10 questions on things they think every American should know if they grew up in the states,” he said. ‘‘But it wasn’t that easy. I pretty much grew up here and I still had to think back to school.”

Chen said he worked hard to get his citizenship.

‘‘I did all of the paperwork and made sure it went through and I studied very, very hard for the test,” Chen said.

Chief Culinary Specialist (SW) Michael Simpson, Chen’s leading chief petty officer, said Chen’s dedication and persistence are an inspiration to others seeking citizenship.

‘‘When the other guys see that if you push hard enough and get it, it really motivates them to finish and get theirs,” Simpson said. ‘‘Chen is a good Sailor and we’re all proud of him.”

Ximines said being granted ‘‘opens a lot of doors for Chen.” To become a Naval officer, Sailors must be a U.S. citizen. Enlisted Sailors who are not citizens are restricted to specific rates that do not require security clearance.

Chen said receiving his citizenship was a huge step forward in his life and will help him achieve his goals.

‘‘It was the happiest day of my life,” he said. ‘‘Now I have the rights of an American, and the freedoms. The freedom is the best part of America. I am happy to be here.”