Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Stories of Service graphic. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Jim Masie)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Stories of Service: From Egypt to New Egypt, one Airman's pursuit of happiness, the American dreamPublished June 15, 2023
                    
                    By Senior Airman Matt Porter
                    
                    
                    Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
            **JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. (AFNS) --**The United States was built on a foundation of worldwide immigration. From that foundation comes a rich history of people, of all backgrounds, who came together under the common values of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
For Airman 1st Class Marian Tawfik, 305th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist at **Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst**, coming to America was a dream fulfilled. The journey was, at times, a perilous one, but has formed an immense sense of gratitude towards the rights and privileges many take for granted.
“I originally came to the U.S. from Minya, which is the capital of Upper Egypt,” Tawfik said. “Growing up, I always wanted to live in America and be a part of the culture. I looked at Americans' opportunities, their rights and their overall quality of life and wanted those things for myself.”
Tawfik identifies as Coptic, which is a class of people in Egypt under Sharia Law who openly practice Christianity. Coptics make up roughly 20% of the population in Egypt and have been the targets of violence for decades leading up to the present day.
“When I was a young girl, I remember attending mass and having to hide from a man who came into our church and opened fire during the service,” Tawfik said. “I believe around 17 people were killed that day; incidents like that are commonplace for Coptics, even now, and that made observing my faith difficult.”
The situation worsened for Tawfik during the Arab Spring, roughly a decade ago, where a series of anti-government uprisings across the region left approximately 40 Coptic churches burned or damaged.
“It was after this time that I was able to apply for the **Diversity Immigrant Visa Program** through the **U.S. Embassy**,” Tawfik said. “Through this program, selectees were drawn at random and given priority for visa’s free of cost. I was in shock when I realized I was one of those selected and that my dream of coming to America would be realized.”
In 2016, Tawfik was able to successfully immigrate to the U.S. and took up residency in Bayonne, New Jersey. There, she secured employment at a local steakhouse after going door to door in search of work.
“From the **State Department** to the local church that took me in, and especially my employers at that steakhouse, everyone was very kind to me,” Tawfik said. “They went out of their way to help me make a home here and even learn more English.”
Overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and new opportunities afforded to her under democracy, Tawfik desired to give back. Seeing service in the U.S. military as the ultimate reciprocity, she approached an Air Force **recruiter** and expressed her desire to enlist.
“The recruiter really worked with me despite my limited understanding of the language,” Tawfik said. I was also quickly approaching the age limit to serve and was concerned if I would be able to graduate in time.”Airman 1st Class Marian Tawfik, 305th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist, in-processes travelers at the 305th APS Passenger Terminal April 19, 2023, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Tawfik, an immigrant from Minya, Egypt, won a diversity Visa through the U.S. Embassy lottery and eventually attained her citizenship in the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matt Porter)Stories of Service: From Egypt to New Egypt, one Airman's pursuit of happiness, the American dream
                    
                    
                    Airman 1st Class Marian Tawfik, 305th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist, in-processes travelers at the 305th APS Passenger Terminal April 19, 2023, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Tawfik, an immigrant from Minya, Egypt, won a diversity Visa through the U.S. Embassy lottery and eventually attained her citizenship in the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matt Porter)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Airman 1st Class Marian Tawfik, 305th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist, in-processes travelers at the 305th APS Passenger Terminal, April 19, 2023, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Tawfik, an immigrant from Minya, Egypt, won a diversity Visa through the U.S. Embassy lottery and eventually attained her citizenship in the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matt Porter)Stories of Service: From Egypt to New Egypt, one Airman's pursuit of happiness, the American dream
                    
                    
                    Airman 1st Class Marian Tawfik, 305th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist, in-processes travelers at the 305th APS Passenger Terminal, April 19, 2023, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Tawfik, an immigrant from Minya, Egypt, won a diversity Visa through the U.S. Embassy lottery and eventually attained her citizenship in the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matt Porter)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Airman 1st Class Marian Tawfik, 305th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist, in-processes travelers at the 305th APS Passenger Terminal on April 19, 2023, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Tawfik, an immigrant from Minya, Egypt, won a diversity Visa through the U.S. Embassy lottery and eventually attained her citizenship in the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matt Porter)Stories of Service: From Egypt to New Egypt, one Airman's pursuit of happiness, the American dream
                    
                    
                    Airman 1st Class Marian Tawfik, 305th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist, in-processes travelers at the 305th APS Passenger Terminal on April 19, 2023, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Tawfik, an immigrant from Minya, Egypt, won a diversity Visa through the U.S. Embassy lottery and eventually attained her citizenship in the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matt Porter)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

Once at **basic military training** the need to speak English well became paramount. Military training instructors expected Tawfik to understand their commands and instruction to the same standard as other trainees in order to pass the tests required to graduate.
“I would take early-morning entry control shifts, sometimes multiple shifts in a row, just to have extra time to study both English and the written test trainees take in order to graduate,” Tawfik said. “It was difficult, but with the help of my wingmen I was able to achieve a high score and learn English to the extent that I can speak it now.”
Tawfik graduated BMT, just a few days shy of the age limit, and went on to fulfill another dream of working with aircraft. As an aerial transportation specialist, she oversees the processing of **Department of Defense** travelers at the **305th APS Passenger Terminal**.
“Coincidentally, I found myself back in New Jersey with my military assignment and also live in New Egypt, a local township,” Tawfik said. “I’m so grateful for my new life, to be able to drive a car, to vote, to have basic rights as a woman and observe my faith freely and openly. I would volunteer all of my time if I could just to pay the U.S. back for everything it has given me.”
Similar to her time at BMT, Tawfik’s APS wingmen spent hours helping her study for her citizenship test and she was able to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a U.S. citizen in recent months. She also spends time volunteering regularly at the Airman’s Attic and encourages others to share in the joy of giving back to their communities.
According to Tawfik, “Every day is special to me. I hope to be able to serve as long as possible. I'm proud to wear this uniform in the world’s greatest Air Force.”FS 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Stories of Service 



JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst 



work Visa 



immigration 



One Team One Fight 



A1C Marian Tawfik 



305th APS 



coming to America 



gratitude 



Coptic 



State Department 



Diversity Immigrant Visa Program 



DV

Related Links
        Stories of Service Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil