Major Joshua Mast

And so we have a name that says unknown birthplace, unknown parents, or those unknown birthplace, citizenship unknown, and then us as her parents. And so we provided that documentation and the court order to the Marine Corps Dependency Branch, which is the authorized agency official to make those determinations, fully knowing we're in Afghanistan. My wife was on the phone with him.

I'm calling from Kabul. And they add her as our dependent. So that provided information. a way to guarantee payment, right? Now she's eligible for TRICARE. So I have the legal authority to arrange healthcare. We do that. And it's literally just to get the visa, right? Somebody had to do it. We were in the seat. We had a short timeframe. So we did that.

I'm calling from Kabul. And they add her as our dependent. So that provided information. a way to guarantee payment, right? Now she's eligible for TRICARE. So I have the legal authority to arrange healthcare. We do that. And it's literally just to get the visa, right? Somebody had to do it. We were in the seat. We had a short timeframe. So we did that.

I'm calling from Kabul. And they add her as our dependent. So that provided information. a way to guarantee payment, right? Now she's eligible for TRICARE. So I have the legal authority to arrange healthcare. We do that. And it's literally just to get the visa, right? Somebody had to do it. We were in the seat. We had a short timeframe. So we did that.

And then ironically, and this is the crazy part, is when we were going to get her birth certificate, we had a guardianship order. We're her legal guardians under US law. Steffi goes to the Vital Statistics Office in Richmond, Virginia. And they say, we don't agree with the judge's interpretation of this statute. We're not going to issue you this birth certificate.

And then ironically, and this is the crazy part, is when we were going to get her birth certificate, we had a guardianship order. We're her legal guardians under US law. Steffi goes to the Vital Statistics Office in Richmond, Virginia. And they say, we don't agree with the judge's interpretation of this statute. We're not going to issue you this birth certificate.

And then ironically, and this is the crazy part, is when we were going to get her birth certificate, we had a guardianship order. We're her legal guardians under US law. Steffi goes to the Vital Statistics Office in Richmond, Virginia. And they say, we don't agree with the judge's interpretation of this statute. We're not going to issue you this birth certificate.

And we're like, we have to have this birth certificate because they said it's a requirement for the visa. We have a name from the court order. We have a birth certificate as an identity document to apply for this humanitarian parole visa. And they're like, well, you know, we don't agree with his interpretation. We don't think it fits the statute.

And we're like, we have to have this birth certificate because they said it's a requirement for the visa. We have a name from the court order. We have a birth certificate as an identity document to apply for this humanitarian parole visa. And they're like, well, you know, we don't agree with his interpretation. We don't think it fits the statute.

And we're like, we have to have this birth certificate because they said it's a requirement for the visa. We have a name from the court order. We have a birth certificate as an identity document to apply for this humanitarian parole visa. And they're like, well, you know, we don't agree with his interpretation. We don't think it fits the statute.

And so my brother is an attorney, not a family law attorney, but is an attorney. And so he's engaging with them. And the legal advisor for the Vital Statistics Office is the Virginia Attorney General's Office. And so he's talking to the Attorney General's Office, like, really? Like, you're not going to issue, like, here's why we need this. We need this for a visa.

And so my brother is an attorney, not a family law attorney, but is an attorney. And so he's engaging with them. And the legal advisor for the Vital Statistics Office is the Virginia Attorney General's Office. And so he's talking to the Attorney General's Office, like, really? Like, you're not going to issue, like, here's why we need this. We need this for a visa.

And so my brother is an attorney, not a family law attorney, but is an attorney. And so he's engaging with them. And the legal advisor for the Vital Statistics Office is the Virginia Attorney General's Office. And so he's talking to the Attorney General's Office, like, really? Like, you're not going to issue, like, here's why we need this. We need this for a visa.

We need a name and an identity document. And she has none. And they're like, well, we would prefer if the judge issues an adoption order, because we think that complies with the statute. So we're like, so you want us to apply to adopt this child and the judge to do it? And they're like, yes. So we did. Like, it wasn't even our idea. Like, honestly, I didn't even contemplate that.

We need a name and an identity document. And she has none. And they're like, well, we would prefer if the judge issues an adoption order, because we think that complies with the statute. So we're like, so you want us to apply to adopt this child and the judge to do it? And they're like, yes. So we did. Like, it wasn't even our idea. Like, honestly, I didn't even contemplate that.

We need a name and an identity document. And she has none. And they're like, well, we would prefer if the judge issues an adoption order, because we think that complies with the statute. So we're like, so you want us to apply to adopt this child and the judge to do it? And they're like, yes. So we did. Like, it wasn't even our idea. Like, honestly, I didn't even contemplate that.

So we filed for adoption. The Attorney General of Virginia recommends the judge grant it under the circumstances because, you know, there's a lot of background that she's stateless and these were terrorists, et cetera, et cetera. And so they issue this stuff. And I provide it to my command. I am doing it by the book for a crazy situation, right?

So we filed for adoption. The Attorney General of Virginia recommends the judge grant it under the circumstances because, you know, there's a lot of background that she's stateless and these were terrorists, et cetera, et cetera. And so they issue this stuff. And I provide it to my command. I am doing it by the book for a crazy situation, right?

So we filed for adoption. The Attorney General of Virginia recommends the judge grant it under the circumstances because, you know, there's a lot of background that she's stateless and these were terrorists, et cetera, et cetera. And so they issue this stuff. And I provide it to my command. I am doing it by the book for a crazy situation, right?

Because I think my personal philosophy is I will always try to be administratively correct and morally right. But if it's going to come down between the two of them, I'm going to be morally right. And we'll try to make this fit because administrative rules often can't contemplate the crazy situations in life. And so that's why we are a principle-based institution in the military.