.....they said they are fighting for a country thats not even theirs. I thought you had to be a citizen of the U.S. to be in the U.S. army. Am I wrong, or was whatever I heard wrong? I didn't hear it on a news station, actually I don't know what channel I heard it on....so, what do you think?
2006-08-28 11:07:13 · 16 answers · asked by Led*Zep*Babe 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
no you dont have to be a us citizen to be in the army. a friend of mine who is in the army barely got his citizenship right before he left to iraq!
2006-08-28 11:12:58 · answer #1 · answered by Jeanine G 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Enlistment is not restricted solely to American citizens. Non-citizens are prohibited from being commissioned as officers; there is no such restriction in place for enlisted soldiers. Anyone who says that only American citizens can enlist, should have told me when I swore my oath of service. And about 20, 30 people I have met over the years who were from places as far away as the Czech Republic to Israel, to Nigeria and Russia, the Republic of Korea to Vietnam. And countless more besides.
The only hard requirement for enlisting in terms of citizenship status is you must be either a:
(1) Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) in good standing;
(2) US citizen, either natural-born or naturalized.
Before 9/11, you had to serve three years as an enlisted soldier before you could apply for naturalization (as a civilian, you had to wait for five years before you could turn in your Green Card and become a citizen). President Bush waived the time requirement and made the waiver conditional on a deployment, so anyone who enlists and rotates to Iraq or Afghanistan can have the waiting period waived - which is how I ended up getting my citizenship after OIF 1.
As for "fighting for a country not even theirs" - I wasn't thinking that when I swore the oath and no one told me that when I was lugging around my machinegun around my neck for months and months. Just because you're not a full citizen doesn't mean that the commitment is any less. There have been plenty of Commonwealth citizens (Australian, New Zealander, Canadian) who have fought in many of America's wars and either gone home or naturalized. There is a rich tradition of foreigners fighting for the United States going back all the way to the Revolutionary War and becoming native sons.
It's not a bad tradition, really. It worked for many others before me.
2006-09-01 14:30:31 · answer #2 · answered by Nat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about a lot...but there are some. Not all are seeking citizenship either. I knew a Canadian who served in nam just because he thought it was the right thing to do...he went back home after he got out.
For those who are aliens wanting to become citizens there is nothing mercenary about it. SOME people actually believe in what this nation stands for and want to come here and become real citizens and do their part.
2006-08-28 18:41:02 · answer #3 · answered by RunningOnMT 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can serve in the US Military if you have a work visa or a green card. You cannot serve in the US Military if you are an illegal alien. Our armed services have enlisted persons from other countries for as long as I can remember, certainly since the WW2 days. There used to be a program for Philippinos that allowed them to obtain permanent residency after 20 years of Service as cook or mess man.
2006-08-28 18:25:14 · answer #4 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those foreign nationals who serve in the US Armed Forces must be legal resident aliens, or citizens of various U.S. protectorates, such as the Canal Zone, and some Pacific Islanders.
2006-08-28 18:17:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are non-US citizens in the US Armed Forces, all volunteers. You do not have to be an American citizen to
be with the US Army.You'll never hear it on any of these left wing news channels or radio!!!
2006-08-28 18:14:26 · answer #6 · answered by Vagabond5879 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes legal aliens who will get a fast track to citizenship. They want to become US citizens and defend US shores as good soon to be US citizens. I for one am proud of all who serve
2006-08-28 18:11:50 · answer #7 · answered by Buzzy360comeCme 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The US recruits in foreign countries! I can remember going to a job fair in high school (I live in Canada) and the US forces were there in force recruiting.
2006-08-29 08:19:36 · answer #8 · answered by PLDFK 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
any legal permanent resident with a Green card who is otherwise qaulified may enlist. the waiting period is waived for these people and they may apply for citizenship after one year of military service.
2006-08-28 22:50:51 · answer #9 · answered by Mrsjvb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you are wrong that they can not join, & no, you were not wrong that you heard they were fighting. Patriots come from all countries.
2006-08-28 18:22:48 · answer #10 · answered by Wolfpacker 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋