Does the United States Army recruit foreign nationals?

Question

I have been researching this issue for a while now and have received mixed responses. My calls and correspondences with the local officials in my region have gone unanswered. I have heard that it does recruit foreign born nationals as part of the ground troops. Any ideas as to the reality?

Answer 1

At present, nearly all recruits have to have legal permanent residence in the USA. The rules do not mention the exceptions for special cases where a particular skill -- perhaps a language skill -- is wanted and things are "arranged" with USCIS.

The rules appear in many places on the Internet and I've posted them before in response to Y! Questions. Here's one official site: http://www.navy.com/about/before/enlistmentstandards/ Some others have more complete info.

Answer 2

Yes, you need to be a legal permanent resident/legally have a green card. You can only enlist. Only US Citizens can be commissioned officers or warrant officers. Some MOS (Military Occupational Specialty-your job in the military) that requires security clearances (like Special Forces and Intelligence) is restricted from foreign servicemen. There’s also an age limit to enlist (17 years to 34 years and probably older). So if you want to be immigrate to the US and enlist start applying to the US embassy now. From what I've heard from others, the immigration process takes awhile. I went through Marine Corps bootcamp in MCRD San Diego with foreign recruits who are Portuguese, German, Polish, Filipino, Vietnamese, Mexicans, etc. But these guys legally immigrated here when they were kids with their immigrant parents. So they were young enough to enlist. Also the US Military has some educational requirements to enlist (ie high school diploma or GED with some college credit hours). Remember, the American embassy and immigration are the only ones you talk to about immigrating here. The military recruiters can’t help you on immigrating here or getting a green card. That’s not their job. They’ll tell you the same thing I’m telling you, talk to the US Embassy in your country or immigration.

Answer 3

As many as they can find. They are offered fast track to US citizenship, if they survive. Not an especially good idea. But without a draft you have to get warm bodies where you can find them.
Historical parallel, Rome also depended heavily upon foreign nationals (barbarians) in the empire's waning days. The romans did not want to fight and at one point romans were forbidden to join the roman legions, they could not be trusted.
End result, the barbarians were quite familar with roman weapons and tactics when they decided that they wanted to be the big dogs on the block.
Something to ponder.

Answer 4

Yes Foreigners CAN and do join or armed forces. In world war 2 for example a lot of Canadians joined both the US and British armies.

Answer 5

I'm a Canadian and a few years ago I was speaking to the US Army recruiters, I was told that all I would need was my Green Card to Join but joining the US army would not qualify me to get a green card. So I would have to try for the Green Card lottery, marry a american citizen or find some other way to get one. Once I had one they would be more than happy to enroll me.

Answer 6

they are both either misinformed or lying, you can NOT join without either being a permanent resident [green card] or being a citizen. to the guy below me, yes but the thing is he is NOT in the USA he is in Canada and has said so many times, plus even if he came to the USA he would NOT be able to prove residency for 2 years..........also I find it interesting that they first guy that they make a poster child for this course of entry into the military is a doctor, not really the same thing as some snot nosed kid from the hood is it.

Answer 7

You need to be a us national, but thats it. Im in the military and see lots of foreign nationals born out of country.

Answer 8

What I can tell you is a legal immigrant can earn citizenship by serving for I believe 4 years. I would have to assume yes.

Answer 9

Armies around the world, I am sure, do things that are yet to be decalssified owing to the supreme illegitimacy of some operations.

Answer 10

yes but selectively and only with a country that has mutual defense treaties,like U.K.Philippines.Korea and few others,and most of those recruits joins the navy,and few goes to the U.S.Army