US Army Accepts Immigrants

Written by Takeru
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25
Nov
2008

For the first time since the Vietnam War, the United States army will begin to accept immigrants who wish to enroll with temporary US visas. Long before, until now, the requirement for immigrants to be able to enlist in the US army was a permanent residence, or a "green card." However, the government will offer an accelerated citizenship if those with temporary visas enroll. With the plan to allow immigrant residents without green cards to enlist for the army, the Pentagon hopes to see rejuvenation in shortages in language interpretation and medical care.

An interesting aspect of the enrollment for immigrants in the army is the expectation for the recruits to be more qualified than entrants who are US citizens. Visas have and will be granted to immigrants on the basis of their education and/or skills, thus, the US department of defense see a great significance in their roles for the military , especially those who prove useful in combat zones in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"The American army finds itself in a lot of different countries where cultural awareness is critical," said Lt.-Gen Bejamin C. Freakley, the top recruitment officer for the US Army.

"There will be some very talented folks in this group," he said to the New York Times. "This army will gain its strength in human capital, and the immigrants will gain their citizenship and get on a ramp to the American dream."

According to sources at the New York Times, the plan could see an acceleration in the time to wait for a temporary resident to recevie a green card--which can be from up to 10 years, cut down to as little as six months.

Within its first year, the new program will only accept 1,000 applicants for enlistment. Although, if the new service for immigrants prove successful and widely popular, the army will work on expanding the program to other military services. The program could eventually offer the US army one in six of  its recurits.

For army recruiters, the job of finding possible applicants have increasingly become easier, most likley due to the rising unemployment rate in the US.

However, many recruiters have expressed their regret in having to turn away immigrants because they had only temporary residency.

Apart from the Support, the program has experienced some opposition from officers and veterans as well with concerns that some immigrants may enlist with divided loyalties or could possibly be terrorists infiltrating the US armed forces.

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written by Pete , November 26, 2008
I’m not sure that this is a good idea. Someone might join with intention and plans to turn against the country. Maybe even turn on one of their fellow men in battle. I guess we can only hope this any immigrant signing up has had a good backround check.
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written by John, November 26, 2008
They must really need people to serve. Many immigrants live here for years, decades before they get citizenship. Anyone who wants to serve their country should be allowed too. Many of these people singing up have probably already been living here a good long time. I hope many of this people do not face too bad discrimination amongst the USA born soldiers.
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written by Mrs. Johnson , November 27, 2008
I agree with Pete I am not too fond of this idea. I know most immigrants are good honest people who want the American dream but in this day and age we can not take risks. If the military is lacking there is only one option to reinstate the draft. There are many countries where it is a requirement that both men and women serve at least two years in one of their countries military branches. So many young people are amok today they could use some firm military discipline.
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written by Jenn, November 29, 2008
hmm well only time will tell if this is successful. I certainly do not want to see the draft reinstated. I have no problem with immigrants severing.
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written by Zac, December 01, 2008
How appropriate you can become a US citizen if you happen to survive your tour of war. Here is a list of some immigrants who were given citizenship after they were killed on the battle field.

• Marine Cpl. Armando Ariel Gonzalez, 25, who fled Cuba on a raft with his father and brother in 1995 and dreamed of becoming an American firefighter. He was crushed by a refueling tank in southern Iraq on April 14, 2003.

• Army Spc. Justin Onwordi, a 28-year-old Nigerian medic whose heart seemed as big as his smiling 6-foot-4 frame and who left behind a wife and baby boy. He died when his vehicle was blown up in Baghdad on Aug. 2, 2004.

• Army Pfc. Ming Sun, 20, of China who loved the U.S. military so much he planned to make a career out of it, boasting that he would rise to the rank of general. He was killed in a firefight in Ramadi on Jan. 9, 2007.

http://shirazsocialist.wordpre...thumously/

Are some so desperate to get citizenship they are willing to die for it.
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written by GH Fan, December 04, 2008
Good for any immigrant who joins the Armed Forces. There are many who are not willing to die for the great good. This people willing to serve a country that they want to belong to and are willing to make sacrifices to make things better is wonderful. It shows how much they want to be an American to have a better life for them and their family. There are bad seeds in every bunch there are even countrymen who turn against their country, Timothy McVeigh who is currently burning in the depths of hell as I write this. Germans severed with us against the Germans during WW2.

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