U.S. Military Will Offer Path to Citizenship for foreign students

[Andy Nguyen]

Couldn't find a Wall Street job when you graduate?
Are you in the US on a temp visa?
Frustrated with the uncertainty ahead in your path to gain H1-B?
Know how long it takes to get a green card?
You've lived in the US for at least 2 years?
Speak Chinese, Russian, Arabic or one of the 35 languages?

How about getting your US Citizenship in as little as 6 months?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/us/15immig.html?hp=&pagewanted=all

Stretched thin in Afghanistan and Iraq, the American military will begin recruiting skilled immigrants who are living in this country with temporary visas, offering them the chance to become United States citizens in as little as six months.

Immigrants who are permanent residents, with documents commonly known as green cards, have long been eligible to enlist. But the new effort, for the first time since the Vietnam War, will open the armed forces to temporary immigrants if they have lived in the United States for a minimum of two years, according to military officials familiar with the plan.

The Army's one-year pilot program will begin in New York City to recruit about 550 temporary immigrants who speak one or more of 35 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Igbo (a tongue spoken in Nigeria), Kurdish, Nepalese, Pashto, Russian and Tamil. Spanish speakers are not eligible. The Army's program will also include about 300 medical professionals to be recruited nationwide

 

[Yan He]

Oh, well. So why don't we have requirement for "MADE IN AMERICA" here? Will this make the "work conditions" worse for American born soldiers ? I think H1Bs have no advantage or better skills than American here.

Might be a short cut for F1's....

 

[Roger Trimble]

A couple words of caution from a former soldier to anyone in this forum thinking of going this route. Enlisting ( or getting your commission if they offer it ) is a very honorable way to serve this nation. But, as with anything else, beware the downside risk:

1. Recruiters will tell you anything you want to hear so that they can make mission. Whatever you think you will do once you're wearing the uniform, expect to do something completely different.

2. Occupations most in demand (as of a couple of years ago, but I don't think the situation has changed that much ):
- military police - for manning detention centers and patrolling the streets.
- combat engineers - for fixing roads destroyed by IEDs, and patrolling the streets.
- cavalry scouts and riflemen - for maintaining a presence and patrolling the streets.
- truck drivers - for running convoys all over the theater.
- mechanics - for fixing broken and shot-up equipment in theater.
All of these occupations are in short supply because there is so much demand for the manpower in theater.

3. Quant skills are not needed in the military. If you think you will be able to take part in this program so that you can run complex mathematical analysis on military logistics or acquisitions programs, you will be disappointed.

4. Operational tempo is very high right now. This means that you will likely spend about 2.5 years away from home for every year you spend at home.

These are just a few points to think about if anyone seriously considers this. With that being said, the bennies are constant. But inform yourself first and foremost, and pay special attention to the first point.

 

[atreides]

Thanks for your insight.. As per the points you made, would a fresh enlistee be stuck with responsibilities in point 2 throughout their time (four years), and are there usually opportunities to rise along your vertical to take on more roles that actually utilize your skills in the Air force as compared to the Army

 

[Roger Trimble]

Thanks for your insight.. As per the points you made, would a fresh enlistee be stuck with responsibilities in point 2 throughout their time (four years), and are there usually opportunities to rise along your vertical to take on more roles that actually utilize your skills in the Air force as compared to the Army

Good questions. To answer your first question: in general ( not just the army ), yes. For example, your first 4 years in the army will probably take you to the rank of specialist, or sergeant if you are a strong performer. The other services have similar rank structures. Either way, it is very rare to actually change occupational specialties. Once a sergeant, you are considered a non-commissioned officer, and essentially become the civilian equivalent of a junior manager. So, you do take on more responsibilities in terms of managing a couple of privates or specialists. But in general your vocation is your vocation. Note, however, that the air force historically promotes at a slower rate.

To your second question, if you are referring to utilizing your mathematical / quantitative skills, I would say probably not. The different services employ scores of civilian scientists to actually conduct research and analysis. Besides, the reason the government has piloted this program is because it needs bodies on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan.

One more note, unless things are different with this program, all service contracts are eight years. So, if you spend four in active duty, then you will still owe four more years in the reserves.