Military considers recruiting foreigners

[ckramer]

WASHINGTON -- The armed forces, already struggling to meet recruiting goals, are considering expanding the number of noncitizens in the ranks -- including disputed proposals to open recruiting stations overseas and putting more immigrants on a faster track to US citizenship if they volunteer -- according to Pentagon officials.

Foreign citizens serving in the US military is a highly charged issue, which could expose the Pentagon to criticism that it is essentially using mercenaries to defend the country. Other analysts voice concern that a large contingent of noncitizens under arms could jeopardize national security or reflect badly on Americans' willingness to serve in uniform.

The idea of signing up foreigners who are seeking US citizenship is gaining traction as a way to address a critical need for the Pentagon, while fully absorbing some of the roughly one million immigrants that enter the United States legally each year.

The proposal to induct more noncitizens, which is still largely on the drawing board, has to clear a number of hurdles. So far, the Pentagon has been quiet about specifics -- including who would be eligible to join, where the recruiting stations would be, and what the minimum standards might involve, including English proficiency. In the meantime, the Pentagon and immigration authorities have expanded a program that accelerates citizenship for legal residents who volunteer for the military.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/12/26/military_considers_recruiting_foreigners/

[musiclawyer]

1. This is bad

no one looks good. We have the PNAC to thank for doing this to our military

[saigon68]

11. It is the beginning oif the End

Just make sure they ain't gay

</sarcasm>

[teenagebambam]

2. Well, as long as they don't let in any foreign GAYS.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. So it's okay to draft foreigners into our military but John Walker

Lindh is in jail because he joined an Afghani militia. Dokey-okey.

[neverforget]

4. We live in a nation where sacrifice is someone else's job.....

[oasis]

5. Lou Dobbs will explode. (n/t)

[shadowknows69]

6. Considering?

Um...We're already doing it. I met one man who was a British citizen and retired from the English army to join our because we're paying better and the advancement possibilities for people of color was better than in the U.K. I've met other foreigners and foreign nationals who have joined. Is this supposedly a new article?

[pecwae]

15. Been doing so since I was in 20 years ago

I went through boot camp with citizens of the Philippines, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Rhodesia and Belgium. Some had to go through remedial English to finish up, but all got through. The Belgian got his citizenship so he could go SF.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Ah yes Armagedon 2089

a good old fashoned Role Playinhg Game

So how long until the DoD is fully privatized as that book's time line proposes

It was called general defense and was based in colorado... it happened in this mytyical time line in 2050

So how fast boys and girls until sci fi becomes even more real?

[Johnny Appleseed]

8. wow

If the conflict had the ability to spark just a modicum of patriotism among americans they would have no problems with recruitment. The fact they are considering going after foreigners shows what a sham this is.

[leftyladyfrommo]

9. I just saw this, too. Are they crazy?

I am beginning to think we just have a whole bunch of complete loonatics running our govt.

Maybe we would have better luck with a completely privatized army - just all contract soldiers. Then we could just kill them off and no one would really give a damn.

Has anyone else noticed how many of our fallen soldiers have Hispanic last names? Or am I just imagining things?

[babylonsister]

10. So all those immigrants might have a use now, as fodder for

this war?

[Junkdrawer]

12. Didn't the Brits do this a lot during their Imperial days?

:shrug:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

13. Yes, it helped bring about the War of 1812.

But, foreigners in our Armed Forces is nothing new. Resident aliens were even "eligible" (as if it's a good thing) for the draft - that had to suck.

I'm not sure if non-Americans can be officers. Maybe "professionals" like medical or clergy.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. No if you are not an American Citizen

you cannot be an officer

[pecwae]

16. Unless there's been a change

one must be a citizen to go into Special Ops as well. One can also lose security clearance if one marries a citizen from the verboten list.

[nosmokes]

17. 'merkun foreign legion. just doesn't have the same panache as the

french foreign legion.