Given intractable immigration debate, an incentive:accelerated naturalization for 2 years military service?

Question

Military wages, though not competitive in the US, would be attractive to Mexicans. Let the people who really want to come here earn their way in and restore a depleted military force at the same time. Would likely have more applicants than needed, so would be able to choose the best. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

Wow. That is a great idea! Let's have a bunch of illegal immigrants/narco terrorist gang mebers that don't speak english in the military, with no clue what it means to be an American, thereby having no motivation to fight for Americans, running around with M-16's, grenades, and driving tanks!!

One of the reasons we have an all-volunteer miltary is due to the fact that we have a highly advanced armed forces. That requires a large number of educated/highly educated group of individuals to operate some fairly complex weapons. Something tells that if your crossing the border illegally, you won't meet the basic requirements (like speaking english).

Answer 2

Mexicans are not the only "back door entrants". All illegal immigrants are not uneducated. My father was in the Navy for more than 30 years and not once did I hear him refer to enlisted women as "gals". I think your idea is an excellent one. The military already has its share of criminals, I don't think illegal immigrants could do any worse. The ultimate consideration is the health and welfare of our military, they should be the ones who would have a voice in a decision like that.

Answer 3

This does happen to a degree, but it is highly selective.  I worked with several people who weren't citizens yet.  In fact, I went to a lot of ceremonies where people earned their citizenship.

But the simple fact remains that when people are joining without patriotism being at least one reason readiness suffers in a serious way.  The college benefits are great, and a lot of people, including myself, have used them as a reason to serve, but they weren't the only reason.

Gaining citizenship, getting out of jail time, even monetary bonuses that have been too generous recently bring in applicants with no desire whatsoever to serve their nation.  That sucks come time to deploy.  It sucks hard.

This isn't the type of pool that needs to be tapped to solve any enlistment problems we are facing.  We need people who realize what they are signing up for, not just what they can gain from it.  

If you post this in the military section your responses would be overwhelmingly negative too - from the very stressed active duty population you want to help - we need Soldiers, not people trying to gain something.

Answer 4

I believe that the US military requires US citizenship nowadays

Answer 5

No...........if they REALLY want to be a citizen of our Country, then come in the front door legally.  If after becoming a citizen, and they want to join the military, that is their choice.  I do not want any soldier who does not hold up to our country trying to save the backs of our dear soldiers, sorry.

Answer 6

No. Why pollute the military with a bunch of non english speaking foreigners and weaken our national security all for a green card. It's not worth it no matter how you look at it.

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Excellent reply.  

I don't think we need to be policeman of the world.  Currently, we have the military that enables that and we need to change it.  We need to protect the United States... not the businesses who have extended themselves and need the bully of North American to regain the money they spent.  We need, in fact, the money we are currently spending on the military for infrastructure repair and very serious investments in portable energy.. or energy that can be transported in Cars, boats, plans and trains as gas is today.  Hydrogen is so close... let get a smaller military, stay home for a change, and boot hydrogen over to a reality with research and development.  Now THAT would be an economic stimulus I could agree with.

Answer 7

If they really wanted to be here, they would come in legally. The ones that are illegally will gladly tell a US citizen that they hate us, our country and they would just as soon kill us as look at us (as crime stats show) so I would prefer we not send them to the military with grenades and guns. They would not look out for our soldiers. they would be killing all of them .NOT generalizing. NOT all illegals kill.. I know .but history tells us that they care nothing about following our laws or rules or even our flag so why would they want to fight for our country. They only come to this country to get the FREEBIES..that's it.. IF we stop those. they won't come here anymore.. That's the solution for all of it. We won't have to even worry about fining the employers who hire them just stop the welfare and stop the free medical treatment and free housing, free education, etc and they will leave.  

Answer 8

No.  Why pollute the military with a bunch of non english speaking foreigners and weaken our national security all for a green card.  It's not worth it no matter how you look at it.  

Answer 9

Let's not.

I served 22 years in the Navy.  What makes you think that I, and the guys and gals who served with me, want to serve with these people?

I suggest you read some history, particularly the history of Rome and the Roman empire's fall.  Read about the role of foreign troops that were pressed into service in order to allow Romans the luxury of not having to get their own hands dirty serving their own government.

Stop Loss is nothing new.  The entire second page of the enlistment contract that every man and woman signs looks exactly like this......

9. FOR ALL ENLISTEES OR REENLISTEES: Many laws,

regulations, and military customs will govern my conduct

and require me to do things a civilian does not have to

do. The following statements are not promises or

guarantees of any kind. They explain some of the

present laws affecting the Armed Forces which I cannot

change but which Congress can change at any time.

a. My enlistment is more than an employment

agreement. As a member of the Armed Forces of the

United States, I will be:

(1) Required to obey all lawful orders and perform all

assigned duties.

(2) Subject to separation during or at the end of my

enlistment. If my behavior fails to meet acceptable

military standards, I may be discharged and given a

certificate for less than honorable service, which may

hurt my future job opportunities and my claim for

veteran's benefits.

(3) Subject to the military justice system, which

means, among other things, that I may be tried by

military courts-martial.

(4) Required upon order to serve in combat or other

hazardous situations.

(5) Entitled to receive pay, allowances, and other

benefits as provided by law and regulation.

b. Laws and regulataions that govern military

personnel may change without notice to me. Such

changes may affect my status, pay, allowances,

benefits, and responsibilities as a member of the Armed

Forces REGARDLESS of the provisions of this

enlistment/reenlistment document.

c. In the event of war, my enlistment in the Armed

Forces continues until six (6) months after the war ends,

unless my enlistment is ended sooner by the President of

the United States.

10. MILITARY SERVICE OBLIGATION FOR ALL

MEMBERS OF THE ACTIVE AND RESERVE COMPONENTS,

INCLUDING THE NATIONAL GUARD.

a. FOR ALL ENLISTEES: If this is my initial enlistment,

I must serve a total of eight (8) years. Any part

of that service not served on active duty must be served

in a Reserve Component unless I am sooner discharged.

b. If I am a member of a Reserve Component of an

Armed Force at the beginning of a period of war or

national emergency declared by Congress, or if I become

a member during that period, my military service may be

extended without my consent until six (6) months after

the end of that period of war.

c. As a member of a Reserve Component, in time of

war or national emergency declared by the Congress, I

may be required to serve on active duty (other than for

training) for the entire period of the war or emergency

and for six (6) months after its end.

d. As a member of the Ready Reserve I may be

required to perform active duty or active duty for

training without my consent (other than as provided in

item 8 of this document) as follows:

(1) in time of national emergency declared by the

President of the United States, I may be ordered to

active duty (other than for training) for not more than

24 consecutive months.

(2) I may be ordered to active duty for 24

months, and my enlistment may be extended so I can

complete 24 months of active duty, if:

(a) I am not assigned to, or participating satisfactorily

in, a unit of the Ready Reserve; and

(b) I have not met my Reserve obligation; and

(c) I have not served on active duty for a total of

24 months.

(3) I may be ordered to perform additional active

duty training for not more than 45 days if I have not

fulfilled my military service obligation and fail in any

year to perform the required training duty satisfactorily.

If the failure occurs during the last year of

my required membership in the Ready Reserve, my

enlistment may be extended until I perform that

additional duty, but not for more than six months.

(4) When determined by the President that it is

necessary to support any operational mission, I may be

ordered to active duty as prescribed by law, if I am a

member of the Selected Reserve.

11. FOR ENLISTEES/REENLISTEES IN THE NAVY,

MARINE CORPS, OR COAST GUARD: I understand

that if I am serving on a naval vessel in foreign

waters, and my enlistment expires, I will be returned

to the United States for discharge as soon as possible

consistent with my desires. However, if essential to

the public interest, I understand that I may be retained

on active duty until the vessel returns to the United

States. If I am retained under these circumstances, I

understand I will be discharged not later than 30 days

after my return to the United States; and, that except

in time of war, I will be entitled to an increase in basic

pay of 25 percent from the date my enlistment expires

to the date of my discharge.

12. FOR ALL MALE APPLICANTS: Completion of this

form constitutes registration with the Selective

Service System in accordance with the Military

Selective Service Act. Incident thereto the

Department of Defense may transmit my name,

permanent address, military address, Social Security

Number, and birthdate to the Selective Service System

for recording as evidence of the registration.