Free Republic

Thank you for contacting our office regarding H.R. 2377, the Encourage New Legalized Immigrants to Start Training (ENLIST) Act. I appreciate hearing from you and value your thoughts. Our current immigration system is broken and inspires confidence in no one. We must have border security that is real and verifiable, an internal security system that addresses the large problem of visa overstays, and a mandatory E-Verify system to ensure employers hire American workers or legal immigrants. Our country deserves an immigration system that is accountable and not subject to the vagaries of whether a President chooses to enforce the law...

LATHAM, N.Y., Jan. 10, 2011 – Justin Olsen earned a gold medal for the United States in the Winter Olympics last year. Now, as a private first class in the New York Army National Guard, he’s serving his country in another way. Olsen, a member of the U.S. bobsled team since 2007, enlisted here Jan. 6. "I already represent my country," he said. "Now I have an opportunity to serve and represent my country at the same time." Olsen will train as a human resource specialist for the Joint Force Headquarters after this season's World Cup ends. Once he completes...

(IsraelNN.com) On Wednesday, just two days before IDF soldier Gilad Shalit’s fourth birthday in Hamas captivity, his sister Hadas will be enlisting in the army. Sources close to the Shalit family say that Hadas is interested in working with soldier welfare or performing psychological testing. Following initial training, she could serve at Troop 71’s Ramat HaGolan command base where her brother also served. Instead of celebrating the enlistment, the Shalit

FRESNO, Calif., Dec. 31, 2008 – Like many high school seniors, Megan Schlotthauer wasn't sure what she wanted to do after graduation. Her grades weren't the best, and college is expensive. Megan Schlotthauer, left, and her mother, Lisa Altoon, enlisted together in the Army Reserve. U.S. Army photo by Al Laxamana  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Searching for a purpose, the 17-year-old decided to explore her options in the Army Reserve. "I was looking at the community colleges, and thought I would go there," she said. "Then I was talking to some people I know who are in...

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2008 – When 20 recruits gathered yesterday at the Baltimore Military Entrance Processing Station to sign their enlistment contracts, none needed a pen. U.S. Army recruit Krista N. Hearne, 19, of Salisbury, Md., poses with the electronic Army enlistment contract she signed with her fingerprint as she became the first person to enlist in the U.S. military using biometric signatures. Photo by Army Lt. Col. Robert S. Larsen   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Instead, they read their contracts on a computer screen, then pressed their index fingers onto an electronic pad next to it,...

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga., March 25, 2008 – When Will Sims entered basic training yesterday as one of the Air Force's newest recruits, it culminated an effort to overcome an obstacle that might keep others with less determination and resolve out of the military. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Damon Andrews, a recruiter attached to 367th Recruiting Group at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., stands with Will Sims, who lost more than 125 pounds in eight months to fulfill his goal to enlist in the Air Force. Photo by Sue Sapp   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. When...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2008 – The Marine Corps’ mission and mystique continue to attract high-quality recruits who join up to fight America’s enemies, that service’s senior officer said here today. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway (right) discusses military issues with National Journal Magazine correspondent and author James Kitfield (center) and Timothy B. Clark, editor-in-chief of Government Executive Magazine, during a Government Executive-sponsored event at the National Press Club, Feb. 14, 2008. Photo by Gerry J. Gilmore  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. All of the military services continue to meet their recruiting quotas. Yet, while some services...

Wife Inspired By Soldier Husband's Sacrifice SAN ANTONIO -- More than a year after infantryman Alejandro Albarran lost part of his right leg to a blast in Iraq, he still hasn't decided whether he'll stay in the Army. "Right now, I'm leaning against it," Albarran said, looking ahead with distaste to a possible desk job. But whatever he decides, Spc. Albarran, 20, won't be leaving Army life behind now that his wife enlisted to take his place among the ranks. "After everything he's gone through -- and he loves the Army -- he kind of inspired me," said Janay Albarran....

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2007 – More Iraqis are stepping forward to defend their democracy as young men sign up for the army, police patrol the streets, and joint coalition and Iraqi operations double, President Bush said during today during his weekly radio address. “As the Iraqi people feel more secure, they are also forming neighborhood watch groups. They’re volunteering important information about the terrorists and extremists hiding in their midst,” Bush said. The increase in tips helps account for the marked reduction in sectarian murders, Bush said. Also, driving out terrorists from cities and neighborhoods creates conditions for reconciliation...

MIAMI, May 4, 2007 – Scores of young people raised their right hands and joined America’s armed forces during a joint enlistment ceremony here yesterday. Left to right: Floridian recruits Angeline Medina, 17, from Miami Gardens; Jorge Lainez, 18, from Miami; and Frank Giro, 18, from Hialeah, are sworn in as new Marine enlistees during a joint oath of enlistment ceremony at Miami’s Opa Locka Airport on May 3. The ceremony inducted 120 young people into the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy or Coast Guard. Photo by Gerry J. Gilmore  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The mass enlistment,...

My youngest son, 18 next month, is on the verge of enlisting in the Marines. I support him if he makes the decision to join. I'd be very proud to be a Marine's mother. He's graduating from high school in May and would actually enter the Marines in June. We are not a military family. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has knowledge of the enlistment process, any words of wisdom for my son, any information that might be of help before enlistment or after enlistment. [The recruiter sounds like a used-car salesman--anxious to make the sale.]

FORT HUACHUCA — Although news reports indicate the Army is having a hard time enlisting first-time soldiers a recruiter in Pennsylvania got a two-for-one deal when Cassandra and Calista Walker joined together. When the 23-year-old twins walked into the recruiter’s office “His eyes bulged, I bet he earned a big bonus for us,” said Cassandra, the older of the two by five minutes. Calista said, “We didn’t know if the Army could handle the two of us. We were a package deal.” The younger twin, Calista, notes she is a half-inch taller than her sister, and then sheepishly adds sotto...

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- A former college teammate of Pat Tillman is following his footstep by leaving professional football to join the military. Pfc. Jeremy Staat, a former NFL defensive lineman who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the St. Louis Rams, graduated from the San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Friday. Enlisting "is probably one of the best decisions I've made in my life," Staat, 29, told The Associated Press after his graduation ceremony.

It has recently been brought to my attention that there are MANY homeschooled kids that are having problems getting into the military. Aparently local recruiters are not being very helpful. If anyone out there has some experience in this area please let me know. This problem seems to be much bigger than just here in Tallahassee. The recruiters are saying that the "SCHOOL" must issue some document before the ASVAB can be administered, and the schools have no idea what they are talking about. As a U.S. Army Drill Sergeant I should know the solution to this problem, but since...

More than just a branch of America’s armed forces, the modern U.S. Marine Corps serves as a model that other military forces worldwide have attempted to emulate, with varying degrees of success. Marines are aware of this, and justifiably proud. But that pride has not always been conducive to working and playing well with others.

Rebecca Tomsyck wore a pink dress and pearls to take the oath. She has an old back injury and a knee she messed up in high school. She stands 5-foot-2. She's 53 years old. On Thursday, she joined the Army. We'll stop here, let that sink in a second. Here's more: Tomsyck (say it TOM-sick) is a Charlotte psychiatrist. She's had a practice here for 18 years. She is giving it up for three months of training and four years of commitment to an army in the middle of a war. She had her swearing-in ceremony at St. Gabriel Catholic...

'Raging Grannies' Want to Enlist in Army TUCSON, Ariz. — They call themselves the "Tucson Raging Grannies (search)" and range in age from 65 to 81. And despite being decades older than the maximum age for recruits, they're upset because they can't enlist in the Army. Five members of the group are fighting trespassing charges after they were cited at a protest here last week at the military recruitment center. The group has protested on Wednesdays for the last three years outside the recruitment center. But on July 13, five grannies went inside to try to enlist and were cited....

A military investigator says Marine Corps recruiters were wrong in allowing high-school dropouts to enlist after getting diplomas after taking one take-home test. The Marine Corps report completed last week says 17 recruiters at offices in Winston-Salem, Greensboro and Hickory acted with degrees of negligence and misconduct.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States is beginning to build a new Iraqi army even before Saddam Hussein's forces are defeated, deploying some of the nation's exiles and internal dissidents around the country. Several hundred soldiers of the Iraqi National Congress exile group were flown to an area near the city of Nasiriyah, the group said Sunday. "These are Iraqi citizens who want to fight for a free Iraq, who will become basically the core of the new Iraqi army once Iraq is free," said Marine Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. More will be...

My daughter, my first-born child is enlisting in the Air Force.She is a high school senior and will graduate this spring. She has decided to join the Air Force. Since she made her decision we have been trying to figure what path she should take in the military. I would greatly appreciate any and all advice.She scores in the 95th pecentile on her ACT and SAT tests, speaks excellent Japanese, has completed her second-year college courses in Calculus, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. And is a State-ranked Flute/Picollo musician.She has taken the ASVAB and aced it. They tell us ANY job...