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Military considers recruiting foreigners
The Boston Globe ^ | December 26, 2006 | Bryan Bender

Posted on 12/26/2006 10:03:00 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

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.

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: armedforces; defensedepartment; military; pentagon
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To: ansel12

I think Filipinos, Mexicans, and many other nationalities would leap at the chance for U.S. citizenship in exchange for service in the military or a foreign legion. The Philippines and India should be two of our main recruiting targets, as many of the locals speak English already.


41 posted on 12/26/2006 10:42:19 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (Hailey Barbour/John Bolton 2008)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
This worked really well for Rome.

We are not Rome though.
42 posted on 12/26/2006 10:53:31 AM PST by af_vet_rr
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Many of the first "Green Berets" were Poles, Czechs, Romanians, etc that escaped the Iron Curtain, and hated the Soviets with a passion. We welcomed them with open arms for their native language skills, and their knowledge of their former country's customs and terrain. Perfect for behind enemy lines guerrilla warfare.
43 posted on 12/26/2006 10:53:31 AM PST by Boris99
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To: L98Fiero
I got an interest in the US Military after my Cousin sent me a letter from Great Grand Father, after he tried to pull a scam on the Feds, a common practice in the 19th century in a land deal.

"Those N_____s and whiskey swilling Irish scum, seized my property....., I think he was pissed, considering he had a tainted deed from a whiskey swilling Indian.

44 posted on 12/26/2006 10:53:58 AM PST by Little Bill (Welcome to the Newly Socialist State of New Hampshire.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Since when are they "struggling to meet recruiting goals"? Everything report I've heard in the last few years has said they've met or exceeded recruiting goals every quarter.


45 posted on 12/26/2006 10:56:46 AM PST by lesser_satan (EKTHELTHIOR!!!)
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To: ansel12
Between 1960 and 1975 more than 7 million men enlisted (another 2 million were drafted),

A lot of us who volunteered back then, were (at least partially) motivated by the draft.

Draftees did not get choices that volunteers did, as fast as Service entered, service shools, various alternative time-plans (i.e. 2-2-2-2: Res-Active-Res-Inactive Res etc.) or trade offs of total time Active in exchange for immediate service, etc.

Draftees got Hobson's choice, and Hobson was a notoriously capricious Assignments Clerk in the Practical Joke Department.

IOW, there were distinct advantages to volunteering, as opposed to being drafted; and drafting was fairly likely.

46 posted on 12/26/2006 10:59:07 AM PST by ApplegateRanch (Islam: a Satanically Transmitted Disease, spread by unprotected intimate contact with the Koranus.)
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To: RexBeach; edcoil; rlmorel; ChiMark; airborne; EGPWS; Al Gator; Don Corleone; jazusamo; ...
I thought the military was meeting recruiting goals with little problem.
This quote sourced to Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Hilferty, may explain why they are making their recruiting goals.
That has led Pentagon officials to consider casting a wider net for noncitizens who are already here, said Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Hilferty , an Army spokesman.
I wouldn't write this off as slanted journalism. The following quote from the article shows that at least the American Enterprise Institute is looking at it.
"It works as a military idea and it works in the context of American immigration," said Thomas Donnelly , a military scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute in Washington and a leading proponent of recruiting more foreigners to serve in the military.

47 posted on 12/26/2006 11:00:07 AM PST by 21stCenturyFreeThinker
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To: Steel Wolf
The Army in particular has a horrificly inept HR and finance system. Motivated patriotic people looking for adventure instead find bureaucracy, apathy and incompetence from their organization, and tend to drift away.

Testify!!! When I was trying to volunteer to stay in the desert (and then, after that didn't work, to return) I ran up against the Army bureaucracy at its worst. Bureaucracies are trained for "normal" situations-war doesn't fit as "normal", but the bureaucracy can't adjust and it causes huge problems.

48 posted on 12/26/2006 11:02:42 AM PST by 91B (God made man, Sam Colt made men equal)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
The military should keep the foreign legion overseas, not bring them into this country

No way should service in the military become a way to sell citizenship. This certainly can provide a great way to infiltrated our military and our society.

49 posted on 12/26/2006 11:04:15 AM PST by Dante3
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To: A. Pole
This is exactly what ancient Romans started to do at certain point of their history.

This country won its independence largely at the hands of foreigners. A goodly portion of the officers who trained and led the nascent American army and navy were foreign mercenaries.

Likening the plight of the American republic to the Roman Empire is simply intellectual laziness.

50 posted on 12/26/2006 11:04:53 AM PST by Junior (Losing faith in humanity one person at a time.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

We need to examine the root problem, we have the largest population (by far) we have ever had, we have the smallest military in generations, yet we are absolutely desperate for warm bodies.

The army and marines want to increase their numbers, the army alone wants about 9 additional brigades. We need to find out why our young men (even active duty airmen and sailors losing their jobs) will not serve in our army and marines.

Something is broke in America and we need to decide what it is and fix it. Replacing American GIs with permanent foreign divisions is a mistake.


51 posted on 12/26/2006 11:05:34 AM PST by ansel12 (America, love it ,or at least give up your home citizenship before accepting ours too.)
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To: ansel12
How did we get to the point where with 300 million people, and a lot of overt, wave flagging patriotism we can't find enough young men to fill our army and marine needs.
I'm afraid there's a little too much flag waving and not enough actual patriotism.
52 posted on 12/26/2006 11:06:11 AM PST by 21stCenturyFreeThinker
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To: Centurion2000
"Worst case we can always use labor battalions farmed out to the states for interstate highway maintenance."

I think they'd be great for building border fences/walls....

53 posted on 12/26/2006 11:08:47 AM PST by Joe 6-pack (Voted Free Republic's Most Eligible Bachelor: 2006. Love them Diebold machines.)
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To: Steel Wolf

I think you're spot on with your comments.

I find it especially troubling that we can give the benefits we do to non-military members of the government sector, yet we can't raise the salary of the military to come even close to competing with their civilian counterparts, who in many cases are paid less (in overall benefits) than non-military government equivalents.

Our soldiers are already sacrificing their lives, in many cases their careers and are giving up precious time with their families. They shouldn't have to sacrifice their income as well.

Some better consideration of past career experience in technology (and other) areas, as is done with the medical and legal branches of the military, wouldn't hurt either.


54 posted on 12/26/2006 11:09:08 AM PST by CertainInalienableRights
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To: Boris99
Many of the first "Green Berets" were Poles, Czechs, Romanians, etc that escaped the Iron Curtain, and hated the Soviets with a passion. We welcomed them with open arms for their native language skills, and their knowledge of their former country's customs and terrain. Perfect for behind enemy lines guerrilla warfare.
Great point. I'm sure there are a lot of Muslims who are not in favor of the Islamic religious terrorism of this fundamentalist sect. Give them a chance to prove themselves and do something about it.
55 posted on 12/26/2006 11:12:33 AM PST by 21stCenturyFreeThinker
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
WASHINGTON -- The armed forces, already struggling to meet recruiting goals

FREE REPUBLIC -- The Boston Globe, a Liberal oriented tabloid, reports the Armed Forces is struggling to meet recruiting goals.
56 posted on 12/26/2006 11:13:21 AM PST by Gene Eric
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

When I was in the Army (66-67) there were many non-citizens. Many were illegal aliens; many East European; many Hispanics. Historically Hispanics have been over-represented in the military.

The one common thread was anti-communisim. They could have made more money in the private sector, even as illegals. What common thread will motivate them now? Anti-alkaeda-ism? Or will it just be the money?


57 posted on 12/26/2006 11:16:24 AM PST by spintreebob
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To: ApplegateRanch

"A lot of us who volunteered back then, were (at least partially) motivated by the draft."



Kerry has admitted as much, it did steer many men into the navy and air force, but almost 80% of the combat deaths in Vietnam were volunteers, not draftees.

I myself fought a lottery number of 14 for two years, won a permanent deferment and then enlisted in the army.


58 posted on 12/26/2006 11:16:28 AM PST by ansel12 (America, love it ,or at least give up your home citizenship before accepting ours too.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

As usual, the MSM have dug up a longstanding but little known fact, and treated it as some kind of new revelation. This story seems to be based on the author's assumption that most Americans are unaware that citizenship is not a requirement for service in the US armed forces.
In fact, it never has been. The US is one of relatively few major nations that allow foreigners to serve in the regular armed forces on a routine basis. It is a longstanding tradition in US service, dating back to the earliest days of the Republic.

The great Rick Rescorla, hero of Ia Drang Valley and the 9-11 attacks, was not yet a US citizen when he served in Vietnam.
(btw, see my profile)


59 posted on 12/26/2006 11:18:12 AM PST by atomic conspiracy (Rousing the blog-rabble since 9-11-01)
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To: ansel12
I have to agree with you. With 300 million people in this country we should not have to enlist any non US citizens (except legal immigrants) to serve in our military.

I can remember when I enlisted in 1965, I felt a need to serve my country just for the privilege of being born here. Since then liberals have screwed our societies heads up so bad, through our education and media establishments, that most of our people are not really patriotic anymore they talk the talk, but can not or will not walk the walk.
60 posted on 12/26/2006 11:18:41 AM PST by Americanexpat (A strong democracy through citizen oversight.)
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