What a US Military Veteran Learned From Serving in the IDF

http://www.algemeiner.com/2016/01/04/what-a-us-military-veteran-learned-from-serving-in-the-idf/ ^ | January 4, 2016

[Lera]

{{Brian Mast is a candidate for Congress in Florida’s 18th Congressional District, and a decorated US Army Special Operations bomb technician, who has also volunteered alongside the IDF}}

[rlmorel]

Looks interesting, BFL...

[Lera]

[Lera]

[Leaning Right]

Good post. I hope he makes it to Congress.

[rlmorel]

Great article, I hope he wins. And his comments about Israel being our only true ally are spot on.

Having read “Because They Hate” by Brigitte Gabriel, reading his account really reinforces that. You probably know the story, but she was a Lebanese Christian who had been raised to believe the Israelis were blood-thirsty, sadistic, lying monsters, but when she needed help, the Israelis were the only ones who stepped up the the plate.

That transformative experience really changed her world view.

[VR-21]

I couldn’t feel more humble.

[taxcontrol]

Actually, this is very problematic - Potentially Expatriating Acts Section 349 of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1481).

Serving as a commissioned or non-commissioned officer in a foreign military is a potentially disqualifying act. He should be ok if he was not promoted to NCO.

[onedoug]

And if he gets there, I hope he remembers the hopes of those who would have put him there, as so few of those elected actually do.

[Alberta's Child]

C’mon, man ... Don’t ruin a good thread by presenting facts like that.

[SgtHooper]

What a wonderful experience!! GOD BLESS HIM!!

[goldstategop]

That and the Logan Act are seldom enforced these days.

To lose citizenship, you have to ask in writing for it to be terminated.

An American can’t simply be rendered stateless.

[Travis T. OJustice]

The IDF has around a thousand Americans serving.

For the most part, this is all legal. Prior to 1967, Americans risked losing their citizenship if they joined a foreign military or even voted in a foreign election. That year, the Supreme Court decision in Afroyim v. Rusk established that citizenship is a constitutional right and can't be stripped involuntarily. So, yo're free to join up with whatever military that will take you, as long as you don't engage in active hostilities against the U.S.

[TheThirdRuffian]

Kol Hakavod (?) SSGT Mast.

[TheThirdRuffian]

You can actually serve in certain allied countries with permission of the DOD (and vice-versa), although it’s mainly NATA countries.

I had an Englishman in my Unit.

[2banana]

a decorated US Army Special Operations bomb technician,

No such thing. Maybe he is EOD who helped out on some missions with SOF. But he ain't no 18C and the phrasing smells of stolen valor.

[TheThirdRuffian]

NATA = NATO. iPhone!

[HenpeckedCon]

“and the phrasing smells of stolen valor”.

This former soldier had his friggin’ legs blown off. Cut him some slack.

[2banana]

I have never understood veterans who have perfectly honorable and dignified service who need to “embellish” it.

But I see it all the time.

[Lera]

He is EOD