[El Conservador]

I'd appreciate all the answers you could give me!!!

Thanks. ;)

[rocksblues]

What is a CO?

[Byron Norris]

Well, you're right that you can be a Commissioned Officer if so choose to do so. However, they do allow foreign nationals into the Armed Forces. I served four years albeit I was an enlisted grunt who actually worked for a living, people from other countries were allowed to enter, but they could not have critical jobs like nuclear. I am uncertain as to if they will allow officers from other countries in, but that would be a good question to ask a recruiter. Even an Enlisted recruiter could give you information as to if, or if you could not join. You could also visit one of the websites as they have online recruiters to ask questions. Lastly, call one of their toll free numbers. I believe the Navy's is 1-800-USA-NAVY but check the websites to be sure. Hope that was of some help.

Semper Fi

[HiJinx]

I'd definitely go talk with a recruiter if you're serious.

Last week, 40-plus legal resident alien service personnel received their citizenship in a ceremony in Iraq.

There may be a requirement for officers to be citizens. If that is true, you could wait until after becoming a citizen to join. Or, you could enlist right away and become an officer by way of the green-to-gold program.

But to be honest, all I am offering is general information. You really need to get it from the horse's mouth for it to be correct. And you should also investigate all services to find the military occupational specialty that suits your education and background.

HJ
SFC, USA (Ret)

[Jen]

My advice -- go U.S. Air Force!!! Call a recruiter and ask about the citizenship question. Best of luck to you.

[IDontLikeToPayTaxes]

You won't automatically be an officer. You would have had to be in ROTC for 2 or 3 years. If not, you would have to go to OCS (Officer Candidate School) once you're in the military. A college degree doesn't translate into becoming an instant officer unless you are a doctor or a lawyer.

[mabelkitty]

We have a recruiter here at Free Republic.
Let me find him and ping him to you and he can help you out and answer all your questions.

[marineguy]

here's what you need to do:
wait until you are a citizen. There are several reasons for this. As a commissioned officer you will need to be eligible for a security clearance-something not afforded to you w/o citizenship. While you are waiting become a citizen go to the phone book and find your local Marine Officer Selection Officer!

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I can't answer your question exactly, but I can confirm you are making a wonderful choice if you join. Thanks in advance for you sacrifices.

[mystery-ak]

You need to talk to a recruiter..Im pretty sure you can join as a Commissioned Officer, but there may be limitations....thanks `for considering the military, and good luck....make sure you talk to all branches...

[marineguy]

one more thing-good on you for loving your country and wanting to serve. Best of luck to you. This country needs more like you.

[TankerKC]

I don't tknow the specific rules, but I went through basic training, flight screening, officer training school, and flight school with non US citizens. How they got there and any limitations on their duty, I don't know.

[mystery-ak]

Hubby seems to think you may be able to get your citizenship earlier than 2005...if you join...he seems to remember reading something from the DOD recently on just this issue....

[cryptical]

Civil Engineering? Check out the US Navy, they have Civil Engineer Corps officers in charge of Seabees.

[RebelTex]

Welcome.

I read your home page and was impressed - 11 years is a long time to wait to gain legal entry to the US. You have my respect for doing it right (and for being conservative) ;^D

You can probably get your questions answered at the following websites:
http://www.navy.mil/
http://www.army.mil/
http://www.marines.mil/
http://www.af.mil/

and more info here:
http://www.navytimes.com/
http://www.airforcetimes.com/
http://www.armytimes.com/
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/

Good Luck

[DugwayDuke]

I'm a retired "CO". It appears you didn't take ROTC while in college so you cannot 'join' as an officer. As was pointed out up thread only certain professions dealing with the law, medicine, and religion can do that. Therefore, you'll have to enlist and then go to Officer Candidate School in order to get your commission. But, (and I'm not sure of the actual time line) it would take about three months for basic training as enlisted and then about six months for OCS. That doesn't line up too badly against your September 05 date.

With a civil engineering degree, you might wish to consider either the engineers in the Marines or the Army. These are the guys that build the roads, span the rivers, you know the military engineering equivalent of your degree. I think both services call them combat engineers. As the name implies, the do see combat. The Army also has the Corps of Engineers that do the dams and dredge rivers, etc.

The AF and Navy also would have use for your degree in things like building bases, etc.

Follow the advice of many on this thread, contact a recruiter and do your research on what service and field best matches your desires. Also, don't forget that all the services offer a lot of information on the web.

BTW, the National Guard is also an option.

Good luck.

[WildTurkey]

Google:us commissioned officers citizenship

http://www.yokwe.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=612&view=next

---

Foreigners in military eligible for citizenship

WASHINGTON — President Bush is offering a Fourth of July gift to 15,000 immigrants serving active duty in the U.S. military: immediate eligibility for citizenship.

The president was to announce his executive order, which he signed yesterday, during an Independence Day celebration honoring veterans in Ripley, W.Va.

"Our fine service men and women are fighting and winning the war on terror. They deserve the gratitude of all people who cherish freedom," Bush said in a formal holiday statement.

A White House paper outlining the change to immigration policy described it as a way to reward noncitizens serving on active duty in the military during the post-Sept. 11 war on terrorism. Citizenship, in turn, will improve the retention of military people by allowing them to advance their careers in the armed forces, the White House said.

While legal permanent residency is all that is required to enlist in the U.S. military, only citizens can be promoted to commissioned or warrant officers, or serve in special warfare programs such as the Navy SEALs.

Current rules allow immigrants enlisted in the armed forces to apply for naturalization after three years of service, as opposed to nonmilitary immigrants who must bank five years of legal residency before becoming eligible.

More than 31,000 noncitizens are serving on active duty — accounting for between 3 percent and 4 percent of America's total military personnel — with a little more than half already eligible for citizenship consideration. The rest, an estimated 15,000 men and women, have not yet completed their three-year wait. It is this group that would benefit from Bush's executive order eliminating any waiting period.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service will work with the Defense Department to set up processing facilities on military bases. Military applications will not be given head-of-the-line priority over nonmilitary naturalization applicants, an administration official said.

President Carter signed a similar executive order following the Vietnam War; President Clinton did the same after the Persian Gulf War.

[StayAt HomeMother]

Ditto on the Navy's Civil Engineer Corps. Check out the "Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program (BDCP): If you are a college student who is interested in becoming a naval officer when you graduate, you should apply for the Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program (BDCP). This program pays future naval officers a monthly salary while they are still attending college. Qualified technical majors can receive a salary of approximately $1,700 per month for up to 3 years prior to graduation and qualified non–technical majors can receive this salary for up to 2 years prior to graduation." [This web page does not address the citizenship question.]

http://www.navy.com/education/earnmoneyforcollege

[kemosabe]

Way to GO !

Continue your education, obtain your Masters, join the ARMY ReserveOfficerTrainingCommand at your University, obtain your US Citizenship, learn one more language well, then apply for US Army Special Forces Airborne, continue your education and earn your Doctorate...

The next best place to look is the US Marine Corps

Should neither of these interest you, look at the US Coast Guard or the US Air Force...promotion is very slow however no matter where you choose to volunteer you will only get back what you put into your enlistment...TANSTAFL

Try for 10th Special Forces Group...they do the most hard work for America

If you are macho and meaner that 100 JunkYard Dogs...GO NAVY SEAL !

Google your future...Good Luck Senor El Conservador and Welcome to the United Stated of America !

kemosabe said that!

[zzen01]

No 1 requirement to become an officer in ANY of the US Armed Forces is you have to be a US Citizen. Go enlisted and get the process accelerated. After 1 4 year enlistment with sustained, superior performance in all of your evaluations then you can apply to become a officer.

[No Longer Free State]

You must be a US Citizen (and only a US citizen) to be a comissioned officer.

I was born with dual citizenship and had to renounce the second country citizenship when I accepted my comission.