|
Military considers recruiting foreigners
|
View this Thread in Original format
| josh4 |
| quote: | Military considers recruiting foreigners
Expedited citizenship would be an incentive
An Armed Forces center in Plymouth. US officials are trying tactics to find recruits; one involves attracting noncitizens. An Armed Forces center in Plymouth. US officials are trying tactics to find recruits; one involves attracting noncitizens. (JULIA CUMES/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
By Bryan Bender, Globe Staff | December 26, 2006
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.
And since Sept. 11, 2001, the number of imm igrants in uniform who have become US citizens has increased from 750 in 2001 to almost 4,600 last year, according to military statistics.
With severe manpower strains because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- and a mandate to expand the overall size of the military -- the Pentagon is under pressure to consider a variety of proposals involving foreign recruits, according to a military affairs analyst.
"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.
As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan grind on, the Pentagon has warned Congress and the White House that the military is stretched "to the breaking point."
Both President Bush and Robert M. Gates, his new defense secretary, have acknowledged that the total size of the military must be expanded to help alleviate the strain on ground troops, many of whom have been deployed repeatedly in combat theaters.
Bush said last week that he has ordered Gates to come up with a plan for the first significant increase in ground forces since the end of the Cold War. Democrats who are preparing to take control of Congress, meanwhile, promise to make increasing the size of the military one of their top legislative priorities in 2007.
this is page 1, page 2 & 3 at
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/w...ing_foreigners/ |
W
T
F
well its an interesting idea. i don't know about just accepting anybody over seas but i think it could work if they don't it up. too bad they'll probably it up |
|
|
| shaolin_Z |
| quote: | Originally posted by josh4
W
T
F
well its an interesting idea. i don't know about just accepting anybody over seas but i think it could work if they don't it up. too bad they'll probably it up |
LOL :D |
|
|
| Sunsnail |
| American Foreign Legion! |
|
|
| DJ Shibby |
So will the government have equal opportunity and hire Iraqis? :haha:
As long as they're not gay, of course.. beggars can be choosers! |
|
|
| shaolin_Z |
| On a more serious note, outsourcing the military gives the term 'military industrial complex' a whole new meaning :nervous:. |
|
|
| George Smiley |
| Well the British Army recruits from over 50 countries (in the Commonwealth) plus Ireland and that seems to work pretty well (tho we do that for historical reasons, not cos we need the extra cannon fodder...) |
|
|
| shaolin_Z |
| Were'nt you guys also busy conquering the globe during those days lol. |
|
|
| Q5echo |
there are some pretty decent service members that are immigrants. nothing new really. the armed forces weigh all sorts of options all the time and with the percieved success immigrant service members they're considering options. again, nothing new.
what evidence does he have that the armed forces are struggling to meet recruitment goals? |
|
|
| hardcore trancer |
| ah yes those illegal Mexicans can finally get a real job in the U.S. :haha: |
|
|
| LazFX |
| quote: | Originally posted by hardcore trancer
ah yes those illegal Mexicans can finally get a real job in the U.S. :haha: |
Awe man, I thought you got picked up in the latest sweep of Terror Cells in Canada?? damn it, :D
At least they, the Mexicans, will serve in the army, fight for the country they love and support. Some of the most patriotic Americans I know are immigrants. And why is that? CAUSE THEY APPRECIATE THE COUNTRY not like some immigrants up there in Canada that have nothing but hate for thier country that allowed thier ass in. :rolleyes:
p.s. Did you get your Welfare Check in yet?? :D |
|
|
| Lilith |
I'm qualified for most forms of depilation, body piercing, manicures, makeup and I can make nice silky synthetic dreads so I'd do well in the US mercenary army. They have black fatigues and boots dont they?
I could be a ninja when we're not making the world pretty. :happy2: |
|
|
| DevilDogUSMC |
A guy I went to high school with was with the 101st
Rangers as an MP when it invaded Iraq. He came home
a couple of years later for a couple of weeks and
got his citizenship, was on the front page of the local
paper and interviewed on some NYC news shows before
going back. During 9/11 he was guarding morgues down
at ground zero also. Now is a cop around here. Great
guy, we need more immigrants like him who give alittle
to the country that has given so many oppourtunites
to succeed in life. |
|
|
|
|
