More than 200 sailors become us citizens

[Shashman 0]

Read about it here

This can be considered both good and not so good, but I for one am happy, as being an Italian/British citizen considering a career in the US armed forces (Come on, they got the best equipment in the world!), this is good news

[Schoeler 0]

I served with Dutch, German, Brazilian, Mexican, Filipino and Italian sailors during my time in the Navy, and they worked just as hard at defending the United States and the U.S. Constitution as I did.  They swore the same oath, took the same risks and endured the same hardships (low pay, being out to sea for months at a time, being treated like property etc..), so I for one think they more than deserve U.S. citizenship should that be what they are seeking, and interestingly enough, not all of them were.

[ralphwiggum 6]

they want to be citizens and they earn it through their service. no problem with that

[Tex -USMC- 0]

Sounds good to me.

[bn880 5]

Yep I think it's a good thing. Even questioning if it's good is a bit like looking a gift horse in the mouth isn't it.

[denoir 0]

You mean that you can serve in the US military without being a US citizen?

[Mister Frag 0]

Yup, lots of people do. My brother (a German citizen just like me) joined the U.S. Air Force.

[ran 0]

and people whine about French Foreign Legion ?

[denoir 0]

That's pretty unique. Is there a limit on what you can choose? Could you for instance make a career as an officer and in the end become say a general without being a citizen?

[FSPilot 0]

I assume you could only enlist without being a citizen.  You couldn't get a comission (be an officer) unless you were a citizen.  But I'm not sure.  I don't know of any officers who are not citizens.

And it's perfectly safe Denoir  Everyone who has access to secure material, US citizen or not, has to pass a very thorough background check. I'm takling "calling up old girlfriends" thorough too.

[Bernadotte 0]

That's pretty unique. Is there a limit on what you can choose? Could you for instance make a career as an officer and in the end become say a general without being a citizen?

Is it?  How about the Gurkas serving the UK?

Could you for instance make a career as an officer and in the end become say a general without being a citizen?

Not according to the above article.

[Placebo 29]

Well let's hope that the USA treats these sailors better than we treat the Gurkhas

[denoir 0]

Is it?  How about the Gurkas serving the UK?

That's one are brigade - a specific unit, just as the foregin legion is. You can't join a regular British unit if you are not a citizen.

[Schoeler 0]

That's pretty unique. Is there a limit on what you can choose? Could you for instance make a career as an officer and in the end become say a general without being a citizen?

AFAIK, there are no limitations, I met Filipino officers when I served.

[Mister Frag 0]

I assume you could only enlist without being a citizen.  You couldn't get a comission (be an officer) unless you were a citizen.  But I'm not sure.  I don't know of any officers who are not citizens.

That is correct, you have to become a citizen if you want to be an officer. That was my brother's plan as well, but he managed to get himself killed in a plane crash before he got that far.

[Schoeler 0]

OK, because I just remembered I have a friend who was Dutch who was a former Air Force fighter pilot, but he must have gotten U.S. citizenship before he got commissioned. I'll have to ask him.

[turms 0]

This brings back in my mind the movie called "starsihip troopers", in order to get a citizenship, one must serve in the army :P

[ran 0]

This brings back in my mind the movie called "starsihip troopers", in order to get a citizenship, one must serve in the army :P

which reminds me of the Roman empire ...

[Tex -USMC- 0]

And it's perfectly safe Denoir  Everyone who has access to secure material, US citizen or not, has to pass a very thorough background check.  I'm takling "calling up old girlfriends" thorough too.

Ha, that reminds me- one of my teachers was a captain in the Marine Corps, and to get his security clearance he went through one of the FBI's (in)famous background checks. Apparently they went as far as interviewing his kindergarten teacher

[FSPilot 0]

@ Aug. 09 2003,10:09)]Apparently they went as far as interviewing his kindergarten teacher  

"Well... uh, he likes cookies. He'll get a little grumpy if he doesn't have his nappy time. After mommy leaves he's upset for about 10 minutes but he calms down once he finds the toys."

Good old FBI

[Warin 0]

For some levels of security clearance, I would expect that amount of thoroughness in the background checks. After all, if you cant find teachers that remember him, how do you know he is who he says he is?

And if you are trying to get a high security clearance, you should expect to have the Feds climb into every aspect of your life, no?

I still remember two of my friends trying to join the USMC after seeing Full Metal Jacket back in the day. They were ready to catch a bus to Bellingham when we talked some sense into them

[ralphwiggum 6]

AFAIK, you need to show signs of intent of becoming a citizen to join military, i.e. submitted application for citizenship.

[Renagade 0]

woopeee where do u sign up,is there a website for more info

[IsthatyouJohnWayne 0]

Quote[/b] ]That's one are brigade - a specific unit, just as the foregin legion is. You can't join a regular British unit if you are not a citizen.

Just to get the facts straight i would like to point out that this is not quite true. Although the Navy and Air force have recently restricted recruits from overseas (only resident Britons) the British army still accepts recruits from commonwealth countries and they may i believe become citizens after a period of service(- 4yrs?). I know of at least one commonwealth citizen (a south african) who died in the Iraq war.

[Renagade 0]

not to mention the loca government IsthatyouJohnWayne