Many military members who are non-citizens continue to fight our country. They are permanent residents who came to the United States usually as children or teenagers. Out of the four-thousand plus U.S. military members who have paid the ultimately sacrifice in the war of terrorism more than 100 have been non-citizens. To date about 109 military members have been granted posthumous American citizenship by the USCIS. Gaining citizenship is expedited once a military member serves in the war against terror but even yet they June find themselves waiting for months. As permanent residents they are limited to certain jobs in the military and can only be enlisted members. They also face other restrictions like a stricter background check and not being able to re-enlist until gaining American citizenship. However, they are just as willing as their comrades to defend the United States. Last Memorial Day 44 U.S. military members became American citizens in Kabul, Afghanistan. The group was made up of soldiers and marines from Australia, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, the Philippines, Peru, Poland, Sierra Leone, St. Vincent-Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the Ukraine. Currently there are about 20,000 permanent residents who are enlisted in the U.S. military. Since 9/11 greater than 40,000 members of the U.S. military have gained American citizenship. About 5,000 members have had their oath ceremony abroad, sometimes in the combat zone.