Immigrants in the Military
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 The United States military is composed entirely of volunteers. Each
branch (Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines) have different
requirements, but there are some standard requirements for all the branches.
Only individuals who are U.S. citizens can become commissioned officers
throughout the branches. Those who are considered U.S citizens also include
citizens of Puerto Rico, the Northern Marianas Islands, the Federated States of
Micronesia, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Republic of
the Marshall Islands. Non-citizens are eligible to enlist in the military but
not be commissioned. A non-citizen that is eligible must meet certain
requirements: (1) Have an Alien Registration Receipt Card (stamped I-94 or I-551
Green card/INS Form 1-551), (2) Have a bona fide residence established, and (3)
Have established a record of the U.S. as their home. Some non-citizens from
countries with a reputation toward hostility toward the U.S. may also require a
waiver. The federal government cannot petition on behalf of an
illegal immigrant
so that they can obtain legal status and be able to enlist. The illegal
immigrant must go through the immigration process of the USCIS (previously known
as the INS). Once the status of the illegal immigrant becomes legal they can go
ahead and start the enlisting process. Another requirement is that the
Green
Card and/or visa must be valid for the entire period of their enlistment.
Being a U.S. citizen or legal immigrant only starts to fulfill a checklist of
requirements to join the U.S. military. Applicants must pass a physical exam.
The military will take only those in relatively good health, but in certain
cases the military may make some exceptions for some conditions and issue a
waiver. They must obtain a minimum score on the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational
Aptitude Battery) test. Those entering any military branch must be a minimum of
17 years of age. Since at 17 the recruit is still considered a minor, the
recruit’s parents or guardians must give authorization to enlist. The maximum
age limit varies from branch so it is recommended to check with the recruiters.
The number of dependents a potential recruit has is also another factor that is
considered by all military branches. As a general rule, the Department of
Defense does not allow an applicant that has more than two dependents to enlist
in any branch. The U.S. military considers dependents to be: spouses, unmarried
children under 18, unmarried adopted children under 18, stepchildren under 18
who reside at their home, and a parent or other individual who obtains more than
half of their income from the applicant. At times, the military branches can
override this requirement and issue a waiver but it is something that is not
done often. The applicant must be able to show that they can meet their
financial obligations for the waiver to be granted. For the most part, single
parents are not allowed to join the military. The only exception is made by the
Army National Guard and the State Adjutant General must grant the waiver.
Applicants wishing to become part of the U.S. military must meet minimal
education requirements. The military branches usually require a
high school
diploma, but some exceptions are made. Each branch is only allowed to take a
certain percentage of applicants without high school diplomas. However, this
percentage is relatively small. In addition, those applicants without a high
school diploma are required to score a minimum ASVAB score. Individuals who
enlist and are non-citizens are limited to one service term. If non-citizens
become U.S. citizens then they are permitted to reenlist. Once on active duty in
the military, the process of going from a non-citizen to U.S. citizen can be
expedited. Another thing to note is that non-citizens who enlist in the military
will also have limited job choices. The Department of Defense (DOD) does not
currently allow non-citizens in the military to take on job choices that require
a security clearance. All branches of the U.S. military have slightly different
requirements so check with the recruiters.
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