US Foreign Legion

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 12:48:01 -0500

A lot has been said about allowing illegal immigrants to serve in the military. My question to RP is, do you think that the US could benefit from establishing a foreign legion, as opposed to simply allowing immigrants into one of the current branches. It could be used as a method for earning legal status in this great nation of ours; complete 4 years of honorable service on a special visa and be granted permanent residency, or some similar process.

I realize that a US Foreign Legion would not be able to function in any occupations that require a security clearance. But I would imagine it working with all officers being US Citizens and an initial amnesty period for foreign nationals already here, before beginning recruiting overseas. Then as I said, after serving an honorable enlistment, immigrants would be granted residency with the option to get out, or continue on in their service. I would also recommend that the rank structure would not allow anyone to become an NCO before the initial enlistment is over and the green card is awarded.

I feel that this might function as a happy medium and achieve what everyone is trying to accomplish. Thoughts?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2014 4:59 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 16:59:21 -0500

I like that idea a lot, Sgt Private RallyPoint Member. There have been other RallyPoint discussions about the pros and cons of allowing illegal immigrants to serve in the regular armed forces. Your proposal seems to be a happy medium between that and nothing. You're right, it does allow them to earn citizenship, instead of just having it handed to them through some amnesty program or other.

There might even be a way to have those folks in the "foreign legion" work in the civilian sector to fulfill a service requirement.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2014 4:59 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 16:59:56 -0500

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member I really like that idea. I have no experience with a Foreign Legion. How would the logistics part of it work?

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2014 5:11 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 17:11:25 -0500

I don't think any of the programs that exist that allow immigrants to enter the U.S. military are handing out citizenship as part of the amnesty or any other program. You may find that those who serve with honor in the U.S. military are put at the head of the line for citizenship, but citizenship is not "handed out" by any shake of the imagination. Personally, I challenge anyone born in the United States to take the citizenship test WITHOUT benefit of prep or google or their phones/computers. I tried and failed miserably - and I pride myself on being up on most things "American".

As for an American "Foreign Legion" - is that the same as creating a "second class citizenship" status? Does it mean they have no rights? Does it mean their families have no rights? What language will they be required to speak? Does the Constitution permit such? Is an American "Foreign Legion" legal? If legal, under what law?

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2014 6:20 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 18:20:15 -0500

The idea has certainly worked for quite some time now for the French. It's an intriguing idea. However, as long as we have US Citizens who want to and cannot serve due to budget constraints I can't see a true need for it.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Dec 9 at 2014 8:24 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 20:24:22 -0500

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member, that's a very interesting idea. I'd say the most informative comparisons would be to the French Foreign Legion, where some of our own got their start (like Col Ortiz.)
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Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2014 1:48 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 01:48:39 -0500

If you use the FFL as a model, they are mostly combat options...I even entertained the idea of joining the FFL when I got divorced.
Your idea is a viable one.
So only foreign nationals can serve? For all around cross-training, the Marines, because of their combat amphibious mission, would be a great choice to train this USFL, also because of the strict discipline that is instilled in training.
Perhaps, serving as an instructor in the USFL could fulfill the 'B' billet requirement which would get you to MSgt.
Funding is the big question?...but it is a great grassroots idea...which you should run with.

In lieu of....I wish as a part of the US military, we could volunteer a foreign exchange with a foreign service, like a FAP (temp assignment) I would loved to have served with IDF, Spetnaz, FFL, and SAS. Wouldn't that have been a great experience?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2014 9:03 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 09:03:25 -0500

This idea worked well for the French, but France's objectives were different.
France wanted to secure and ultimately assimilate an empire. Men who served in the French Foreign Legion were usually from the area they garrisonned, sprinkled with Frenchmen who wanted their criminal past to go away. It was a brutal, but effective, organization.

This smacks a little too close to empire building to me. I want no part of trying to assimilate the middle east or Africa into an American way of thinking. We tried that. It didn't work all that well, at least not lately.

To accomplish our objectives, we have to exemplify what make the American way of thinking unique, special, and worthy of emulation.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 12:16 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 12:16:04 -0500

A concept worth re-visiting, given the current political landscape.