Posted on Feb 5, 2017
What is the best way to join the Army, given that I am an Iranian with the M.A. (I have a green card and I'm living in DC)?
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Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 10
Foreign nationals who are legal residents are eligible for enlistment in the Army. You would have to be a U.S. citizen for officer programs. Go and talk to your nearest Army Recruiting office. Take your green card, passport, any transcripts from high school and college you have. You will have to qualify mentally, physically, and morally. Meaning you will have to take the ASVAB or Armed Services Vocational Apptitude Battery test, a physical examination at the nearest Military Entrance Processing Station, and have an acceptable background check. I am sure they might have a position for you as an interpreter but there are a number of others jobs that might be available depending on your test scores. The whole enlistments process might be as quick as a few weeks or might take months depending on individual circumstances. Regardless, it could be several months before you report for training depending on basic training and MOS training start dates. Good Luck!
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S Mmm
Thank you for your response. Do I have to obey the recruiter about my future career after taking ASVAB? I mean I don't want to serve in some field that I don't like it.
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CPT Andrew Wright
If they don't offer a job you want you don't have to enlist. Its not really the Recruiter that helps you find your job anyway-its the Guidance Counselor at MEPS after you complete the physical. They will usually have several training options and start dates for your selection.
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Back in college I had a good Irish friend (non-Citizen) who simple walked to a Marine recruitment center and enlisted. Point is, with a green card you can enlist.
Understand that the Recruiter is going to offer to you what he needs. Let him know what you want. In the end it is about timing. Today they need truck drivers, tomorrow infantry men. You are never obligated to sign if you do not like what they are offering you. Walk away if you dont see a job you like and check again in a month or two.
It is a contract, the army gets Sam Zn and you get to do X job for Y years.
Understand that the Recruiter is going to offer to you what he needs. Let him know what you want. In the end it is about timing. Today they need truck drivers, tomorrow infantry men. You are never obligated to sign if you do not like what they are offering you. Walk away if you dont see a job you like and check again in a month or two.
It is a contract, the army gets Sam Zn and you get to do X job for Y years.
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PO1 (Join to see)
S Mmm - You likely could once you became a citizen. The military provides pathways to citizenship.
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MAJ Raúl Rovira
S Mmm - Sam, yes and no. Having a degree is one of the requirement to become an officer. You have to be a US citizen to be commissioned.
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MAJ (Join to see)
S Mmm - For an Enlistment, your Education would qualify you as an E4 (Specialist)...
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Visit your local Army recruiter. Always looking for people who want to serve.
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SSG Carlos Madden
S Mmm - You can probably get around that because the Army needs linguists. You should ask your recruiter about the MAVNI program as well.
http://www.goarmy.com/benefits/additional-incentives/mavni.html
http://www.goarmy.com/benefits/additional-incentives/mavni.html
Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) is a recruiting program that allows legal non-citizens with in-demand skills to join the Army in exchange for expedited U.S. citizenship, bypassing the Green Card process.
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Maj Mike Sciales
S Mmm - that's awful! The article said it wasn't necessary during a "time of peace." I thought we were at the greatest risk from Daesh. Where will we get native speakers? BAD call.
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CPT Andrew Wright
If you are older than 30 the officer routes become limited. Max enlistment age was 42 when I worked in Army Recruiting.
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CPT Andrew Wright
You would not make the OCS or ROTC cutoff ages. If you were a Doctor, Nurse, or an Attorney the officer route might still be available by direct commissioning. Sounds like an enlistment is your best bet if you want to join. Talk to an Army Recruiter anyway for the most current policies.
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There will be limitations on jobs that can be offered to someone with a green card. The Recruiter will show you what you qualify for and is available. Part of the Recruiters job is to assist you with getting a job you want, like and will benefit both you and the Army.
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Thank you S Mmm for your desire to serve in the military, hopefully you found the answer you were looking for. Remember you can always come on here and ask any questions you have and we'll be glad to help you navigate your career in the military or with the government service.
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First, allow me to say Welcome to the US! Secondly, you don't have to limit yourself to just the Army. I assume you are fluent in FARSI and as such, any service would be interested in recruiting you. I was Air Force and we always had a need for FARSI linguists. With that being said, if being a translator or linguist isn't what you are interested in, ask around for jobs you ARE interested in. You don't have to accept what the recruiters offer if that isn't what you want to do. Job needs change almost on a daily basis. Keep checking with them until you do find something you like. As for being an Officer in the military, I believe you will have to become a US citizen before you can be commissioned. That rule may have changed since I retired but I think that's still the requirement.
Whatever you decide, best of luck to you!
Whatever you decide, best of luck to you!
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Best advice I can give is to go speak to a recruiter. They'll be able to help you with the paperwork process. The best thing you can do is to make sure you are already ready before you walk in the door. See what the physical requirements are. Time your runs. Keep slim and trim and if you have any bad habits, I'd advise cutting them out of your life now. Good luck.
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Mr. Sam Zn, have you thought about working in other areas in the U S Government?
Are you a U.S. Citizen yet?
You may wish to expand your horizons - not just "limit" them to the Military.
I was in boot camp when شاهپور Pahlavi passed away.
Have you contacted HIH The Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi's رضا پهلوی office to see if there are any opportunities in his offices?
Are you a U.S. Citizen yet?
You may wish to expand your horizons - not just "limit" them to the Military.
I was in boot camp when شاهپور Pahlavi passed away.
Have you contacted HIH The Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi's رضا پهلوی office to see if there are any opportunities in his offices?
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S Mmm
I do respect to your opinion, but I don't want to work with Reza Pahlavi or other Iranian Loyalists.
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