Would you support a pathway to citizenship through military service? 20 years in a combat MOS would work for me, what do you think?

Cpl Joshua Caldwell — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:52:16 -0500

Response by Austin Hocutt made Jan 25 at 2017 1:53 PM

Austin Hocutt — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:53:45 -0500

Yeah, that'd work. I also think that when male refugees come to our country we should enlist them into our BCT, and then ship them back under their government and let them fix their country first before they come over here.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2017 1:56 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:56:20 -0500

That pathway is already there for those who enlist

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jan 25 at 2017 2:07 PM

LTC John Shaw — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 14:07:31 -0500

In early 2011 I setup a citizenship oath ceremony at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan. Over 70 service members from many different nationalities become US citizens.
I was very proud to support the legal citizenship process and got to meet peers with amazing stories of sacrifice.
We need to encourage the legal methods and enforce the law.
When this happens consistently then people will not have any incentive to come through a different illegal process.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2017 2:11 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 14:11:41 -0500

A combat MOS is too limiting, there are many non combat support MOS's that would be great

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2017 2:12 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 14:12:42 -0500

Sure, why not, just would need to remove combat from the requirement, as it pertains to MOS- it's very debatable and exclusive... I feel this way you are deducting potential candidates for this program. Not everyone is cut of for a combat MOS.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Jan 25 at 2017 2:13 PM

SFC J Fullerton — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 14:13:55 -0500

Legal aliens who enlist already do have a pathway to citizenship, regardless of their MOS. Illegal aliens are not qualified to enlist, nor should they be.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jan 25 at 2017 3:33 PM

SN Greg Wright — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 15:33:31 -0500

Filipinos used to be able to join the Navy and get citizenship when they were done. Dunno if they still can.

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Jan 25 at 2017 3:40 PM

CSM Thomas McGarry — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 15:40:04 -0500

Personally I think anyone who completes their Active Military Service and receives an Honorable Discharge should be given the opportunity to become a US Citizen, especially in light of the fact that most Native Born Citizens have never served in any military service!

Response by GySgt Melissa Gravila made Jan 25 at 2017 3:41 PM

GySgt Melissa Gravila — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 15:41:51 -0500

I think you need to remove the "combat" word and it's good to go. Patriotism shouldn't be confined to combat related MOS s only. On the flip side, why don't we strip citizenship of someone who denounces America?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2017 3:57 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 15:57:48 -0500

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jan 25 at 2017 3:59 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 15:59:42 -0500

Yes. I think this would be an excellent way to offer "dreamers" and other illegal aliens an opportunity to earn citizenship. They would need to meet the same entry standards as other applicants. They would have to plead guilty to entering the country illegally and be sentenced to probation contingent on completion of military service. If they failed to honorably complete the designated tour of military service, then they would be deported immediately. (Might have to consider special cases for those with General Medical discharges.) I think the minimum tour should be fairly short, perhaps 4 or 6 years. Also, they must study for citizenship while on active duty and pass the citizenship test before their term of service is up. They cannot become officers or warrant officers until their court-ordered enlistment is completed and they are citizens.

Response by SSgt Christopher Brose made Jan 25 at 2017 5:17 PM

SSgt Christopher Brose — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 17:17:22 -0500

When I served in the Navy, I knew several Philippinos who were getting their citizenship via their enlistments, and I always thought it was a great idea. So my answer to the question is yes, I support a pathway to citizenship through military service.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Jan 25 at 2017 7:50 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 19:50:22 -0500

Sure, makes sense but isn't something like that already in place? Recall articles of individuals gaining citizenship while in the military, just can't think of any specifics.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2017 9:28 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 21:28:15 -0500

I don't think it should be combat exclusive. We had a guy in basic in '02 from the Philippines getting his citizenship by serving. But i do think until the path to citizenship is improved service should guarantee citizenship.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2017 10:51 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 22:51:36 -0500

I'm not sure of everything he went through but there was a Specialist in BCT with me he was from Cameroon and was granted his Citizenship on Graduation Day.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2017 11:02 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 23:02:00 -0500

I saw that you mentioned in another conversation that this would be for Illegal Aliens.
The concept of allowing them Citizenship reminds me of the Roman Auxiliaries in the Legions.

This video can give some context on what I mean.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lIpAYpAvB4

Roman army structure (subbed)

I do not own this content, original video on https://vimeo.com/31781946 French and English subtitles Portuguese subtitles made by Drake9634 Feel free to send...

Response by SFC George Smith made Jan 26 at 2017 2:16 AM

SFC George Smith — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 02:16:58 -0500

I thought it was already in operation and being utalizied...

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Jan 26 at 2017 10:01 AM

SSgt Dan Montague — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 10:01:41 -0500

Maybe more like 8 years with honorable discharge serving in any MOS.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Jan 26 at 2017 2:44 PM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 14:44:04 -0500

No, do not use the American Military, we have plenty of work to do.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2017 4:21 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 16:21:49 -0500

I just had a Soldier come to me and got his citizenship through enlistment into the Army. The problem is when he showed up his first question was "how do I get out of the Army?" Now that he's got his citizenship he is worthless. Doesn't want to work and is not reliable. I know that there are ways to get him put out of the Army but I think that they should have to serve a minimum enlistment (3,4, or 6 years depending on MOS) honorably and they get their citizenship at the end of their enlistment. If they don't get it they get put on a plane and sent back to where they came from.

Response by SGT Drew Clark made Jan 27 at 2017 12:17 AM

SGT Drew Clark — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 00:17:25 -0500

I served with a Mexi-Can, his family sneaked him over, he jumped out of planes with me, rode the berm with me, kicked the doors with me, QRF/ARF with me, PLDC with me, youget my drift.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jan 27 at 2017 8:11 PM

COL Charles Williams — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 20:11:48 -0500

Yes, most certainly.

Response by SFC Douglas B. Hull made Jan 31 at 2017 12:00 PM

SFC Douglas B. Hull — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 12:00:24 -0500

Yes but 20 years period, some folks get placed in a shortage MOS and are stuck there, I was a Chemical/Biological/and Nuclear NCO for the 21 years I was in there was no way to get out of it. also was stuck at SFC due to a lack of E8 slots. also if they served in a conflict. After WWII many folks got their citizenship. as you know you go where the needs of the service are not your wishes. . .

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2017 11:31 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 May 2017 23:31:25 -0400

Hell yes. What better way to prove you want to become an American than by defending it? I did it.