Posted on Nov 10, 2017
Veterans and policy experts call for more immigrants and Dreamers in U.S. military
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This article is misleading and not telling the story accurately. It also leaves out a lot of information.
In addition NBC News needs to check the credentials of their writers and editors. How in the world could the following statement have made it into publication, especially in an article like this:
"Margaret Stock, a retired U.S. Army Reserve lieutenant and colonel and former West Point Military Academy professor, noted that the armed forces' current citizenship criteria is negatively impacting the military's recruitment options."
And then later in support of the recommendation Stock goes on to state: "Stock added these circumstances would all change if Congress were to reform current immigration policies.
"If Congress were to enact comprehensive immigration reform, it'd make it easier for people to get green cards." Stock added. "This would open up an extraordinarily large pool of folks in the U.S. population who would then be eligible for military service.""
I am sorry, but that statement is just not true.
In addition NBC News needs to check the credentials of their writers and editors. How in the world could the following statement have made it into publication, especially in an article like this:
"Margaret Stock, a retired U.S. Army Reserve lieutenant and colonel and former West Point Military Academy professor, noted that the armed forces' current citizenship criteria is negatively impacting the military's recruitment options."
And then later in support of the recommendation Stock goes on to state: "Stock added these circumstances would all change if Congress were to reform current immigration policies.
"If Congress were to enact comprehensive immigration reform, it'd make it easier for people to get green cards." Stock added. "This would open up an extraordinarily large pool of folks in the U.S. population who would then be eligible for military service.""
I am sorry, but that statement is just not true.
Veterans and policy experts call for more immigrants and Dreamers in U.S. military
Posted from nbcnews.com
Military service
Recruiting
Immigration
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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My wife was an immigrant when she was very young, now she is a citizen and a veteran. I would love the opportunity to sit and speak with the powers that be on this subject. I will just say I have worked with and for many great Americans over the years who started their lives as citizens of somewhere else. They all busted their ass to become citizens, loved their new Country and yes many fought for it. Including my wife, she is a gorgeous, brilliant bad ass. Just saying!
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SSG Robert Webster
LTC Jeff Shearer Yet those are not the ones making the most noise. Notice how so many of those (outside the ranks of the DACA recipients) that are making the most noise are those that either squandered their opportunity, or did not try to take the opportunity until it was too late.
I agree with your sentiment about your wife. Though my wife did not serve in the military, she is an immigrant that became a US citizen when it suited her and not on anyone else's time line. And we have three wonderful children none of which have desired to serve in the Armed Forces, but that is their decision and not mine or anyone else's for that matter.
I agree with your sentiment about your wife. Though my wife did not serve in the military, she is an immigrant that became a US citizen when it suited her and not on anyone else's time line. And we have three wonderful children none of which have desired to serve in the Armed Forces, but that is their decision and not mine or anyone else's for that matter.
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The ‘Up-Or-Out’ Promotion System Hurts The Military
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A couple of issues I see with the article:
1) we have no shortage of qualified people who want to attend West Point and other military academies. In fact, we have too many and most will bever be able to get in
2) we have enough citizens to fill the armed forces with qualified personnel, the issue is finding those that are willing
1) we have no shortage of qualified people who want to attend West Point and other military academies. In fact, we have too many and most will bever be able to get in
2) we have enough citizens to fill the armed forces with qualified personnel, the issue is finding those that are willing
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Suspended Profile
1) Where is West Point/other academies admissions mentioned in the article?
2) This is precisely the issue the article addresses. Americans aren't willing, and we're lowering standards to put many of those who are willing in the service. And the article proposes a solution, where...otherwise, I just see "they're not American, keep them out."
2) This is precisely the issue the article addresses. Americans aren't willing, and we're lowering standards to put many of those who are willing in the service. And the article proposes a solution, where...otherwise, I just see "they're not American, keep them out."
MSG (Join to see)
The article talks about taking much less qualified personnel, those with criminal records, to make recruiting goals.
The recruiting issue we have had since 2001 is the country has been in a constant state of war. During the Iraq and Afghanistan surge, we had in excess of 100,000 military in combat zones at all times. We had a constant rotation of units that were always either in preparation for war (NTC, JRTC), in war, or post war (veterans leaving service after return from the battlefield).
For potential recruits, this does not give the appearance of a long term profession, particularly with frequent videos or news stories of military members who have PTSD, maimed etc.
Since 2012, we have continually been downsizing. It started with the higher enlisted ranks and then officer ranks. We forced E-8s and E-9s out and lowed the maximimum years. Afterwards, we began enforcing stricter quality control measures on lower enlisted including releasing enlisted and not allowing others to reenlist.
The program the story talks about is another example of social engineering, a way to go around immigration laws and provide illegal immigrants a path to citizenship. If someone with high qualifications wanted to join with a 6-8 year mandatory obligation, I might go along with it. I would not support it for a 3 years and get out with citizenship. It becomes too much of an open door then and can be abused.
We do not currently have a problem with having enough qualified citizens. Our issue is making the military attractive to them. This means being more visible in the community and ensuring target populations see the military as an opportunity.
This may mean a major restructuring of what the military does and how. When I originally went into the Army, I was Infantry. We were not allowed to take any college courses that interfered with our ability to deploy or take part in daily training. With the nature of Infantry, this usually meant you didn't attend college.
Part of a solution would be to ensure that military members aren't just offered things like a college education, but they get one. The military could structure itself where college courses were a part of their weekly routine.
The recruiting issue we have had since 2001 is the country has been in a constant state of war. During the Iraq and Afghanistan surge, we had in excess of 100,000 military in combat zones at all times. We had a constant rotation of units that were always either in preparation for war (NTC, JRTC), in war, or post war (veterans leaving service after return from the battlefield).
For potential recruits, this does not give the appearance of a long term profession, particularly with frequent videos or news stories of military members who have PTSD, maimed etc.
Since 2012, we have continually been downsizing. It started with the higher enlisted ranks and then officer ranks. We forced E-8s and E-9s out and lowed the maximimum years. Afterwards, we began enforcing stricter quality control measures on lower enlisted including releasing enlisted and not allowing others to reenlist.
The program the story talks about is another example of social engineering, a way to go around immigration laws and provide illegal immigrants a path to citizenship. If someone with high qualifications wanted to join with a 6-8 year mandatory obligation, I might go along with it. I would not support it for a 3 years and get out with citizenship. It becomes too much of an open door then and can be abused.
We do not currently have a problem with having enough qualified citizens. Our issue is making the military attractive to them. This means being more visible in the community and ensuring target populations see the military as an opportunity.
This may mean a major restructuring of what the military does and how. When I originally went into the Army, I was Infantry. We were not allowed to take any college courses that interfered with our ability to deploy or take part in daily training. With the nature of Infantry, this usually meant you didn't attend college.
Part of a solution would be to ensure that military members aren't just offered things like a college education, but they get one. The military could structure itself where college courses were a part of their weekly routine.
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