Backtalk: ‘Temporary immigrants’ don’t belong in U.S. military

[CommunityEditor]

The armed forces are recruiting citizens of foreign countries who are in the U.S. temporarily.

Under the yearlong program announced by the Pentagon in December, about 1,000 non-U.S. citizens will be signed up for service as health care workers and language and cultural specialists. In exchange, they get on the fast track to become Americans.

It’s a bad idea. Those who serve need to have a vested interest in this country, not just want to stay in this country.

Until now, the military has recruited only U.S. citizens and permanent residents. About 8,000 permanent residents enlist every year and about 29,000 are in the services today. They’ve even been drafted along with citizens.

The Defense Department’s new program is targeting what it calls the “temporary immigrant”; consular and immigration officials use “nonimmigrant,” the term found in the law and in official documents.

Nonimmigrants include tourists, businessmen, students, workers in international organizations such as the World Bank, participants in international exchange programs and certain skilled workers. They come to the U.S. wanting to stay only temporarily — or at least saying they want to stay only temporarily. Consular officials are required to refuse a nonimmigrant visa request if they suspect the applicant wants to use it to get a “green card,” or, in other words, become a permanent resident.

The Pentagon shouldn’t give an out to someone from a foreign country who either changes his mind about wanting to stay temporarily in the U.S. or who wasn’t candid with consular officials in the first place.

It won’t be easy to pull back from this program because the services need medical experts, as well as those with language and cultural skills.

In a statement to the Armed Forces Press Service, Bill Carr, deputy undersecretary of defense for military personnel policy, estimated the military is short almost 1,000 of the 24,000 doctors and nurses it needs. He didn’t even address the number of linguists and cultural specialists.

“We observed there are tens of thousands of health professionals in the United States on a work visa who would be very interested in achieving green card status or, ultimately, citizenship,” Carr told the press service.

There’s one problem, though. There are plenty of American citizens and permanent residents who have the knowledge and skills that the services are looking for. And more — thousands even — are being trained in those skills on the Pentagon’s dime.

No, the Pentagon shouldn’t help anyone skate around the system. Everybody knew the rules going in.

Residence and citizenship are not commodities. Participation in our society, even in its sacrifices, should not be for sale.


Article: http://www.airforcetimes.com/community/opinion/airforce_backtalk_immigrants_030909/

[Okie]

Ah...Outsourcing jobs that Americans won't do. Where have we heard that before?

At least a foreigner is better than a felon. However, I think it's pretty sad that we can't find anybody that wants to join when unemployment is over 8%.

[fenway]

these are cultural and language skills americans do not have and are necesarry in the us forces.

[ringjamesa]

these are cultural and language skills americans do not have and are necesarry in the us forces.

What are? So someone from Peru should be allwed to come into the mil on a temporary visa but not someone from say Spain? They speak the same native language but since one was born in the Americas, they should be allowed to serve? Dumb da dumb dumb dumb...

[BRAVO10000]

“We observed there are tens of thousands of health professionals in the United States on a work visa who would be very interested in achieving green card status or, ultimately, citizenship,” Carr told the press service.

There’s one problem, though. There are plenty of American citizens and permanent residents who have the knowledge and skills that the services are looking for. And more — thousands even — are being trained in those skills on the Pentagon’s dime.

No, the Pentagon shouldn’t help anyone skate around the system. Everybody knew the rules going in.

Residence and citizenship are not commodities. Participation in our society, even in its sacrifices, should not be for sale.



'Nuff said. I can imagine this being more than a route to citizenship to include American funding for a free educaton and training...

[Variable Wind]

This is ridiculous, the author is against people serving in the military for citizenship? Sounds to me like that is the BEST way to offer citizenship, defend/serve the citizens of the nation you want to be included in.

I have yet to see how this is a bad idea.

[STEPHANPEREIRA]

Having done 8 years in recruiting in my previous assignment, I think it is a great idea to allow immigrants with temporary visas to join the Armed Forces. As a matter of fact, I think even legal residents should have to enlist for at least 2 years as a path for citizenship if they require a skill that is needed for the national security of our nation.

I know a lot of people look at the words "temporary immigrants" and they are totally against it, but I have met many overqualified people that we would have loved and needed to have and we could not because of the green card while we took in an under qualified citizen. People need to realize that foreign schools are much more demanding than American schools, they produce highly skilled labor. I have had foreigners score much higher than native born American in the entrance exam. As a matter of fact, I've had high school teachers, police officers, construction workers, executive secretaries and nurses to name a few to totally fail the ASVAB. I have had high school grads with diplomas so fresh that they were sticking to the binder and they can not pass an 8th grade level test. Basically our children are leaving High School without being able to read. It is a sad situation!!

The military is no longer looking for someone to hold a weapon in the front line. We are a highly technical profession these days. We need people with foreign language, electronics, computers, nuclear, engineering, construction, and law enforcement skills. Where do you suppose we get these people from???

Our higher qualified youth look at the military as a step down from college, while not knowing that most are not even qualified to join. The Nintendo couch potation generation we developed is not what we need at this time, we have had to lower standards to accommodate our youth. This is wrong!! How can we justify a soldier leaving boot camp and not being in shape to pass a PT test?

Before questioning those that want to serve, look at yourself and see if you are qualified and willing to do it. If you are, come on down to the recruiting office but if you are not, then please; we do not need Monday morning quarterbacks.

[ringjamesa]

That has been propsed before. Sounds like a good idea to me. The problem is if they are not citizens, they can only serve one term and then are discharged. So it would be more beneficial to have them enlist for longer with the option to get out early wouldn't you think? That way if they liked it but didn't have the citizenship they could stay in a while longer instead of being forced out.... Besides 2 years would only allow them to go Army. I believe they are the only ones that allow an inital enlistment under 4 years. The other branches like to re-coup the $ they spent on training before they let them go....

[Smeghead]

That has been propsed before. Sounds like a good idea to me. The problem is if they are not citizens, they can only serve one term and then are discharged. So it would be more beneficial to have them enlist for longer with the option to get out early wouldn't you think? That way if they liked it but didn't have the citizenship they could stay in a while longer instead of being forced out.... Besides 2 years would only allow them to go Army. I believe they are the only ones that allow an inital enlistment under 4 years. The other branches like to re-coup the $ they spent on training before they let them go....

They can serve longer. I served almost 7 years before becoming a citizen and reenlisting.

[WILDJOKER5]

If it is a matter of them getting into the mil just for the 4-6 years so they can get the college education, is that a bad thing? How many normal americans do that?

At least if they join, the have a leagal job that they are paying taxes on. They dont have to just serve the min like Smeg said, get in and they want to stay longer, they get their citizenship and reenlist. I think it would be perfect to allow anyone that wants to join no matter what country they are from. They all wont get the security clearence to work on things like nukes or other such top secret programs, but there are all the other spot that are lacking in man power.(infantry).

Let them join, better than having them sneak over the boarder and steal the health care without paying taxes for their day labor jobs.

[Smeghead]

They all wont get the security clearence to work on things like nukes or other such top secret programs, but there are all the other spot that are lacking in man power.(infantry).

Yeah, I scored high 90s across my ASVAB and could have done any job in the Air Force ... if I had been a US citizen. That big Book O' Jobs got real small, real quick :D

[Valerie]

After reading all these blogs some make sense and other are ridiculous. A little bit about my self and why this subject get me all rould up. I'm currently serving in the Air Force for the past 8 years. I come from immigrant parents who sacrificed everything and I mean everything for a better future for us. You see the United States is a great country who wouldn't want to come to the US.

In my family I have an illegal immigrant who came here as a child. Now he is trying to become a citizen and would love to serve this country he only knows. You see if he could join the Armed Services he would. I believe allowing temporary "immigrants" to join the military is a good idea. I have met so many people from different ethnicities and they bring a different skill and work ethic. As we all know not all American want to serve there country. If we can use them while they use us this would work great.

[Smeghead]

In my family I have an illegal immigrant who came here as a child. Now he is trying to become a citizen and would love to serve this country he only knows. You see if he could join the Armed Services he would. I believe allowing temporary "immigrants" to join the military is a good idea. I have met so many people from different ethnicities and they bring a different skill and work ethic. As we all know not all American want to serve there country. If we can use them while they use us this would work great.


No, no and no. We're talking about letting temporary immigrants serve not illegals. It took months for me to LEGALLY get my green in order to first move to the US. Then it took years for me to become a naturalized citizen. Why the F should someone who illegally snuck into the country get any favors? After all the ass pain and money it cost me to be here LEGALLY, nothing pisses me off more than whining illegals with their hands out who expect to get everything for nothing.

[rob6816]

Politicians do not read history. More and more they have an agenda, and if they read history instead of casting it of as yesterdays news they would know that this is how the Roman Empire fell into the abyss. Those of you who say what does that have to do with the USA should know that our government follows the Roman model.

[mel44]

No, no and no. We're talking about letting temporary immigrants serve not illegals. It took months for me to LEGALLY get my green in order to first move to the US. Then it took years for me to become a naturalized citizen. Why the F should someone who illegally snuck into the country get any favors? After all the ass pain and money it cost me to be here LEGALLY, nothing pisses me off more than whining illegals with their hands out who expect to get everything for nothing.

smeg - I know I know dont ask but I just got to. ou know everyone wants to know. What is your birh home?

[Smeghead]

Liverpool, Merseyside, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

[BOBFROMCALI]

This is a bad Idea. We already see it with the territories. Mostly Puerto Rico. I have yet to meet a Puerto Rican with any American Pride serving in the military if they have some they have a funny way of showing it. When was the last time you walked into ones room or house and saw an American flag flying not a Puerto Rican? We must only recruit Americans to be soldiers who are willing to put their lives on that line for OUR country.

If we want to bolster our military with foreigners let them serve in the same capacity as the French Foreign Legion. Start with the territories. Let them serve as low ranking foot soldiers (without their families) in the worst conditions until they prove their worth to OUR country. Then we should let them become citizens. If they cant hack it well I gues they did not love America like they claimed.

Being American is my right.

[WILDJOKER5]

This is a bad Idea. We already see it with the territories. Mostly Puerto Rico. I have yet to meet a Puerto Rican with any American Pride serving in the military if they have some they have a funny way of showing it. When was the last time you walked into ones room or house and saw an American flag flying not a Puerto Rican? We must only recruit Americans to be soldiers who are willing to put their lives on that line for OUR country.

If we want to bolster our military with foreigners let them serve in the same capacity as the French Foreign Legion. Start with the territories. Let them serve as low ranking foot soldiers (without their families) in the worst conditions until they prove their worth to OUR country. Then we should let them become citizens. If they cant hack it well I gues they did not love America like they claimed.

Being American is my right.

That was just a bad example, I still black people with African country flags in their rooms. I see Texans with their state flag. Perto Ricans are the spoiled children of the US. They get our protection without the bill. Most people trying to get american citizenship will work hard for the ability to live in the US. The day laborers are prime example.

[MACHINE666]

So I was born in the USA but I have a German flag hanging up in my living room at home. Does that somehow make me "unpatriotic" or "less" capable of serving in the military?

I can understand your frustrations everyone, but I think if someone is willing to catch a bullet for Uncle Sam, that's proof enough that they're a part of America as much as the lazy, self-absorbed mini-van driving, overweight soccer mom who watches Oprah or The View and has no concept of life outside of her neighborhood.

:D :D :D :D :D

[Variable Wind]

So I was born in the USA but I have a German flag hanging up in my living room at home. Does that somehow make me "unpatriotic" or "less" capable of serving in the military?

I can understand your frustrations everyone, but I think if someone is willing to catch a bullet for Uncle Sam, that's proof enough that they're a part of America as much as the lazy, self-absorbed mini-van driving, overweight soccer mom who watches Oprah or The View and has no concept of life outside of her neighborhood.

:D :D :D :D :D

As long as someone learns english and doesnt refuse to speak it within the military and pays taxes and has the guts to serve, welcome to the US.

[DRAGONSLAYER26283]

I checked into a few things lately.First off,I'm almost finished with my RN schooling. I have been to various recruiting office and I hear the same thing from each.We aren't looking for medical staff right now. We are overloaded and over our goals for the year.Unless I want to drop to a combat medic,they keep saying they don't need me.This is just another way for the Obama goofs to run thier immigration scam.

[WILDJOKER5]

I checked into a few things lately.First off,I'm almost finished with my RN schooling. I have been to various recruiting office and I hear the same thing from each.We aren't looking for medical staff right now. We are overloaded and over our goals for the year.Unless I want to drop to a combat medic,they keep saying they don't need me.This is just another way for the Obama goofs to run thier immigration scam.

I dont belive that, I believe they are like car dealers, they have a certain product to sell you and they dont have what you want. They usually want flyers, cops, infantry, and yeah, combat medics.