NationStates Jolt Archive

Yo...recently I have become interested in the US Marine Corps. Being old enough and ugly enough to make my own decisions, I have begun to seriously consider the idea of joining the Marines. I bet this would be no problem, if it werent for the fact that A) I'm Irish B) I live outside of the US in Ireland. Bummer. However, whilst reading information on immigration to the US, I read that you can become a naturalized US citizen after serving first with the military.

From my viewpoint, and atleast that of everyone else I've talked to, moving to the US is notoriously hard unless your willing to do something like that film 'Green Card' :) I'd rather grab a rifle than marry someone and have it all go pear-shapped. Just aint right. Does anyone else out there know of anyone who has tried this avenue? And to those of you who may disagree with foreigners serving in the US army....because I know somebody will....what do you think?

I for one am going to try it out if I can, wish me luck :)

Why dont you join the Irish army? (Just wondering, not accusing you of anything or demanding that you do so instead).

Well, if I served with the US, I could gain citizenship much faster. The Irish Army is a bit of a joke to be honest.

PS - Here's an article with more information, about a Trinidad & Tobago national joining the US Military and becoming a citizen.

http://www.dcmilitary.com/marines/hendersonhall/11_02/national_news/38915-1.html

When I was in the Army there were quite a few foreigners in my unit that were working on their citizenship. I'm not sure how most of them got to the US, though. I knew one guy who, literally, swam the Rio Grande and went to a recruiting station.

It's insanely difficuly to do these days. I have a friend who's applying to transfer from ASIO to the CIA and has to jump through hoops. Maybe it's because she's a damn dirty traitor who wants to change side in the intelligence game...

Why dont you join the Irish army? (Just wondering, not accusing you of anything or demanding that you do so instead).
Because it's tiny and under-funded, I'd say. Although they do the peace-keeping pretty well (the UN peacekeeping school is in the Curragh). I'd say the fact that he's Irish would be helpful - on an Irish forum I visit regularly, there's a guy who served in armour in Iraq. Probably the best idea is to contact the American Embassy. You can't be an officer though - not until you're a citizen (looked down this avenue a few years back, actually).
Histrovoskia, have you been in the RDF?

The Irish Army is a bit of a joke to be honest.


So are the marines from our point of view. :D

So are the marines from our point of view. :D

Yes, but with a hell of a punchline. ;)

Yes, but with a hell of a punchline. ;)
The Irish Army is more of a snigger-at-not-with kinda joke. They're well-trained, but the Irish government seem to abhor all sorts of armies. And the people only seem to like the illegal ones... <rolls eyes>

We had no non-citizens in our unit when I was in the Marines, because we were part of the Embassy-protection section. I would guess there would be other areas you won't be allowed to serve in until you gain your citizenship.

There were plenty when we went through basic training.

But if you had joined the Irish Army think of all the movies you could have been in!!!

And the people only seem to like the illegal ones...

So join one of those

But if you had joined the Irish Army think of all the movies you could have been in!!!

Truth.

So join one of those

They've gone and disbanded themselves, just to annoy him.

The Irish Army is a bit of a joke to be honest.

The Rangers aren't. They're scary.

It is very difficult to get into the Irish Army. I had friends try, and fail. They joined the British army instead.

Although, if you do get in, and are transfered to a peace-keeping operation, you'll start raking in money. Although you might get shot.

They've gone and disbanded themselves, just to annoy him.

Bastards!

Hrstrovokia

I dunno how it works for non-citizens who are not even inside the US, but I do know that green card holders get their citizenship petition expedited if they serve in the military.

I would not be surprised if there is something similar for non-resident aliens too.

I had a Somoan and a South African national in my Army training unit in 1986. I had a German (FRG) National (dual citizenship) in my Unit in Babenhausen.

You will probably have to jump trough a bunch of hoops, but as long as you don't have a criminal record you will probably succeed.

The Rangers aren't. They're scary.

It is very difficult to get into the Irish Army. I had friends try, and fail. They joined the British army instead.

Although, if you do get in, and are transfered to a peace-keeping operation, you'll start raking in money. Although you might get shot.

Aye- forget joining the US army or any other really, especially when you have an elite branch in your own back yard- i.e. the Ranger wing. These guys are not to be sniggered at believe me!
After living my entire life in/around the Curragh- of all people you don't take the piss out of its the Rangers... I sleep better knowing my neighbour is one :p

In fact I think he just got back from his second tour in East Timor the other month....

Irish applicants for the most part only join the British Army because they fail to make the grade in Ireland.... kinda tells ya something about the British Army doesn't it. :p :p ;)

Irish accents are hot.
Marines are hot.
I say go for it ;)

Why not join the Foreign Legion? They get action and they've got neat equipment.
And there's something to be said for being in an elite force.

But I'm correct if I say the US does not have an equivalent, ie some sort of special contingent for foreigners?

These guys are not to be sniggered at believe me!

One of my friends went to camp with the FCA. There they were divided into two teams, one defending and one attacking. The defending team was about three times the size of the attacking team. The attacking team had two ex-rangers on it.

Result? The defending team suffered ninety-five per cent losses. Three times.

After that, the rangers got bored. So they bet the CO that they could kidnap at least five reservist under his command.

When the sun came up, there was twenty-eight guys tied to trees with their own uniform.

Like I said, scary guys.

But I'm correct if I say the US does not have an equivalent, ie some sort of special contingent for foreigners?

I looked it up. You have to be a citizen or a resident alien to join.

There's usually some form of backdoor though.

Is it just me? I seem to remember reading in history classes that the beginning of the end for Rome (SPQR for those who know latin) was the time period when they needed non-romans to fill the ranks of the leigons, and the numbers became dispropotionate. History repeating itself? You be the judge.

as you already know, Hrstrovokia, you cannot become an officer until you have your citizenship. also you cannot join the army even as crew unless you have a work permit (aka green card), which is insanely hard to get, the army even has on their webpage, that they will not help you acquire one.
to get the green card you must first become a permanent resident and to become that your best bet really is to marry a us citizen (like in the movie). ofcourse, once you have your green card, you have virtually the same rights as any us citizen (except voting, but in some places it seems they are not particulary fancy about who registers and whether they are actually eligible to vote), so why pursue citizenship with much pressure?
you can also try to buy a false green card. there is a story about a border patrol agent, who used a false birth certificate to join the border patrol, posing as a citizen: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20051120-9999-1m20ortiz.html

Interesting story, thanks Kossackja for clearing that up by the way :) I'm kinda depressed to learn thats how it is, but if this is what I really want to do, I'll find a way. As to someone asking if I was a member of the Reserves in Ireland: No, I attended a few gatherings and I thought it was sort of amateur. Given there is the 2 weeks in the summer when you get to actually do something, it didnt reallly interest me. So....any takers for marriage? *cough* green card *cough* ;)

And to those of you who may disagree with foreigners serving in the US army....because I know somebody will....what do you think?

:)

France has the Foreign Legion. Maybe we should have something similar.

you are welcome, Hrstrovokia, good luck. one more thing, when you get naturaliyed, you still have a few disadvantages compared to natural born us citizens, for example you cannot run for president unless they change the constitution :-) also you are forced to get a social security number and a few other minor things.
when looking for a us citizen to engage you should mention what sex you and what you are looking for. gay rights activists are currently pushing the agenda, that their foreign civilunion partners are not discriminated against foreign heterosexual marriage partners when it comes to acquiring green cards, so you may even go for the gay thing.

Irish applicants for the most part only join the British Army because they fail to make the grade in Ireland.... kinda tells ya something about the British Army doesn't it. :p :p ;)

Yeah, probably because there's so many people with experience in organised killing in Ireland. Of course, it's all justified because their great great great great great great great great grandmother was forced to give birth under a hedge because of Cromwell, which outweighs the deaths of any so called "innocent" Englsih civilians.


Oh, and the SAS > any Irish elite force. By miles.

I served with some non-citizens. Brave and noble souls all, and some were more committed than the born-and-breds.

Anyone who can do the job and wants to sign up should have the opportunity. You go, boy! <snap>

I can't speak for U.S. Marines, but I can tell you for a fact that U.S. Airborne units (82nd, Rangers, and Special Forces) are very receptive to the inclusion of foreign born soldiers from allied nations. At my first duty station my chain of command included a CSM from Poland, BXO from England, Company XO from Bolivia, FS from Samoa, Squad leader from Thailand and a Fireteam leader from Canada.
There are two different ways of joining the US Military as a foreign prospect. One is by doing everything the legal paperwork way which is completely useless, time consuming and often fruitless. The other is almost always successful, but requires something of an individual effort on your part. It would actually require you to come here and literally walk into an installtion and declare your intentions. Thanks to the paper cutting genius of the "Waiver", military commanders have the ability when they desire to bypass mountains of breaucratic nonsense, and clear the path for entry in a wide range of circumstances. The back door method is by far the most likely to produce results, but it does at times require someone willing to go to bat for you. One thing that really impresses military people though is someone who wants to become one of them.

Is it just me? I seem to remember reading in history classes that the beginning of the end for Rome (SPQR for those who know latin) was the time period when they needed non-romans to fill the ranks of the leigons, and the numbers became dispropotionate. History repeating itself? You be the judge.

There is a difference between allowing foreign members to join the military, and depending on foreign fighters so much entire units are made up of "barbarian" tribes led by their chieftan.

Oh, and the SAS > any Irish elite force. By miles.
Meh... at that level they're all quite the same really considering they all train amongst each other abroad- the Rangers train with the German version a lot apparently.

Don't let those t.v shows starring ex-Eastender soap stars fool you :p ;)

Yeah, probably because there's so many people with experience in organised killing in Ireland. Of course, it's all justified because their great great great great great great great great grandmother was forced to give birth under a hedge because of Cromwell, which outweighs the deaths of any so called "innocent" Englsih civilians

My, my! Grumpy got out of the wrong side of bed this morning didn't he! Still.... I'll just tot that one down to sore loser syndrome... ;) :D :D

My suggestion would be to go to the US embassy and talk to someone there.

You could also go to www.marines.com and go to "recruiting" and "request more information".

While the following Navy Ratings (Enlisted Jobs) do not require U.S. Citizenship, one must be a legal immigrant (with a green card) residing in the United States in order to join any branch of the United States Military. The Navy cannot and will not assist with immigration. One must legally immigrate first, and then apply to join the U.S. Navy.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/a/noncitizen.htm

There is a difference between allowing foreign members to join the military, and depending on foreign fighters so much entire units are made up of "barbarian" tribes led by their chieftan.

Aside from that being a load of hokey... we'd probably have any "American Foreign Legion" led by American officers. Like the FFL, which is led by French officers.

Yo...recently I have become interested in the US Marine Corps. Being old enough and ugly enough to make my own decisions, I have begun to seriously consider the idea of joining the Marines. I bet this would be no problem, if it werent for the fact that A) I'm Irish B) I live outside of the US in Ireland. Bummer. However, whilst reading information on immigration to the US, I read that you can become a naturalized US citizen after serving first with the military.

Yes at least you use to. I had a guy I served with that was from Armenia. He told me that he was on the fast track for citizienship.

i found it kind of interesting when i came across a recruitment pamphlet for the united states navy,....written in spanish

Well, I do see Army pamphlets that use the phrase "Army of One" and the ones that use the phrase "Yo soy el Army". And I live in a state with very very few spanish speakers.

They've gone and disbanded themselves, just to annoy him.
Nah, just the biggest one that pretends to be the real Irish Army. Then again, they were the only ones that had any claim to being an 'army' also as opposed to being only either a) a bunch of murderous thugs or b) tiny.
Yeah, DrunkenDove, that story sounds about right - the FCA (it's now the RDF) is crazy amateurish, although I think the reorganisation might help some. It had better, cos they're planning to send the reserves over. The PDF, though, is significantly more professional. And, of course, they are the bomb at peacekeeping because everybody loves the Irish!
To be honest, if I were you, I'd join the Irish army, unless you really want to fight in the desert a lot, or play with the big guns and tanks. My impression of it is that it's more like the British Army than the American - better trained, but not as well equipped. And the Rangers rock - I've often seen them mooted as the Best in the World (TM).

<slaps Laenis for patent trollage> I must have missed the announcement that said it was OK to say all the Irish are terrorists. If you want to know, nearly all the terrorists on this island lived in the UK part, and most of those were loyalist - they don't even count themselves as Irish. (And if you don't believe me, then find out how many people were members of the UDA...)
As for the part about civilians and Cromwell, read up on what happened in Ireland under Cromwell, and pretty much the history of Britain in Ireland up until independence. Also, find out how many Irish and Northern Irish civilians were killed by British security forces and loyalist terrorists. And then, if you want to, TG me and we'll have a little discussion about the North that isn't based on prejudice. Until then, let's not clog up this thread with off-topic junk.

look everyone, its not hard to become a citizen as long as you are not mexican or arab. sorry if that offends anyone, but it is true. anyways, I am the son of an Argentine immigrant. He did not have any real red tape. He just went to the consulate in Santa Fe, told them he wanted to become a US citizen, told them his plans once he got there, and a few months later, he was here, working on his college education, studying for his citizenship exam, and learning english. Its really not as hard as most people think