Posted on 02/15/2009 8:39:30 AM PST by balls
The United States army is to accept immigrants with temporary US visas, for the first time since the Vietnam war, according to the New York Times.
Until now immigrants have had to have permanent residency - a "green card" - in order to qualify for the services.
But those with temporary visas will be offered accelerated citizenship if they enrol, the Times says.
The Pentagon hopes the scheme will cover shortages in areas like medical care and language interpretation.
Many temporary immigrants will have been granted visas on the basis of their education or skills, so the defence department expects the new recruits to be more qualified than applicants who are US citizens - and in particular to have languages useful in combat zones like Afghanistan and Iraq.
"The American army finds itself in a lot of different countries where cultural awareness is critical," said Lt-Gen Benjamin C Freakley, the top recruitment officer for the army.
"There will be some very talented folks in this group," he told the New York Times.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Do you think immigrants would be more likely to fire on U.S. citizens in case of an internal conflict.
Is this his reason??
If I bought into what you are implying, I would probably agree, but I don’t.
Ugly as it is, that was my first thought, too.
More critical is that the Americans of whom he speaks are fully armed and ready to fire.
Bvllsh!t!
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“Many temporary immigrants will have been granted visas on the basis of their education or skills, so the defence department expects the new recruits to be more qualified than applicants who are US citizens - and in particular to have languages useful in combat zones like Afghanistan and Iraq.”
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Fergit the “educational” bs—pick up the American kids 17, 18, 19-year olds out there who will make damn good Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen!!!!!!!!!!
Just as these young Americans have always been the best of the best thru WW II, Korea and Nam. Many of them staying on for 20-30 year careers and going out great sergeants, chiefs, and ven colonels and generals!
The truth is that the so-called educated have gotten their tickets punched (indoctrinated) in the public schools and are easier to manage—by contrast the hs dropouts, although many punks among them now, have had a taste of making a living in the real world and are responsible men and women more likely to know that life is more than another football game or video/pc game!
Semper Fidelis
Dick Gaines
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It’s my understanding that the Soviets segregated their armies in regional ethnic divisions for that exact reason.Does anyone else have info on this?
Furthermore, why the hell do you think there are no Chesty Pullers, Smedley Butler, Evans Carlsons, Pattons, MacArthurs that you hear of anyway that have the bAlls to buck the system and when they see wrongdoing? It’s because the LeMays and Pattons have been systematically weeded out/purged from the gitgo! No thinkers wanted—just stfu, collect yer bonuses and promotions and to hell w/duty, honor, country, huh!
Yej, I know well the way it is—and more importantly I know what’s right.
I think the same thing as well.
The article does not say what “temporary visas” they are talking about. I would want to see more information before jumping to any conclusions.
Is this making us all a little crazy or paranoid?
The thought really bothers me also.
If you look at US population figures, and exclude immigrants (both types) the figures for the US look alarmly like those of Japan and other ‘developed’ Nations.
Look at your friend's, or their kids if you are as old as I am.
Families of 4 to 6 children were not uncommon before and after WWII.
Now two or less is the norm. Folks are waiting till they are in their late 20s or early 30s to marry, if even then.
So the pool of 18 - 20 y/o is a LOT smaller than in times past. And not nearly in as good as shape as yesterdayyears meat eaters.
So I'll give the Army credit for trying to keep up their numbers, while I disagree completely with the Army's methods.
You know, I am inclined to agree with you.
I ran a Navy MARS station for 20 years (before cell phones and internet) and had lots of military and X-military friends who I admired greatly.
Some had “formal” educations others did not. Most I associated with were engineers or technicians, but none I can remember were Lefties. I never notice a bias against or for the “formal” educated type.
They had a job to be done and did it.
I taught electronics classes for TSTC at Dyess AFB during 2 summers and really liked the techs I had in the classes.
Military personnel are generally very real Patriotic citizens. There are a few ego trips, but not many.
Darned history. It sure would be nice to not to keep repeating it.
The simple solution is for foreign citizens to work for the US outside of the US only. Like the French Foreign Legion, the US could make an American Foreign Legion of light infantry. Their primary mission would not be combat, but time consuming, low intensity missions that are very expensive with our regular forces, like peacekeeping and humanitarian aid.
We could recruit some of the finest soldiers in the world, from peoples like the Gurkhas, Sikhs, Samoans, and others. Their NCOs and officers would be American, and they might even be managed by a private corporation like Xe (nee Blackwater International).
Not being American citizens, we would have no problem with “loaning” them to allied nations, or even the UN. And as private contractors, they would not have to go on missions that were repulsive or overly dangerous. Their transportation and logistics would be provided by the US military.
This would save the US billions of dollars, and more importantly, the lives of our citizen soldiers. At the same time, even in a depression, we could still support important overseas missions.
“I may be old, but I sure as hell ain’t stupid.”
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I know that ‘Old’ feeling—I’ll hit 74 this year!
Thanx for your response—appreciated!
Dick G
GnySgt USMC (Ret.)
1952-’72
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