[Moonman62]

Soooo... how does an illegal alien even get into the military?

...

I knew someone who was in the Marines when he was a Cuban citizen.

[Fai Mao]

Honestly, 12 years in the US military ought to qualify anyone to be a citizen. Imnho

[iowamark]

Legal resident non-citizens are sometimes allowed to join the US military. Not illegals.

[Zhang Fei]

Soooo... how does an illegal alien even get into the military?

... I knew someone who was in the Marines when he was a Cuban citizen.

Cubans are subject to the wet foot, dry foot policy. Anyone caught at sea is deported. Any Cuban setting foot on US soil is automatically entitled to a green card (i.e. permanent residency). After five years of residency, he is eligible for citizenship, assuming he hasn't committed a felony. Misdemeanors like DUI's won't disqualify him from citizenship. Lastly, and directly relevant to your post, is the fact that green card holders of whatever citizenship are eligible to serve in the US military, for positions that do not require security clearance, e.g. non-SF and non-officer roles.