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.

"The army will gain in its strength in human capital, and the immigrants will gain their citizenship and get on a ramp to the American dream."

Opposition from veterans

The Times said the scheme could cut the time a temporary resident had to wait for a green card from up to 10 years to as little as six months.

The program will be limited to 1,000 enlistees in its first year, but if successful could be spread to other services and expanded. It could eventually provide the army with one in six of its recruits, the Times said.

Army recruiters say their job has become easier in recent months as unemployment has risen in the US. But even so, they regret having had to turn away many immigrants because they had only temporary residency.

However, the Times said there appeared to be some opposition from officers and veterans, who expressed concern that some foreigners might have divided loyalties or be terrorists seeking to infiltrate the US armed services.

I don't see this as a problem...The real problem is that we are accepting known GANG members and teaching them advanced combat techniques.....then, in turn, they train the street thugs....

Where is the problem? They already know how to fire and maintain a weapon. Send 'em in as Ground Pounders.
Besides, organized gangs already know the training.

First, this is old news.
Second, ground-pounding involves a high degree of discipline and a proficiency with a variety of weapons. Street thugs have neither. Civilians just think they can shoot.
Third, what makes the American soldier the best in the world can not be taught.
Patriotism and Pride of country combined with the best training in the world have instilled tradition and courage that can not be matched.
You wont get that from an Army of illegal immigrants.

The Infantryman's Creed



I am the Infantry.
I am my country's strength in war,
her deterrent in peace.
I am the heart of the fight-
wherever, whenever.
I carry America's faith and honor
against her enemies.
I am the Queen of Battle.

I am what my country expects me to be-
the best trained soldier in the world.
In the race for victory,
I am swift, determined, and courageous,
armed with a fierce will to win.

Never will I fail my country's trust.
Always I fight on-
through the foe,
to the objective,
to triumph over all.
If necessary, I fight to my death.

By my steadfast courage,
I have won 200 years of freedom.
I yield not-
to weakness,
to hunger,
to cowardice,
to fatigue,
to superior odds,
for I am mentally tough,physically strong,
and morally straight.

I forsake not-
my country,
my mission,
my comrades,
my sacred duty.

I am relentless.
I am always there,
now and forever.

I AM THE INFANTRY!
FOLLOW ME!

That's the one I know!

In America we say, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

When the going gets tough, the illegal jumps the border.
The US Infantry doesn't need border jumpers with fleeting Patriotism. They need brave Patriotic Americans...

Due to the very nature of the "work" with firearms, explosives, physical-emotional stress, and genuine violence, casualties and or deaths are not uncommon in both war and in peace. The infantryman is expected and trained to continue on with the mission despite personal fear, despair, fatigue and injury. These are exemplified in the United States Army by an excerpt from the infantryman's creed

In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous; Armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country's trust. Always I fight on: through the foe, to the objective, to triumph over all. If necessary, I fight to my death.

Life in an active duty infantry unit is rigorous, a 24 hour cycle makes for long hours of exercise/training/fighting/patrolling in often brutal climates armed only with the weapons, ammunition and essential war fighting equipment that they can carry on their backs. Remaining space is meant for a meal rations to fight their hunger. Infantry are usually afforded upwards of 4000 calories per day when on operations. Very little space is afforded for comforts. The physical demands are extreme. Forced marches, carrying in excess of 80lbs (36 kg) of equipment upwards of 25 miles (40 km) at a 4-6mi/h (6–10 km/h) pace is not uncommon. 15 mile runs at a forced pace are common as well. Mastering one's body is essential, as eating just one meal a day may be experienced occasionally when situations dictate such. Teamwork and absolute trust are essential for the survival of not only the individual, but the unit as a whole.

Very strong bonds that last an entire life time form within these infantry units and there is a sort of professional respect given from one infantryman to another, both inside and outside of the military, which is based on a common understanding of what life is like on the inside of an infantry battalion and the character and discipline of the individuals who comprise them.


Infantry for life!

You've pissed in my Fruit-Loops!!!

I would have to agree with Fanta. I see no problem with giving them certain military duties, and as much as I hate to see American soldiers dying, the job of a grunt requires much more than people give it credit for. Shoot, move, and COMMUNICATE. Communication under fire with someone that can barely speak English is a recipe for disaster.

Being a grunt is much, much harder than pointing and shooting. If even a small part of the "well oiled" machine doesn't function quite right, people die. Very critical.

Cheers Fanta

The way I see it if they make the ultimate sacrifice and place their lives on the line for a country that is not their homeland but they want it to be, good deal.

As for the gang members comment, there are terrorists all over this country and they are white, black, brown, yellow, etc... If you train a militant white supremist to kill, you are doing the same damage as training a street gang member to kill. There is no difference.

When America was a capitalist country, anybody was welcome, no papers required.

When it was still not to bad, 1930 to 1970, there were papers required, but not much.

When America become a socialist nation, it took a lot of sweat to gain a US citizenship.

Now, that it cost a life, it must be near the very end.

If someone wants to fight for a country, i have no problem with them being a citizen. to me, it shows a want. there are other ways to get a citizenship too

Yes, I would believe, unlike some, an Illegal who would care to have this country as his own, would take the initiative and discipline to learn what is needed to be infantry. I, unlike some, don't think they are too dumb to learn. Just because they come from a third world country, doesn't mean they are stupid.
If, just if, they were to be offered the opportunity to serve this country and gain citizenship, it would be for the pride of knowing, when their tour is done, they have a country to call home.
On a personal note, Mr. Fanta. You may be popular here and know a lot. However, you don't have all the answers and unless you know the group you are talking about, I don't believe you can speak for them or know their loyalties and abilities.

Yes, but it is not one and the same to fight for your country, or to fight to be allowed to call it your country. Former is a sign of a free and proud nation that has no welfare, and therefore, is not afraid of free men, the latter is a sign of socialist gulag on it's last breath, running low on welfare.

Lock and Load Brother!
Follow Me,,,,

Like I said before. This is old news. The call went out early in this Iraqi war.
Very few accepted the call.
A man who would leave his country of birth because times are hard has very little patriotism for that country, and will very seldom put his life on the line for another.
I would just as soon not chance my life or death on someone unless they are just as committed to my country as me.
Fact!

when will they let felon's in the military??????

When they can accept,
Discipline!