U.S. Military At It's Breaking Point. Considers Foreign Recruits.

There is already a percentage of immigrants that serve in the United States military, and it already fast tracks them for their U.S citizenship. It is also common knowledge that recruiting centers are more often located in cities where poverty is high and unemployment is high. In other words, recruiters are already actively pursuing new recruits that have a good chance of also being immigrants to the U.S., not that all immigrants in our country are living underwaged situations. I do find it ironic that many of those that support the war in Iraq would never consider enlisting, and would also not encourage their children to enlist. I also find it humorous that many, who subscribe to the Republican mantra believe that there are no democrats that serve in our military. There are--it's a pretty equalling amount as well. The recruitment system for our military is definitely 'class driven'. They dangle bonuses at those who come from little, it's very enticing. The bigger problem I see in today's military recruiting system is they are indeed taking in alot more young troops who have the 'punk' mentality. It follows them through basic training and on to their next duty base, and because that attitude doesn't get broken, they make up a big percentage of the troops who are also getting kicked out of the military even before their first tours are up. They need to be more selective, I personally do not feel comfortable knowing my husband has to get deployed with some little 'punk' who uses the military like a welfare check and has no real desire to be there. It's very disheartening to know that there is a percentage of these types of troops serving in our military and taking it for granted.

This is nothing new. I remember during the Vietnam War the US Govt gave a choice to foreign students living in the US to either sign up or return home. A close friend of mine in Colombia had a brother studying in the states and he chose to sign up. He went to Vietnam after training and was killed in action. Needless to say his brother in Colombia was rather upset about it and cursed all Americans...that is until he met me...hehehehehe. I had another British friend here in Portugal who joined the Air Force to make it easier for him to become a US citizen. However, I don't think the US can force any foreigner to join the military services....they can only give them a choice. join and stay or return to their homeland. I still think that if the US needs men/women in the military they should look to the jails and prisons and send those with misdemeanor sentences to boot camp instead of keeping them in conditions that could very well turn them into harder criminals. In the military they would learn to get along, learn to have respect, learn a skill if they don't already have it, get paid minimal wages, and have free room and board to boot. I can't understand why someone in Congress hasn't thought about that....even if it wasn't necessary to build up the ranks.

I think that if they support the war but will not go to feed the war machine or send their family members off to fight then they are cowards who do not stand the courage of their convictions. As for the immigrant thing I think that is just wrong! Now they have to risk their lives again just to get that little green card, I think that that is unfair.

Why don't those opposed to the war go fight against the US? It doesn't work like that.

I don't mind, to be honest. I'm on the fence as far as the war, but if poor Mexican immigrants want to be legal, they should fight for the country. And if someone fights for my country, they are as much of a citizen as anyone regardless of where they were born, so far as I'm concerned.

When you said, that it seams to you that there are lot of people who want other to fight the war for them,you were 100% right. Suporting a war is not exatly the same as to want fight in a war. And recruiting immigrants is no nwe invention. France has recruited foregins in the infameos French Foregin Legion. After serving five years you have the right for Franch citizenship. Spain uses a similar system, although it's not as well known as French foregin legion. And by the way: french used to recruit everyone that were willing to serv and didn't ask questions about the past. So even criminals were able to join the ranks.

Where have you read that? I haven't seen anything like that. But you are right about one thing. People would rather have someone else fight the war for them. My husband was in Iraq for a year. So, I am against the war in general. I think if they really needed people, they'd start the draft again wouldn't they?

My Grandfather gained his citizenship with the aid of his military service in the US, my cousin also went the same route. This is hardly new. As for the voters volunteering, a large percentage of those 54 million voters are past the age of even being allowed to enter into military service, a goodly number of them have already served, and a percentage is unable to meet the physical requirements for service. Those who support a war and are fit to serve and refuse to are those who believe their lives and opinions outweight the lives and opinions of others.

i think majority of ppl who voted for bush are elderly or midlife ppl.so they are to old to fight.i beleive alot of immigrant would sign up if they could bring there whole family to the u.s to get them legal citizenship.but it should be up to them not bush.I hate this war an what its doing to our countries.

Supporting the war and not signing up for duty is all hypocritical American patriotism, as ever! It is just mere propaganda. Again, it is a shame for the so-called immigrants who have rushed to get US citizenship by paying a price to be at the battlefront. I have heard that many of them are Nigerians from Africa. Sad that some of them don't even get to "enjoy" their US citizenship as they end up being killed pawns of the US chess board!

Yeah, that is funny. I was not one of the ones that voted for Bush. As a matter of fact the year he got elected I was debating to go back in or not. If Kerry was elected I would been in the military today, but I decide to stay out because of BUSH.

so now you want the war in Iraq to be continued ?????? we have some great ppl here on Mylot..!

yes american n alied forces r going to break not only in iraq in afghanistan also

Wow where are you getting your information!!!!! If you're not a citizen, you can not join, PERIOD.

It’s a time-age tail. You have it all the time from the younger generation, boasting of themselves that the Army wouldn’t be anything, though if they had to sign up most of themselves would be in the toilet, hiding and relieving themselves.

Hi The problems with having an "All Volunteer Army" is getting the people to "Enlist" When we Brits decided to go this way back in the late '50s there were lots of people who said it would not work! I "Enlisted" in '71 when we had the IRA to deal with! I did three tours in Ireland, and it tends to "Harden" your resolve against Terrorism! The Iraq war is not a "Popular" war in the US, it is not a "Poplular" war here in the UK either! The reason is because the politicians did not tell us the whole truth about WHY we decided to invade Iraq! Soldiers will "do their duty" because that is why they are in the Army! Being Policemen is not why they enlist! There wasnt any problem when the Allies first went into Iraq! We KNEW that the War would be won! You cannot fight the US or the UK or any of its NATO Allies and hope to win! Our technology now is too good!! A soldier who is in the Army because he WANTS to be in the army is FAR Superior to any Conscript army! We Brits proved that in the Falklands Campaign!! When the Argentine Army invaded the Falkland Islands there were 32 Royal Marine Commando's to defend the Islands! There were over 30,000 Argentina forces! The Brits knocked out two of their ships, took out lots of landing craft, and gave the invading army a bloody nose!! When the Task Force was then sent south, we KNEW it was going to succeed! Conscript armies dont succeed!

Very good discussion. I was myself an immigrant in this country but now I am on my path to citizenship.. No I did not join US armey to become one but I do know that US army recruited immigrants and in return gave them express path to citizenship. I am always opposed to having anyone other than citizens in any countries army. Many people in US supported Bush! Actually they reelected Bush.. I would like to call upon the people of Republic states to come ahead and fight the war. Even President's daughter are not in army and so it is much easier for president to say that we need to fight. I feel in US the politicians and there supporters want to fight a war with others help. They do not want to go to the battlefield!! This is unacceptable.

They are doing it since many years infact its all about making a force that is universal technically and all "lly". But again it will go against US so they should rely on the voice of common ppl all around the world, instead of inviting them to join army

that's a good idea. us military will outsource the army in near future ? :-)

I think it is a good idea... something like the french foreign legion for the US would be an excellent idea and would see a huge amount of applicants. It could only benefit the US in my opinion.