OK so i keep seeing that military service should be an option for these people.. I have just a few ideas about that.
Only under certain circumstances should we give illegals the option of staying in the US in exchange for military service. If a program like that was to be put in place there would have to be very specific guidelines or you would see TONS of issues.
If we take 12,000,000 illegals as a conservative number i bet at least 1-2 million of them would want to join the military for 1 year and there is NO WAY the US military could logistically or financially sustain that sort of influx... no way. They would be entitled to Basic Pay, Full medical benefits, Housing or BAH housing allowance, BAS or Basic allowance for sustenance... not gonna happen...
The program would HAVE to be something like this:
1 - limited in scope to say no more than 30-40 thousand men or women per year no more than that - period.
2 - commitment would have to be for 6 years (boot camp + training can take some time and 1 year is a ridiculous time frame) plus there has to be some commitment for the reward at the end.
3 - Applicant must be able to SPEAK, UNDERSTAND, READ and WRITE ENGLISH - we are talking about the US military here where we CANNOT let language cause confusion and get people killed.
4 - must be able to pass same entrance qualifications as everyone else - physical and medical and criminal (cannot be special quals for them).
5 - Would be split up between the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps based on the needs of the service component, which would be decided in a lottery type system (meaning the individual would NOT have a choice) and the individual would have to complete the basic training and school of that service like everyone else. at no time would applicants be eligible for entrance to the US coast Guard.
6 - Since most of the people entering under this program would have almost zero chance of obtaining a security clearance the program could only be used to fill jobs that do not require access to sensitive items, information or areas - period.
7 - all members in this program would be required to Train, deploy, PT, and go to war if necessary just like the rest of us, and be held to the standards of the UCMJ without question just like the rest of us.
8 - all members must swear allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and take the Same oath of enlistment that the rest of us have taken since 1789.
"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."
9 - regardless of education level no member of this program will be granted access to become a commissioned officer in the US armed forces until completion of initial 6 year commitment.
After the member has completed 6 years of honorable service they can apply for (and should be granted) immediate US citizenship. After the citizenship process has been completed they can then sponsor their families on the road to US citizenship as well just like the rest of us.
In order to continue military service member Must re-enlist as a US citizen in given branch of service (retaining all ranks, awards earned in initial 6 year service period). if the member does not wish to gain citizenship they will not be allowed to re-enter military service but shall be granted a permanent resident status with working permission immediately and discharged honorably.
Just my thoughts..
Last edited by agwood (2007-07-01 22:34:49)