Immigrants looking to speed up the process of becoming American citizens can now turn to the military. Although military service has long been a path to citizenship, because of a need for specialists and those with language skills, the U.S. Army and Navy have decided to award citizenship to new recruits before they complete basic training. Those interested must be legal immigrants and be willing to complete five years of honorable service in either branch. If they fail to fulfill the latter, they can have their citizenship revoked.

 

Before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, immigrants had to serve in the military for at least one year before they even began the citizen application process. President George W. Bush shortened the process, but now a soldier can become a citizen during the ten weeks of basic training.

 

According to a U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command document shown to the Associated Press, the boot camp citizenship rule doesn’t just help the immigrants: “Deployed commanders on the ground also benefit as they often require Soldiers with clearances which can only be granted to citizens,"

 

During FY 2010, 11,146 service members became citizens, while 68,974 have taken the oath over the past 10 years.

-David Wallechinsky, Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Army, Navy Add Citizenship Option to Boot Camp (by Susanne Schafer, Associated Press)