can u join air force or navy with conditional green card

[NNRGFDG 0]

I don't know if this is being posted too late but I do hope it helps someone

[naijaboy007 1]

What?

[Adrian-Gloria 43]

We're enlisting tomorrow!

[Yoveeta 36]

Can someone share their experiences about army national guard with me? PM would be really appreciated

[Adrian-Gloria 43]

Update: We enlisted last Friday!

[Nathan99 4]

Update: We enlisted last Friday!

So it takes you 3 months to get enlisted?

[Adrian-Gloria 43]

So it takes you 3 months to get enlisted?

It depends on the situation, it took my wife and I that long since we needed a dependent waiver approved since we joined together. I saw a kid go in one day, take his Asvab the next day and enlisted one day later...

[Nathan99 4]

It depends on the situation, it took my wife and I that long since we needed a dependent waiver approved since we joined together. I saw a kid go in one day, take his Asvab the next day and enlisted one day later...

I see now so do you know if I need a dependent waiver? It is just me joining. And I saw from previous replies, you said we could do ASVAB before receiving the greencard. Is it true and does it speed up the enlisting process?

[JoBri 548]

Sweet deal! Are you an officer or enlisted? I can't see if you're wearing blues or not, so I really can't make up which branch you're in.

That's a good idea of you both being in. She could get her citizenship expedited if she goes enlisted and then commission once she's in. I've heard that if she commissions she'll have to renounce her citizenship. Is that something she's thought about?

I think married couples in the same branch is a great opportunity and a great way to earn some decent $$ besides the rest of the benefits. Keep me updated!

It is expedited if enlisting. Cant get the commission unless US citizen first. Commissioning requires a secret clearance which is not possible unless already US citizen.

Edited November 27, 2015 by JoBri

[Yoveeta 36]

It is expedited if enlisting. Cant get the commission unless US citizen first. Commissioning requires a secret clearance which is not possible unless already US citizen.

who said so? can you provide sources?

[JoBri 548]

who said so? can you provide sources?

Well, I was an officer in the U.S, Army, and getting commissioned required a secret clearance. Prior to receiving my commission through the Army ROTC program at the University of Tennessee we ALL had to apply for our secret security clearance. I am not going to search the regs on that, but I know it from personal experience.

In addition, a higher degree of enlisted positions in the Air Force require a secret clearance than the Army did. My wife was excluded from most enlisted jobs in the Air Force because she was not eligible for getting a clearance since those jobs required her to be a US citizen to get the clearance, so she had to settle at the time for job fields that did not require a clearance, prior to her naturalizing. We didn't have a "source" for that, but that is what her recruiter told her when she was wanting to go into medical.

In just a quick Google search for the Regular Army:

See Army Regulation 601–100

Section II Policy 1–5. Citizenship a. An original appointment as a commissioned officer in the RA may be given only to a person who is a citizen of the United States, per Section 532(a)(1), Title 10, United States Code (10 USC 532(a)(1)). b. Applicants must prove U.S. citizenship by submitting a notarized birth certificate, certificate of citizenship, certificate of naturalization, an FS 240 (Consular Report of Birth Abroad), an FS 545 (Certification of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America), a DS 1350 (Certification of Birth Abroad to U.S. Citizen), a passport, and so on.

and...

1–8. Security clearance a. Individuals must have a SECRET security clearance in accordance with AR 380–67. b. Healthcare professionals, Chaplains, and attorneys may be appointed in the RA prior to completion of a National Agency Check with Local Agency Checks and Credit Check (NACLC), provided— (1) An NACLC is initiated at the time an application for a commission is received.

For Army National Guard and Reserves:

See AR 135–100

Applicants will have as a minimum, a Secret security clearance.

And according to the US Department of Defense, Defense Security Service,

"Non-U.S. citizens do not qualify for a security clearance"

But you can research it further for all the branches. I just know that even for enlisted in the Air Force, a security clearance was required for a majority of available enlisted jobs, and to get the security clearance requires one to be a US citizen. And to get a commission in the US Army required a security clearance, which required one to be a US citizen. I am presuming that the case is the same regardless of branch of service for officers due to the nature of the secure information an officer in general would be exposed to in their career.

But then maybe I am all wrong... haha. I could be... I mostly am speaking from personal experience rather than something I have thoroughly researched to stand up in a court of law. The researching sounds like a worthy project for you.

Edited November 27, 2015 by JoBri

[Yoveeta 36]

From the recruiter I talked to, I understand that secret clearance only needed to some certain jobs, and they just do background check for enlisting people.. From what you wrote it sounds that non citizens can't do much in National guard at all, cause they won't be able to work in most positions..

Thank you for information anyway

[JoBri 548]

From the recruiter I talked to, I understand that secret clearance only needed to some certain jobs, and they just do background check for enlisting people.. From what you wrote it sounds that non citizens can't do much in National guard at all, cause they won't be able to work in most positions..

Thank you for information anyway

It depends on the branch of service when enlisting. In the Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve, there are more jobs available that don't require a secret clearance when enlisting. In the Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve, there are more jobs requiring a secret clearance. I am guessing that such is the case in the Navy and Navy Reserve as with the Air Force.

When my wife went in the Air National Guard, the recruiter said that the jobs available for her were limited because of not being able to obtain a secret clearance since she was not a US citizen yet. So she went into Services, which is things such as working in the dining facility as a food server, or handling the remains of the dead, or operating billeting and the gymnasium facilities. In the Army (I was in the Army both enlisted and then as an officer) most jobs at the time did not require a secret clearance.

My wife currently is finishing her nursing degree and she already is a US citizen, so she plans on going through the OCS (Officer Candidate School) and transferring to the medical group as a nurse/officer. Hopefully she will be able to become a flight nurse at her unit.

One additional thing... When she first enlisted, she was told that if she wished to re-enlist after her time was up she would have to be a US citizen for re-enlisting.

[NikLR 13,228]

I totally agree with JoBri.

When you go into the military it's important to find a job you like but also one that you can build a career out of, if you leave the military. For instance being the gunner on a humvee isn't going to give you a lot of options later. But my husband, as an electronics technician, was able to get a job in that field after leaving the military.

[Nathan99 4]

It depends on the branch of service when enlisting. In the Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve, there are more jobs available that don't require a secret clearance when enlisting. In the Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve, there are more jobs requiring a secret clearance. I am guessing that such is the case in the Navy and Navy Reserve as with the Air Force.

When my wife went in the Air National Guard, the recruiter said that the jobs available for her were limited because of not being able to obtain a secret clearance since she was not a US citizen yet. So she went into Services, which is things such as working in the dining facility as a food server, or handling the remains of the dead, or operating billeting and the gymnasium facilities. In the Army (I was in the Army both enlisted and then as an officer) most jobs at the time did not require a secret clearance.

My wife currently is finishing her nursing degree and she already is a US citizen, so she plans on going through the OCS (Officer Candidate School) and transferring to the medical group as a nurse/officer. Hopefully she will be able to become a flight nurse at her unit.

One additional thing... When she first enlisted, she was told that if she wished to re-enlist after her time was up she would have to be a US citizen for re-enlisting.

Hi JoBri, I just have one question. Is it easy to get commissioned after enlisting? Obviously, I can't be an officer since I am not a US citizen so hopefully I can join the military to expedite the naturalization and then join the commission.