Military unit

[JackDp 1]

Hi,

I'm applying for Naturalization (I'm Green Card holder for more than 5 years). One of the question Par #11.15 Form 400 is: Were you ever a member of, or did you ever served in, helped, or otherwise participate in, any of the following groups:

A. Military Unit;

b.c.d etc

The military service in Ukraine is obligatory for males, but as I was in University I chose not to serve in Army, but attend the military classes in the University. Are those classes count as a "Military unit"? The classes in University are equal to duty, but those are just classes, not service.

My intention is to put check mark against NO, but want to make sure this is correct.

Did someone had the similar situation over here?

Thanks a lot!

[JimmyHou 611]

Hi,

I'm applying for Naturalization (I'm Green Card holder for more than 5 years). One of the question Par #11.15 Form 400 is: Were you ever a member of, or did you ever served in, helped, or otherwise participate in, any of the following groups:

A. Military Unit;

b.c.d etc

The military service in Ukraine is obligatory for males, but as I was in University I chose not to serve in Army, but attend the military classes in the University. Are those classes count as a "Military unit"? The classes in University are equal to duty, but those are just classes, not service.

My intention is to put check mark against NO, but want to make sure this is correct.

Did someone had the similar situation over here?

Thanks a lot!

Correct. Had you been drafted, you would need to answer Yes, but you were not. There is a question, however, about millitary training, so it depends on what you were taught in those classes.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Hi,

I'm applying for Naturalization (I'm Green Card holder for more than 5 years). One of the question Par #11.15 Form 400 is: Were you ever a member of, or did you ever served in, helped, or otherwise participate in, any of the following groups:

A. Military Unit;

b.c.d etc

The military service in Ukraine is obligatory for males, but as I was in University I chose not to serve in Army, but attend the military classes in the University. Are those classes count as a "Military unit"? The classes in University are equal to duty, but those are just classes, not service.

My intention is to put check mark against NO, but want to make sure this is correct.

Did someone had the similar situation over here?

Thanks a lot!

That would make the answer "Yes"

[JimmyHou 611]

That would make the answer "Yes"

I don't think he participated in a military unit. He took classes that excepted him from participation in a military unit.

Unless he was assigned to a military unit as part of these classes, then the answer is No. Some countries exempt university students from the military requirement altogether and some require them to just to take a military studies (like military history) class in university.

The other question is related to weapons training... so the OP should answer Yes to that if he received weapons training.

[ExPatty 502]

My response may be worth what you're paying for it, but in your shoes I would personally put Yes there. The instructions say to use a sheet of paper to expound upon yes responses. On that sheet of paper is where you'd explain what you explained here.

Particularly in light of your Yes response to question 19 (you just said you received training in the form of courses), it would seem strange you received military training but were never associated with a military group.

I don't think he participated in a military unit. He took classes that excepted him from participation in a military unit.

Unless he was assigned to a military unit as part of these classes, then the answer is No. Some countries exempt university students from the military requirement altogether and some require them to just to take a military studies (like military history) class in university.

The other question is related to weapons training... so the OP should answer Yes to that if he received weapons training.

Question 19 is did you receive military, paramilitary, or weapons training. It's not "did you receive military weapons training", but rather did you receive military OR paramilitary OR weapons training.

[JimmyHou 611]

My response may be worth what you're paying for it, but in your shoes I would personally put Yes there. The instructions say to use a sheet of paper to expound upon yes responses. On that sheet of paper is where you'd explain what you explained here.

Particularly in light of your Yes response to question 19 (you just said you received training in the form of courses), it would seem strange you received military training but were never associated with a military group.

Question 19 is did you receive military, paramilitary, or weapons training. It's not "did you receive military weapons training", but rather did you receive military OR paramilitary OR weapons training.

You're right about Question 19... thanks for the correction. The answer should be yes.

Question 11, however, is not so clear... the OP can answer this for Ukraine, but in many countries, you are allowed to take classes instead of being drafted. Taking a Military History of the Ukraine class in a university in Kiev would certainly not be equivalent to membership in a military unit. Even taking strategy classes would not qualify...

The OP's original question is about Part 11, Q-15 which says:

"Were you ever a member of, or did you ever serve in, help, or otherwise participate in, any of the following groups: military unit?"

This seems very clear-cut to me... I would answer No since there was no membership, serving, participating of any kind in a military unit.

But it's good that the OP has two points of view to choose from!

[JackDp 1]

well, the answer on question 19 is yes, I will have to explain it on additional sheet, but I was not summoned or assigned to any military units. It's like if you watch Youtube and learn how to shoot the gun, or go to shooting range, so you can say "you are trained".

So, I'm leaning to answer NO on 11, and YES on 19.

I'm also wondering if this YES reduces chances on getting US citizenship.

[JimmyHou 611]

well, the answer on question 19 is yes, I will have to explain it on additional sheet, but I was not summoned or assigned to any military units. It's like if you watch Youtube and learn how to shoot the gun, or go to shooting range, so you can say "you are trained".

So, I'm leaning to answer NO on 11, and YES on 19.

I'm also wondering if this YES reduces chances on getting US citizenship.

Absolutely not. All they want to do is have a chance to ask about the circumstances under which you received such training or served in the military unit. If you are from Egypt or Turkey or Israel or any of the countries that require military service, you may well I have had no choice but to serve in uniform in a military units. These people are naturalized all the time. The US does not consider this a bar to citizenship They do however want to know under what circumstances you served For example if you served in the military in a country where genocide has occurred, you'll be subjected to a higher level of scrutiny to make sure that you had no involvement in what could be considered war crimes. Edited January 6, 2015 by JimmyHou

[ExPatty 502]

Agree with JimmyHou. US doesn't care if you were part of the main armed forces of a legitimate, friendly nation. They are trying to weed out if you were part of some militia burning down villages or fighting on behalf of Milosevic or something along those lines. Many countries have a required draft (e.g. Switzerland), and even if you volunteer it's perfectly fine. it doesn't speak ill of your character at all.