Friday, May 8, 2009

Queens recruiting center offering citizenship for enlistment

From the Queens Courier:

A Department of Defense pilot program is drawing foreign nationals from all over the country to come to Queens – and join the Army.

The program has a typically obscure military anagram name: MAVNI.

It stands for “Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest,” which is hardly more enlightening. When word of the pilot program first became public, misinformation spread.

Sergeant First Class Larry Nelson, station commander of the Army Recruiting Station at 36-40 Main Street in Flushing, is happy to set the record straight.

The reward is that once in the Army, MAVNI recruits can apply for citizenship immediately. The catch is that if they fail to complete their enlistment, their citizenship can be revoked.

Prospective recruits must be between the ages of 17 and 41; have been in the U.S. on student, employment and other visas for a minimum of two years without having left for 90 days or more; speak one of about 48 specific languages; have at least a high school diploma and pass medical, security and the Army entry exam.

The language list is divided into three priorities, with various dialects of Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Pashto, Punjabi, Hindi, Moro, and other Asian and African tongues listed as “Priority 1” and sought for 40% or more of the MAVNI contracts.

Mandarin and Cantonese, Korean and several other Asian and European languages are capped at a maximum of 30 percent. Spanish is not on the list.

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

What no burritos needed?

The INS should set up shop next door and pick off the rejected illegal folks walking out of there. Bus them directly to the door steps of their consulate for their arrangements to be returned home.

Anonymous said...

That's one way to clear Flooshing's;
F-Liu-xhing's; Frushing's overpopulated streets.

Clap 'em all in the army.

We might wind up with an even larger force than red China's!

Uh...er...how is the drill instructor going to train them properly if they can't all speak English?

Maybe one instructor for Erdu; one for Mandarin, another for Cantonese; then Spanish, etc.

Oh...maybe they're just cannon fodder and it doesn't really matter if anyone can understand the orders given to them!

Sigh...the USA is rapidly sunsetting as a nation.

Anonymous said...

What better way to earn your citizenship then true sacrifice.

I think its a great idea.

They will probably come out of the armed forces with more pride in America then most people that I have grown up with.

linda said...

Do you really think these folks are going to enlist? I doubt it very much. we need to stop allowing people to just come into this country and abuse our rights as americans. I also think it's a good start to the amount of illegals we have, but i don't see them knocking down the doors. The government should pass a law if your here and want to stay you have to enlist first or go home!

Anonymous said...

I think everyone is missing the bigger picture on this post:

A Department of Defense pilot program is drawing foreign nationals from ALL OVER THE COUNTRY to come to Queens – and join the Army.

faster340 said...

They did that back in the 1800 during the civil war. The immigrants would come right off the boat and they would sign up for the army given their uniform and gun and their citizenship! This isn't anything new...

Wade Nichols said...

The language list is divided into three priorities, with various dialects of Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Pashto, Punjabi, Hindi, Moro, and other Asian and African tongues listed as “Priority 1” and sought for 40% or more of the MAVNI contracts.This makes sense. These are the languages the military needs, since they are spoken in the trouble spots around the world. What Samuel Huntington referred to as "Islam's bloody borders".

Mandarin and Cantonese, Korean and several other Asian and European languages are capped at a maximum of 30 percent. Spanish is not on the list.Why even bother trying to sign up Chinese and Koreans for U.S. military service? Proper, intelligent Chinese young men get careers in science or math, not the military. If they do enlist, it's probably so they can get access to U.S. military secrets and send them back to mother China. There's no such thing as a "Chinese-American", only a "Chinese living in America", as I was once told by the later.

Anonymous said...

"Faster 340"...I think you took the movie "Gangs of New York" too literally!

It was based on a book that was mostly fiction.

I'd suggest reading "The History of The Five Points".

I've read both books.

The famine Irish immigrants were desperate for anything including enlistment.

Those who fled from the (I think it was) the Landsdown estate in Kerry wished they'd never left Ireland to come to America.

As bad as things were there they were far worse for them here!

Anonymous said...

"A Department of Defense pilot program is drawing foreign nationals from ALL OVER THE COUNTRY to come to Queens – and join the Army."

See, this makes no sense. Why not attract them to areas that aren't already overpopulated for this program?

Anonymous said...

Just make sure they're not gay.

faster340 said...

Hey Anonymous... I never saw that movie... Maybe I will take a look at it one day...

I happen to like history a little bit...

"1863-Congress passes the first National Conscription Act, which calls for the enrollment of all male citizens and aliens who have declared an intention of becoming citizens between the ages of 20 and 45. Conscripts can be exempted from military service by the payment of $300 or by hiring a substitute. The payment provision is especially objectionable to working-class men, for whom $300 is about 2/3 of an average annual income."

Here is the link to that... http://www.nps.gov/archive/jeff/lewisclark2/timelines/PostExpedition/1861to1870.htm

faster340 said...

Further to my above post - The immigrants coming off the boats didn't have that kind of money. So guess what? "You're in the Army now"... Here's your uniform, gun and papers...

Steve said...

Sounds good. If citizens won't support their own defense by joining the military, the least we can do is offer citizenship to those who will defend us. Or, we can go back to draft...I hear no one (except Al Rangel!) calling for that.

georgetheatheist said...

The Roman army, in the latter stages of the Empire, was replete with Germanic warriors.

The British recruited the Gurkhas from the hills of Nepal from 1815 onward.

linda said...

hey folks go to you tube and watch lou dobbs: amnesty bill provisions... this will really set you off on what this country is trying to pass...

tired that the illegals getting away for years not paying into taxes and they should get a free ride, i don't think so. if they're willing to enlist and serve this country then fine, but if not get the hell out and let's close the damn borders. I would of thought after 9/11 this country would of woke up!

Anonymous said...

These are for non-citizens with visas who want citizenship...

Most illegals don't have visas you biggots so INS can't touch them

linda said...

what! INS should be collecting them and that the damn problem, it's liberals like yourself who don't want the damn government doing anything. They're here illegal breaking laws, not paying taxes and gets benefits which most americans can't. so if you don't like what your reading get the hell out of crapper.

Wade Nichols said...

Most illegals don't have visas you biggots [sic] so INS can't touch themWhat the hell kind of "logic" is this?

Sounds like what you get when you combine the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell's 1984 and M.C. Hammer! (Plus a dose of bad spelling thrown in for good measure!)

Sanke Plissskin said...

Romans did the same thing.

About same the time the Republic folded and their society became permanently stratified.

Anonymous said...

There are non-citizens who are here legally with visas you fools. many Americans work overseas with Visas too, and they are not illegals either.

It is difficult for LEGAL temporary or permanent residents to get citizenship you morons.

This Army option gives these LEGAL residents a path to citizenship while providing a noble obligation for them to fulfill.

They are not targeting illegals because as a former recruiter I know they will be rejected at processing before they graduate boot camp and they must also get a security clearance.

Since they are here legally explain why should INS go after them? Linda? Wade?

Anonymous said...

The article failed to mention that the international end of the recruitment are for doctors willing to go overseas.

The US has a policy that foreign professionals (doctors, engineers) get a fast path to citizenship based on the countries need for these skills. MSN had an article how the US is having a dentist and doctor shortage.

Anonymous said...

What this *really* means is that we can't even get high school drop-outs to enlist in the US military in sufficient numbers. Pretty soon we'll be giving signing bonuses to Taliban members.

Linda said...

Your right in saying some are here on work visa, but when the time expires alot of them do not renew or leave and our government have no way of knowing where they are. So have a recruiting for the ones on a visa, so they can stay here,doubt they get a big turn out. Maybe we should focus more on AMERICANS AND SECURING THE BOARDERS and hopefully when my children grow up and have children there will be SS for them.

panzer65 said...

Its time to bring back the draft!

Anonymous said...

I must have touched "faster 340's" nerve.

He's overcompensating and spouting like "Old Faithful"!

Yeah I know all about the conscription act.

Now aren't you proud that you tore a page from the Encyclopedia Britannica to show off your shred of pilfered knowledge in cyberspace!

And by the way...
my uncle re-enlisted in the army because in the middle of the "great depression" he couldn't find a job!

He's buried in Calverton National Cemetery with honors!

So FU in spades...
the back hoe (shovel) that buried him!

faster340 said...

To the last poster. Sounds like I struck a nerve.

"my uncle re-enlisted in the army because in the middle of the "great depression" he couldn't find a job!"

You are proud of this? He just re-enlisted to get paid instead of looking out for this country's interests. Besides during the depression we weren't even at war. We were between WW1 & WWII...

My father and his brothers were in the Korean war where he received a purple heart for his efforts. I have friends who are in Iraq now doing double tours because they feel they can make a difference. Not because they are getting PAID! And these are people who have had their friends killed right in front of them so if you think it's a cake walk over there, think again!!!

I have family that were in the service of this country since way before the civil war and are buried on battle fields and Calverton as well so put that in your crack pipe and smoke it.

Have a nice day...

georgetheatheist said...

"Its time to bring back the draft!"

The draft is essentially anti-American. It is involuntary servitude. If you love your country, you volunteer to serve. If a draft is needed, what's to love?

Who "drafted" the Minutemen at Lexington and Concord?

There's a shortage of manpower in the US Armed Forces in Iraq?

Nelson S said...

Useless complaining and arguing aside. I think its a step forward towards a more unified fighting force.

Anonymous said...

Most people enlist to get college paid or get a paycheck. The military is primarily for the poor.

Please people don't play stupid and give me examples far beyond the majority

I joined because I blew out my arm and lost a scholarship, not to do what my patriotic heart told me

Anonymous said...

If someone is willing to die in Iraq or Afghanistan and put their lives on the line I think giving them citizenship is the very least we can do.

We need to stop funding generational welfare and help disabled troops get their lives together and avoid homelessness

Anonymous said...

Better tell all the kids of congressmen, doctors and lawyers at West Point that the military isn't for them.

Anonymous said...

On which side "slower 340 "...
the Confederacy?

They probably were "drummer boys"!

ALL OF MY UNCLES SERVED IN WW II !

P.S.
There was no war going on during the "Great Depression" when my uncle re-upped.

He was in the NYPD during WW II...needed on the home front.

You sound like quite a tin horn patriot.

And where did you serve your country...in the men's room at Grand Central Terminal?

faster340 said...

Revolutionary War then in Civil War for the side that won!!!

I didn't have time to serve my country unfortunately. I spent my time taking care of my father who had Alzheimers and Parkinson disease because he had no one else and a very old grandmother. So by the time they passed away which was on the same week 5 days apart from each other I was too old to serve. I tried to enlist after 9/11 but the recruiter said I was too old even though I can run circles around most anybody. So I spent my time taking care of a vet who couldn't care for himself and a grandmother.

Anonymous said...

It is about time that we bring back respect for the military, stop misusing them in ridiculous wars that do not protect our country and honor the real sacrifices that they made.

Before coming to this country and becoming a naturalized citizen in 1947, my father left Ireland, went to Britain and served in the the RAF to help defeat Hitler and to protect the lives of British and Irish civilians living in London who would have been strafed in the streets.

How easily we forget duty and sacrifice. I have more respect for the lowliest buck private protecting our country than all the big I ams selling it out as fast as they can.

Anonymous said...

Yeah...sure..."slower 340"...substantiate your claims or they're just tear jerking pulp fiction!

Sorry my ancestors weren't here for the "Revolution".

They were Italian immigrants...recent arrivals in 1906 so they can't boast your "pedigree" (at least not in the USA)!

P.S. My father had Parkinson's and my father in law died of Alzheimer's.

So if your claims are true please forgive me for I understand your pain well.

Anonymous said...

Linda...

what all this HATE about !!!! are you sure being AMERICAN ?!!!