By Via Rate My Hagwon comes this news that US Army recruiting centers are becoming swamped with Korean applicants:
Suk Joon Lee, a South Korean immigrant, feared his days in the U.S. were numbered. His ice-cream shop wasn’t doing well, and if it failed, his investor visa could be revoked.
Then Mr. Lee stumbled upon a Korean-language Web site that described a way out: a program that the Army was about to launch that offered a shortcut to getting U.S. citizenship. The site was created by another Korean immigrant, James Hwang, and it explained in minute detail the steps required to qualify.
“James knew everything about the program, and he wasn’t even in the military,” says the 27-year-old Mr. Lee. In February, Mr. Lee, along with hundreds of other Korean immigrants who had learned about the pilot program from Mr. Hwang, descended on Army recruiting centers in New York to enlist.
The program was authorized without fanfare late last year by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to attract temporary immigrants who speak strategically important languages such as Arabic, Farsi and Korean. The bait: The soldiers could immediately apply for U.S. citizenship, skipping the sometimes decade long process of securing a green card first.
So many Koreans have applied, however, that the Army doesn’t need them all.
Koreans form the largest group among the 8,000 applicants for the program, launched on Feb. 23. Many have excellent credentials, including degrees in medicine and engineering. Almost all are veterans of South Korea’s own compulsory military service.
“The quality of these applicants has been phenomenal,” says Lt. Col. Peter Badoian, the project officer for the pilot program. “But we didn’t anticipate one immigrant community would respond so strongly.” [Wall Street Journal]
Read the rest, but it isn’t surprising to me that Koreans would jump all over this program if it meant getting US citizenship within six months. At least with this program it is legal immigrants that are allowed to enlist unlike some ideas of allowing illegal immigrants to enlist.
I am not that comfortable with allowing legal immigrants to enlist as well because of this historical precedent:
The military historian Vegetius theorized, and has recently been supported by the historian Arthur Ferrill, that the Roman Empire – particularly the military – declined partially as a result of an influx of Germanic mercenaries into the ranks of the legions. This “Germanization” and the resultant cultural dilution or “barbarization”, led to lethargy, complacency and loyalty to the Roman commanders, instead of the Roman government, among the legions and a surge in decadence amongst Roman citizenry. [Decline of the Roman Empire]
If a nation cannot enlists its own people to defend it, it may not be a nation that is worth defending in the first place.
8:23 pm on June 1st, 2009 1
And why aren't there enough Americans to fill military ranks? Could it be that "defending the nation" means being shipped thousands of miles overseas to support pro-US regimes?
9:25 pm on June 1st, 2009 2
The overwhelming demands for U.S service members occurred due to the conflicts of the past 8 years. These conflicts were in direct support of US, not pro-U.S regimes.
Even when it's in defence of our own countrymen, the all volunteer service exposed the embarrassing fact that the call to service and patriotism for most Americans means no more personal sacrifice than posting flags in the yard and a "I Support the Troops" bumper sticker on the car.
How many times have you heard, 'That's why we have an all volunteer service. That's their job.'
For most Americans, military service is considered as not much different than other civil security jobs; like being a cop or a fireman. There is no longer the national sense of obligation for all able bodied men to get in the fight when the country needs them.
Many still do it due to the feeling of obligation, but what we are seeing as a result of the increased demands, have been a greater reliance on mercenary incentives.
10:10 pm on June 1st, 2009 3
First of all the Army is meeting its recruiting needs and has actually been dropping incentives and increasing the number of high school diplomas. However, blaming deployments for how hard recruiters have to work to fill the ranks is the simplistic answer:
http://rokdrop.com/2009/02/15/army-on-track-to-me…
The 17-24 demographic is fatter, out of shape, and has more criminal convictions than ever before. Also the Koreans and other languages are being recruited from legal immigrants because of their particular language capability not an overall shortage in Army recruits.
11:36 pm on June 1st, 2009 4
The good units are still getting and retaining good people. Sadly, some people DO have to call it quits because of strain on family and so on.
Despite some of the Jerry Springer stuff you see in Yongsan, the average Soldier is still the best in the world- and his NCOs and officers are as good or better as anything I had back in the French and Indian War. Good leadership and training will keep a lot of soldiers but the sure way to lose them is to let them down in either department.
11:53 pm on June 1st, 2009 5
If there's a shortage of US recruits, why not recruit from American prisons? Serve in the army and get your gang bang murder conviction wiped off the record.
1:20 am on June 2nd, 2009 6
We have enough of those retards already. You could maybe start a Phoenix type program and get rid of them?
1:24 am on June 2nd, 2009 7
Perhaps it's because not many Americans can speak these strategically important languages: Arabic, Farsi and Korean.
2:13 am on June 2nd, 2009 8
Why not make all potential immigrants who are able to serve in the forces?
Although that may deter Koreans who immigrate (like Steve Yoon) to avoid military service or, in many cases, Korean parents immigrate so their kids don't have to serve in the ROK military.
It wasn't all that long ago that recruiters were having a rough go of it. That may help.
2:21 am on June 2nd, 2009 9
… and too many who do speak the languages are rejected for being gay.
7:04 am on June 2nd, 2009 10
Junior,
After reading about 10 of your comments, I am now sorry that I am not a woman.
If I were, I would be able to get down on my knees and reward you for your rare ability to speak the truth.
GI,
What's up? There has been an unusually high number of spot-on comments lately.
7:29 am on June 2nd, 2009 11
"Direct support of the US"? Direct support of the US what? We could have a long discussion about whether the US is better off six years after the invasion of Iraq and not resolve anything. To wit – if there were no volunteer army and the US had to send draftees to Iraq and Afghanistan, how popular do you think either war would be?
9:01 am on June 2nd, 2009 12
..or having an affinity for donkeys.
9:04 am on June 2nd, 2009 13
But only if we were gay would such an even mark an inspiring milestone in human courage!
9:19 am on June 2nd, 2009 14
Chickenhead maybe it has something to do with the nuclear fallout in the air?
10:16 am on June 2nd, 2009 15
First off. Are our standards now to serve in the military artificially high? I mean we come from a country where a guy that has had a few too many and decides to piss in an alley can become a registered sex offender. A silly ass bar fight can disqualify a person. What are we looking for? Preachers or soldiers? The holier than thou-zero defect Army isn't all it is cracked up to be.
That said: Junior is right, and I'd go a step further. I see no problem with the "service earns citizenship" model (ala Heinlein). As a matter of fact, we should ONLY accept immigrants who can serve a minimum of 3 years. Others: need not apply.
7:05 pm on June 2nd, 2009 16
I'm in support of that. Make the minimum four years though. Four years of service and *poof* citizenship granted. Nothings more patriotic or a more true display of national loyalty then to volunteer and server in its military. Especially during a time where its not ~if~ but ~when~ you will be in a combat environment and risk your life.
8:38 pm on June 2nd, 2009 17
What happens to the guy who gets a severe service ending injury 6 months before his commitment is up?
Or, god forbid, what happens if he/she is killed in action before they complete their commitment? Does the family forfeit their hope for citizenship and have to go to the back of the line or be deported?
There will be got'chas in the unwritten details.
10:55 pm on June 2nd, 2009 18
I have been around Koreans for 25 years, both in the US and Korea and I guess I am somewhat jaded. While in the service the US Army Koreans I knew were all corrupted by black marketing and other shady dealings. In the states, they don't pay taxes, over stay their visas and in general consider the US a place to take as much as they can, rip people off, etc. There is a butt load of illegal alien Koreans in the states now, by the way. Also, because of the Army's quota system oops I mean EO targets, I saw very unqualified Koreans make it to E8 or higher just to meet an EO target, so deserving American soldiers get the shaft. I consider then a necessary evil because of their language abilities. I would keep them in the states rather than send them to Korea to reduce the amount of their takings. The fact that our government would give citizenship away so easily just shows how much it is valued nowadays which apparently is not much.
12:57 am on June 3rd, 2009 19
Good post, I agree 1000%.
Since Koreans have changed so much over the years I wonder how many out of the 48 million S. Koreans would vacate their Korean citizenship to become a U.S. Citizen?