Would you enlist in the US Marines if it were open to Canadians?

[TCBF]

"even as I stood on the flight line at FT Hood"

I was in Ft Hood for five weeks in the Spring of 1978.  We did an exchange, and I went from an M113A1 driver in Petawawa, with the 8CH(PL), to an M60A1 driver in Fort Hood, with 3/10 Cav.

They have come a LONG way, and good for them. I bet they could get 5,000 recruits a year out of Canada EASY.

Tom

 

[Pieman]

Insert Quote
Quote from: Pieman on Today at 02:30:13
Would the American tax payers and politicians want/accept a foreign legion?

http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/28732.0/all.html

Doh! Thanks MCG, missed that thread.

 

[PJ D-Dog]

Well, my questions would be:

1) What's the USMC health plan out look wrt gender reassignment proceedures?

Gender reassignment would not be part of the health care plan...sorry.

and

2) Is there going to be a lot of drill? I don't like drill.....

Not sure what you mean by "Natural born", it would rule me out if it means what I think it does. Also, what kind of deal would there be wrt obtaining citizenship and/or a pension after one's contract is complete? What about access to funding for education a la GI bill or whatever it is you call it? Presumably if one is serious about joining there would have to be some long term stability, since I doubt you're looking for guys who join just to "shoot ragheads"? I suppose it would all depend on the terms of service, I wouldn't consider it unless I was offered at least the full set of benefits that US citizens enjoy (I don't think anyone's going to put their *** on the line without getting access to the good stuff   at the end), but I personally wouldn't rule it out on principle alone.

There is  a lot of drill in Marine Corps boot camp.  It is used for many reasons.

Natural born Canadians means born in Canada.  Obviously, all members serving from Canada would have access to all the same benefits that any American joining up would.  As for citizenship, the current law would apply provided the US gives you a green card (which would be part of the idea).  As for pension, if one does 20 years, they would be entitled to the same pension plan as available to all other service members in the same boat.  Education benefits now include 100 per cent in service tuition assistance and the GI bill when you get out.  Curently, the GI bill is set up where you contribute $1000 when you get in (taken out at $100 per month) with a return of $36,000 to bu used when you get out for college.  You can also use the GI bill in service if you need extra money for college that the in service tuition assistance program does not cover.

Health care is 100 per cent while in service for both you and your family.  If you do 20 years and retire,  you still get that medical coverage.  I currently pay 20$ per month for full dental coverage and $19 per month for family health care.  This is a drop in the bucket considering the cost of civilian medical insurance available for civilians.

PJ

 

[Da_man]

Since i dont even agree with the way Bush breaths, theres no way i would join the marines

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Since i dont even agree with the way Bush breaths, theres no way i would join the marines

Gee, and yet you joined the Canadian Army with the Liberal party at the helm.  Glad to see you make a stand, man.  We're proud of you.

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

Well you have to look at it this way...even with the Liberals at least he wants to serve his country and not someone elses.

 

[jmackenzie_15]

"On the same note, if the oppurtunity to serve in Brit Army came up, my answer would probabaly be different."

You realize that as commonwealth citizens, you /can/ join the UK Military right?

I looked into it before.If you are applying from overseas, you need a sponsor in the UK who is a citizen OR
you can simply move to the UK on your own, and apply the next day as a commonwealth citizen.
This was for regular soldiers, not 100% on how it works for officers.

 

[Infanteer]

Would it be "someone else's"?  Anyone who would go South would become a naturalized American citizen and have an equal share in the United States of America.

I don't think the Birth Certificate per se should constrain ones freedom of movement, ability to take their professional abilities elsewhere or necessarily garner their immediate and undying loyalty.  We have plenty of good Canadians with birth certificates from other countries and plenty of "Canadians", born and raised, who don't rate the shoes their standing in.

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

I guess my citizenship means more to me then. I am not saying this to diss the Americans but I would prefer to serve Canada and her needs first. I do not always agree with the decisions made or the choices Canada decides on but right or wrong this is my country.

 

[Meridian]

"On the same note, if the oppurtunity to serve in Brit Army came up, my answer would probabaly be different."

You realize that as commonwealth citizens, you /can/ join the UK Military right?

I looked into it before.If you are applying from overseas, you need a sponsor in the UK who is a citizen OR
you can simply move to the UK on your own, and apply the next day as a commonwealth citizen.
This was for regular soldiers, not 100% on how it works for officers.

No longer works that way for officers.


At any rate, Im a no. I've often wondered why people would do it, besides feeling like the US values match ones own.

 

[Infanteer]

I guess my citizenship means more to me then. I am not saying this to diss the Americans but I would prefer to serve Canada and her needs first. I do not always agree with the decisions made or the choices Canada decides on but right or wrong this is my country.

No, you're right - and this is a perfectly reasonable opinion.  I just think that citizenship is far more then a birth certificate.

Let's put it this way; I'm sure we would be happy to see someone leave Rwanda or Indonesia to avoid violence and come to Canada, perhaps choosing to serve in the Forces when he arrives.  Is this any different then seeing a Canadian move South - are these people not also free individuals going to where they perceive the greatest opportunity to be?

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

Let's put it this way; I'm sure we would be happy to see someone leave Rwanda or Indonesia to avoid violence and come to Canada, perhaps choosing to serve in the Forces when he arrives.

Agreed. I think we both see it as someone trying to leave a bad situation to improve their lives and possibily that of their family.

  Is this any different then seeing a Canadian move South - are these people not also free individuals going to where they perceive the greatest opportunity to be?

I disagree here though. In your above example, the hypothetical person is leaving to avoid violence or maybe some other factor( faminie, natural disaster, rebirth of the Smurfs). Although the above can happen here and will most likely will in the future, to do so IMO makes one no better then a mercenary. You want to serve in another nations military, all the power to you but in my opinion you should lose your citzenship. Hypothetical situation for those that would consider this. What happens if the day ever comes when/if relations get so bad between our country and one you are serving. Would you continue to serve in that countrys military even though relations have soured so much that trade sanctions have occured and there is tension or would you violate your contract to come home?

 

[TCBF]

If a Canadian entertainer, doctor, professor, scientist or nurse can move South for a better career, why can't a Canadian Tank Commander or Herc Pilot?

If the fact that fighting for democracy and liberty is best done - at the moment - in a uniform other than ours makes you uncomfortable, just answer the paragraph above by itself.

Tom

 

[B.McTeer]

Canadian Born and Canadian raised, I hope to serve in the Canadian army soon

 

[canadianblue]

I might consider joining the US Marine Corps, but I doubt I ever would. First of all, my main goal is to become an MP, and from what I've heard the Canadian MP's here are more sophisticated, better trained, and better equiped then our American counterparts. Plus I would like to get on to CFNIS one day, so thats the route I'd like to take. Plus even though I hate the Federal Liberals, I still want to serve this country I was born in.

 

[civvy3840]

I was born in Canada. Live in Canada. And I will be serving Canada as soon as I'm 16 (hopefully).

 

[winchable]

Serve where your interests are best represented and you feel most comfortable and where you believe you'll perform your best I say, when it comes down to it some people people (a sizeable number I would wager) would opt to join the USMC for whatever reason.

Any altruistic notion of serving the country I was born in (not even born here either which I realised as I typed that) took a back seat at some point to other things in my life, and when it boils down to it, yeah it's about me, me me me.. sorry I suppose I'm selfish, but it's my career, my life and my arse.

It won't be the US for me because of my already Dual status (and it wouldn't be anyway because as I said, you should serve that which represents you) but I would opt to serve elsewhere. (The UK)
Not for any Rambo-like reason or high notion of super cool fun stuff (The grass certainly ain't greener) but when it comes down to it, it's about where I feel at home and where I feel myself best represented by the ethos and ideals of the people above me.
So in that sense, yeah, I guess I should have my citizenship taken away, I'd give it up if it would make everyone here sleep a little better.

We're all on the same team (or we're supposed to be), and the USMC/RM whathaveyou represent a step/level in the combat arms that's been taken away from Canadians willing to serve and who want that extra bit of umph from the getgo.

So..yes I wouild/am but not exactly.

 

[I_am_John_Galt]

Also, what kind of deal would there be wrt obtaining citizenship and/or a pension after one's contract is complete? What about access to funding for education a la GI bill or whatever it is you call it? Presumably if one is serious about joining there would have to be some long term stability, since I doubt you're looking for guys who join just to "shoot ragheads"? I suppose it would all depend on the terms of service, I wouldn't consider it unless I was offered at least the full set of benefits that US citizens enjoy (I don't think anyone's going to put their *** on the line without getting access to the good stuff  at the end), but I personally wouldn't rule it out on principle alone.

IIRC, as it stands now "Enlisted" recruits require only Resident Alien status, and time in can be used for naturalization: sometime recently (post 9/11, anyway) Bush granted Citizen status to all(?) (then) currently-serving Aliens ...

 

[PJ D-Dog]

IIRC, as it stands now "Enlisted" recruits require only Resident Alien status, and time in can be used for naturalization: sometime recently (post 9/11, anyway) Bush granted Citizen status to all(?) (then) currently-serving Aliens ...

Just to clear the terminology up (because it confused me when I first came here), the resident alien status card is actully the infamous green card (no longer the color green).  The official name of the visa is the I-551 legal permanent resident.

This visa is a requirement when it comes to naturalization.  President Bush, in 2002, signed an executive order authorizing any member of the US armed services to be naturalized through a steam line process without requiring the minimum three year residency that the law stated.  In short, if you have a green card and join the US military, you can be naturalized within six months from the time you apply for naturalization.  It is still not automatic, you have to apply for it, if you want to be a citizen.

The big difference between a permanent resident and a naturalized citizen, is that you can vote as a citizen but you can't vote if you have a green card.  There are some other obscure rights you get through citizenship but the biggie is the right to vote.  Hope this helps.

PJ D-Dog

 

[SHELLDRAKE!!]

The entire idea of "joining foreign militaries" is kind of a sticky point with me.When I was 14 , I bugged american recruiters endlessly to figure out a way to get me into the marines when I was of age.Why marines?What else does a canadian kid see in movies and shows?I didn't have a clue what the CF was like but I didnt care about my birthplace as long as I could be like them guys on tv.

  A quick search of this forum and you will see a lot of examples of canadian youth looking for the quick fix.SAS,JTF,SEALS.Everyone has goals and should strive for them but IMHO the proudest part of my dress uniform is the word CANADA.

  Should Canada ever dissolve I dont think I could be in any other millitary, for the simple fact you then become a fighter for the best job offer and not a fighter for your birthplace and famillys home.

  Just my opinion that is.