Brits serving in the US army

[LastCelt1989]

Hi, im currently serving in the british army, but would like to make a fresh start in the US. I heard of a few brit soldiers joining the us forces and that sounds ideal. I know a lot of us soldiers visit these forums and was just wondering if any (or anyone else for that matter) has any information on this.

Thanks for any info.

[Heinz Guderian]

Hi, im currently serving in the british army, but would like to make a fresh start in the US. I heard of a few brit soldiers joining the us forces and that sounds ideal. I know a lot of us soldiers visit these forums and was just wondering if any (or anyone else for that matter) has any information on this.

Thanks for any info.

Farnan, Lawrence of Arabia and Thanatos will probably be able to help you out here bruv. Post on their walls if this thread gets dropped down.

[Rapax]

Get a Greencard, join. That's it.
Might I ask why though? Why does a British Soldier need a fresh start in the US Army? Did you sleep with the General's daughter or something?

[Beanbee]

You need to resident alien (Green card) or a US citizen to join the army. Also if you do join, your career may be limited due to your previous nationality (security clearence issues). Some general requirements;
http://www.army.com/enlist/requirements.html
I'd say talk straight to a recruiter, ask for a specialist for foreign nationals wishing to join.

[Farnan]

Hi, im currently serving in the british army, but would like to make a fresh start in the US. I heard of a few brit soldiers joining the us forces and that sounds ideal. I know a lot of us soldiers visit these forums and was just wondering if any (or anyone else for that matter) has any information on this.

Thanks for any info.

As Rapax said you need a green card first. Best way to get that is to have family in the US.

The other way is the Diversity Immigrant Visa, and since you are in the British Army you probably apply.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_Immigrant_Visa

Once you get over here you are going to want to find temporary work while you go through the enlistment process.

Note: You will have to restart training and cannot be eligible to hold a security clearance till you obtain US citizenship. All your British military qualifications will not count in the US, though you may be able to keep some of your rewards (you'd have to ask on each one of them).

One of the Master Sergeants here at Penn State is a former Brazilian Army soldier so foreign soldiers do join the US military.

[Heinz Guderian]

Note: You will have to restart training and cannot be eligible to hold a security clearance till you obtain US citizenship. All your British military qualifications will not count in the US

Is this because of that Uranium from Niger and the 45 minutes weaponisation of Chemical Weapons thing again? We said we are sorry.

[Farnan]

Is this because of that Uranium from Niger and the 45 minutes weaponisation of Chemical Weapons thing again? We said we are sorry.

Haha...

It applies to anyone without US citizenship irregardless of what other citizenship they hold. Makes sense when you think about it. Hell you Brits don't even let non-citizens join your military.

[Heinz Guderian]

Haha...

It applies to anyone without US citizenship irregardless of what other citizenship they hold. Makes sense when you think about it. Hell you Brits don't even let non-citizens join your military.

i'm sure we do. We have Irishmen, Fijians, Nepalese, Ghanians, Bermudans who offer distractive fire. We dont like giving them equal pay and benefits though. In fact, i was reading yesterday that Britain may be capping its "foreign" element to no more than 10% by 2012.

[Farnan]

i'm sure we do. We have Irishmen, Fijians, Nepalese, Ghanians, Bermudans who offer distractive fire. We dont like giving them equal pay and benefits though. In fact, i was reading yesterday that Britain may be capping its "foreign" element to no more than 10% by 2012.

I mean the main British Army, I forgot about the Irish, but you got to be a British or Irish citizen (maybe commonwealth I forget) except for some special regiments.

Either way you can understand why we require citizenship to get a clearance.

Close to topic, I know two people with dual British/US citizenship in ROTC...

[Yorkshireman]

i'm sure we do. We have Irishmen, Fijians, Nepalese, Ghanians, Bermudans who offer distractive fire. We dont like giving them equal pay and benefits though.

If they join the British army they get the same pay as every other soldier, the same training etc, they're not colonial cannon fodder anymore.

If your thinking of the Ghurka pensions fiasco though I agree, twas a disgrace, hopefully rectified now.

i agree on the 10% cap though, it's not the foreign legion.

[Каие]

Hi, im currently serving in the british army, but would like to make a fresh start in the US. I heard of a few brit soldiers joining the us forces and that sounds ideal. I know a lot of us soldiers visit these forums and was just wondering if any (or anyone else for that matter) has any information on this.

Thanks for any info.

Why are you leaving Britain and the Army? If you want to continue military work try out some private security company's, such as Blackwater [If you go to the US].



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Haha...

It applies to anyone without US citizenship irregardless of what other citizenship they hold. Makes sense when you think about it. Hell you Brits don't even let non-citizens join your military.

Actually a good 10% of the British Regular Army is foreign, from the commonwealth. In fact that number rose from just 500 in 2000 to well over 7,500 now. It has even got the Army scared, and in order to protect it's 'Britishness' their numbers are being capped at 10%. [Although this would not affect the Ghurkas] Seriously, sometimes I wonder whether the British army command are complete fools, when they regularly complain of lack of manpower...they are also busy reducing numbers as much as possible.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...monwealth.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...icle589974.ece

[DisgruntledGoat]

Why are you leaving Britain and the Army? If you want to continue military work try out some private security company's, such as Backwater [If you go to the US].

If I was to give my thoughts on this I say kb is spot on the money. If you have experience in the British army you will make MORE money with better benefits joining a private security firm. Although before doing that I suggest viewing the film "Shadow Company" which follows the story of private security contractors in Iraq.

[MKT-Smokescreen]

Seriously, sometimes I wonder whether the British army command are complete fools, when they regularly complain of lack of manpower...they are also busy reducing numbers as much as possible.

They don't complain about a lack of manpower, they complain about a lack of equipment because they need more armoured and fast ground vehicles, and helicopters.

The reason they are cutting back on personnel numbers is basically because the current administration is useless.
It runs the country like a business - or rather, it pays private advisory firms to tell it how to do that - so it basically just fires people.

Of course, the fact that the British government has a National Health Service to run doesn't really help on the military-budget front. . .

EDIT - actually, the British military does complain about not having enough men but what military doesn't do that?
Basically, my initial point was equipment for the men the Forces currently has is needed more than a boost in manpower.

[Каие]

Indeed, I do not see the loyalty he would have to the USA [if he's wiling to abandon the UK and his own country's army] therefore I assume he likes military work, but no longer enjoys life in Britain. There PSF is the way to go. There are some British ones if you are interested too.

[Каие]

Her are some British PSC if you are interested.

Aegis International [by far the best and oldest]
Sandline International

[Rapax]

You might be getting ahead of yourselves guys. You don't even know what he does in the Army, he might be a mechanic or a clerk for all you know. No sense in suggesting he apply to companies that preferably take ex-commandos and special forces.

[Hansa]

Well, its not British but more or less the same thing. I knew a Norwegian who was considering joining the US army or Marine corps (think it was the latter) he had experience with Norwegian mandatory military service and was in contact with US recruiting officers online. The reason he wanted to join was that he wanted full combat service and if he was in the Norwegian regular forces he would only be fit for peacekeeping, (offensive military action is reserved for SFs which require extreme levels of fitness and training), he had already been in Iraq for a 6 month tour though, but anyways he was told my the yanks that he would be fit for sending more or less straight to Iraq due to the level of military training he had already received. I strongly suspect this would apply for the Brits aswell if one has experience in the British army. The guy I am refererring to had 18 months of training plus 6 months in Iraq, Brits server for 4 years unless I am mistaken.

[Fianóglach]

Have you thought of Canada? It would be very easy to immigrate to Canada from here, especially with Military service. I know when I get out, that's where I'm headed.

[Father Jack]

Have you thought of Canada? It would be very easy to immigrate to Canada from here, especially with Military service. I know when I get out, that's where I'm headed.

I agree, its a commonwealth country so joining the Canadian army should be alot easier compared to the US. You can also still fight for the crown in Canada if you wish to retain such loyalties.

[HorseArcher]

I was a green-card guy when I applied to the US Army ('95). If you really want to join the army, well...try contacting an army recruiter, then tell them that you want to join. They might give you some help advancing that green card. They need soldiers like a cup of water in the Sahara. Just make sure you think it through of the journey you are about to embark......hehe, you'll become a government property. Civilian punch you in the face during your period, can be charged for vandalizing government property.

I've met british troops during my time...you guys eat some weird for chow..