Can non-citizens apply for military IT jobs?

I'm not a U.S. citizen but I'm interested in working in IT within the military. What are the qualifications for non-citizens, and are there any specific programs or barriers I should be aware of?

As a non-U.S. citizen, you can indeed join the U.S. military, including IT positions. However, there are a couple of conditions for this:

1) You must be a permanent resident, holding a valid Green Card or equivalent status. Temporary residents, refugees, and asylum seekers, and illegal aliens are not eligible for military service.

2) If you keep satisfactory service and complete basic combat training, you have the opportunity for quick access to naturalization. Do take note, however, that you are not automatically granted citizenship just by joining the Military.

As for holding an IT job within the Military, keep in mind that many IT positions often require a security clearance. As a non-citizen, obtaining a clearance might be challenging, and there are often restrictions that limit non-citizens to low-tier clearances. This might limit the range of IT roles you can hold within the Military, and the kind of work you can do. Nevertheless, you can still serve in a variety of roles and even use the Military's education benefits to further your IT study and training.

There was a program, Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) that allowed certain non-citizens to join the Military and be eligible for expedited citizenship. Unfortunately, this program stopped accepting new enlistments in 2016. As of now, there's no indication of it being reinstated.

Therefore, it is essential to always consult with a recruiter as immigration policies and military requirements can change, and they would have the latest and most accurate info. Good luck!