Hey folks, was just pondering over the idea of joining the military. But there's been this one question that's gnawing at me - do you have to be a citizen to join the military? Would be grateful for any clarifications!
Hi there! I can certainly help with that question. To join the U.S. military, you do not necessarily have to be a U.S. citizen. You can also be a U.S. national, or a lawful permanent resident, as in a Green Card holder. However, there are certain military roles or positions that require U.S. citizenship. For instance, to be a commissioned officer in the U.S. military, you typically must be a U.S. citizen.
It might be worth noting that joining the military can sometimes expedite the process of becoming a U.S. citizen, due to rules that allow expedited naturalization for service members.
Always do your own research as well; each branch of the military might have different requirements or exceptions, and those could change over time. I recommend reaching out to a local recruiter for the branch you're interested in to get the most accurate and up-to-date information. Best of luck as you explore this path!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.