U.S. to Recruit Nonimmigrants for Doctor, Nurse and Foreign-Language Specialist Roles in U.S. Military

12 Dec 2008

The U.S. Military has started renewed efforts to recruit more foreigners living in the U.S. under legal status to assist in certain wartime duties for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. The U.S. Military is currently facing a shortage of doctors and nurses to provide much needed medical care to U.S. troops and personnel with foreign language skills to assist in foreign countries.

The new program, which would open up the potential recruitment force for the military, has certain requirements. To be eligible under the program, an applicant must have lived under legal status in the U.S. for at least two years as a refugee, asylum seeker or under ‘temporary protected status. Alternatively, the applicant could have been in the U.S. for two years under particular other nonimmigrant categories. In addition, the applicant cannot have traveled outside the U.S. for more than ninety days at a time within the two years prior to the first date of military service.

Doctors and nurses accepted under the new program will be required to serve a minimum of three years of active duty or a minimum of six years in the Selective Reserve. Foreign language specialists will be required to serve four years of active duty. In return for their service, these new enlistees would be provided with an accelerated path toward U.S. citizenship.