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I'm a married 25-year-old guy with 2 dependents, a wife and an infant child, from Southeast Asia and just won the green card lottery this year. I hold a B.A. in Political Science (International Affairs) and an M.A. in Asia-Pacific Studies (China concentration). I would like to settle down in Honolulu very much. (I lived there twice and love it.)
As we've known that the US economy is in recession and unemployment rate is pretty high. (But it is just a regular cycle of capitalist economy, I believe.) I'm concerning about making a living there very much due to the very expensive rent.
Government jobs are desirable to me but the problem is that it is very competitive. Business jobs are fine to me but the problem is that I have zero working experience in professional jobs. Then, military jobs are in my consideration especially the Navy because I know that the US Navy operations in Asia-Pacific region are so active and it is possible for getting a chance to visit my home country sometimes with the ship. I know from the Navy website that I can't work in submarine or in jobs that require security clearance including all officer jobs. These adminstration/desk jobs are what I prefer: Culinary Specialist, Ship's Serviceman, Personnel Specialist, Hospital Corpsman, Master-at-Arm and Boatswain's Mate.
About my academic qualification, it's not a problem. I already tried an ASVAB short test (without dictionary) on the web and get score by the followings:
Arithmetic Reasoning: 10/10
Word Knowledge: 7/10
Paragraph Comprehension: 9/10
Mathematics Knowledge: 10/10
site:ASVAB
(Is the test on this site easier than actual test?)
I also took an IQ test once on the InstantIQTest.com and I got 145.
Do you think it's hard to get those jobs with my status and qualification? If it is, I'll look for other kinds of jobs. (Please don't discourage me about my migration to the US. The chance of winning the green card lottery is less than 1%. As the chosen one, I won't give up.)
As a former Green Card holder and now a citizen welcome to the US.
There are approx 55,000 (last number I read) Green Card holders serving in the US military. They are slowly being naturalized so in your case it is also possible after the waiting period of required yrs.
After citizenship you could apply for a commision based upon your education and military MOS experience. Each branch of the service will have different qualifications and needs at the time.
I'm a married 25-year-old guy with 2 dependents, a wife and an infant child, from Southeast Asia and just won the green card lottery this year. I hold a B.A. in Political Science (International Affairs) and an M.A. in Asia-Pacific Studies (China concentration). I would like to settle down in Honolulu very much. (I lived there twice and love it.)
As we've known that the US economy is in recession and unemployment rate is pretty high. (But it is just a regular cycle of capitalist economy, I believe.) I'm concerning about making a living there very much due to the very expensive rent.
Government jobs are desirable to me but the problem is that it is very competitive. Business jobs are fine to me but the problem is that I have zero working experience in professional jobs. Then, military jobs are in my consideration especially the Navy because I know that the US Navy operations in Asia-Pacific region are so active and it is possible for getting a chance to visit my home country sometimes with the ship. I know from the Navy website that I can't work in submarine or in jobs that require security clearance including all officer jobs. These adminstration/desk jobs are what I prefer: Culinary Specialist, Ship's Serviceman, Personnel Specialist, Hospital Corpsman, Master-at-Arm and Boatswain's Mate.
About my academic qualification, it's not a problem. I already tried an ASVAB short test (without dictionary) on the web and get score by the followings:
Arithmetic Reasoning: 10/10
Word Knowledge: 7/10
Paragraph Comprehension: 9/10
Mathematics Knowledge: 10/10
site:ASVAB
(Is the test on this site easier than actual test?)
I also took an IQ test once on the InstantIQTest.com and I got 145.
Do you think it's hard to get those jobs with my status and qualification? If it is, I'll look for other kinds of jobs. (Please don't discourage me about my migration to the US. The chance of winning the green card lottery is less than 1%. As the chosen one, I won't give up.)
Thank you
First of all if you have a degree, why are you not considering Officer Programs? Have you spoken to a recruiter? If so did the recruiter indicate the various options available?
Secondly, just because the Navy functions a lot in the Pacific, does not mean you will necessarily be assigned in the Pacific. Your assignments will be dictated by the needs of the service.
You nee dto get in with a recruiter to discuss your options.
First of all if you have a degree, why are you not considering Officer Programs? Have you spoken to a recruiter? If so did the recruiter indicate the various options available?
Secondly, just because the Navy functions a lot in the Pacific, does not mean you will necessarily be assigned in the Pacific. Your assignments will be dictated by the needs of the service.
You nee dto get in with a recruiter to discuss your options.
I haven't moved there yet, and also never met a recruiter.
Is that officer program available for a non-citizen? Does it pay during training?
Are you sure about your second point? If I apply in Hawaii, why don't I serve the Pacific Command?
I haven't moved there yet, and also never met a recruiter.
Is that officer program available for a non-citizen? Does it pay during training?
Are you sure about your second point? If I apply in Hawaii, why don't I serve the Pacific Command?
You're a non-citizen; what's your country of Origin? Yes, I am absolutely positive about not being guaranteed the Pacific just because you are recruited in Hawaii. I just left Hawaii and know many young folks who joined from Hawaii and would have loved to come back home but are sitting over in Norfolk right now. I'm also a former Navy Recruiter; and we had folks who were still citizens of the Philippines and Latin American countries and they enlisted; but none of them came in as Officers without being citizens.
I pulled this off a website (Ask.About.com): A non-citizen can enlist in the military. However, federal law prohibits non-citizens from becoming commission or warrant officers.
In order for a non-citizen to enlist in the military, he/she must first be a legal immigrant (with a green card), permamently residing in the United States. It's important to note that the military cannot and will not assist in the immigration process. One must immigrate first, using normal immigration quotas and procedures, and -- once they've established an address in the United States -- they can find a recruiter's office and apply for enlistment.
Last edited by MovingAloha; 11-06-2011 at 05:56 PM..
You're a non-citizen; what's your country of Origin? Yes, I am absolutely positive about not being guaranteed the Pacific just because you are recruited in Hawaii. I just left Hawaii and know many young folks who joined from Hawaii and would have loved to come back home but are sitting over in Norfolk right now. I'm also a former Navy Recruiter; and we had folks who were still citizens of the Philippines and Latin American countries and they enlisted; but none of them came in as Officers without being citizens.
I pulled this off a website (Ask.About.com): A non-citizen can enlist in the military. However, federal law prohibits non-citizens from becoming commission or warrant officers.
In order for a non-citizen to enlist in the military, he/she must first be a legal immigrant (with a green card), permamently residing in the United States. It's important to note that the military cannot and will not assist in the immigration process. One must immigrate first, using normal immigration quotas and procedures, and -- once they've established an address in the United States -- they can find a recruiter's office and apply for enlistment.
It's good to know that you were a Navy recruiter in Hawaii. My country of origin is Thailand but now I'm a resident of Taiwan (citizenship is still of Thailand).
Even it is possible to be sent out somewhere else besides Pacific, among all military branches, serving the Navy is the most likely to go to Asia.
I did read all the qualification part in the Navy official website. I know that I can't be an officer immediately, and that's why I ask you about the officer program you recommended.
In my understanding, here are the steps I have to do:
1. Arrive in Honolulu.
2. Go to the closest Navy recruiting office in Aiea
3. Turn in an application and all documents required
4. Take the ASVAB test
5. Select which available jobs I'd like to serve
6. Sign a contract and do an oath
7. Go to the Navy Boot Camp in Great Lake, IL, for basic training
8. Go to an "A" school according to the job rating
9. Start the real job on any base assigned
10. Ask the Navy councellor for the citizenship application
It's good to know that you were a Navy recruiter in Hawaii. My country of origin is Thailand but now I'm a resident of Taiwan (citizenship is still of Thailand).
Even it is possible to be sent out somewhere else besides Pacific, among all military branches, serving the Navy is the most likely to go to Asia.
I did read all the qualification part in the Navy official website. I know that I can't be an officer immediately, and that's why I ask you about the officer program you recommended.
In my understanding, here are the steps I have to do:
1. Arrive in Honolulu.
2. Go to the closest Navy recruiting office in Aiea
3. Turn in an application and all documents required
4. Take the ASVAB test
5. Select which available jobs I'd like to serve
6. Sign a contract and do an oath
7. Go to the Navy Boot Camp in Great Lake, IL, for basic training
8. Go to an "A" school according to the job rating
9. Start the real job on any base assigned
10. Ask the Navy councellor for the citizenship application
Is there anything I should know more?
You MUST be a legal U.S. resident with a green card! The military will not and cannot assist you with that.
I can tell you that the Navy as with all the services are being very selective and even U.S. citizens are having difficulty getting in. Those that are selected sometimes must wait up to a year before going to boot camp.
I wish you luck. I absolutely loved my time in the Navy.
By the way, I was a recruiter in Texas. I lived in Hawaii after I retired for over 10 years.
You MUST be a legal U.S. resident with a green card! The military will not and cannot assist you with that.
I can tell you that the Navy as with all the services are being very selective and even U.S. citizens are having difficulty getting in. Those that are selected sometimes must wait up to a year before going to boot camp.
I wish you luck. I absolutely loved my time in the Navy.
By the way, I was a recruiter in Texas. I lived in Hawaii after I retired for over 10 years.
Go back reading the first sentence I wrote about myself. I'm not that stupid and I told you many times that I did READ the official Navy website.
Another thing you will have to consider is you will not qualify for about 1/2 of the jobs in the Navy due to security clearance requirements, unless you have a unique skill. An example of this is speaking several dialects of Chinese at native level. However there are still great jobs available and the Navy is a great service to make a career.
The biggest thing is getting your green card. Once you have this in hand you can begin the enlistment process. This starts by visiting the recruiter and finding out what jobs are available to you and getting you to meps to take the asvab. Once this happens you can select your job at meps and swear you oath. After this it's off to boot camp in Chicago and then A school, followed by C school or to your duty station. During boot camp you can apply to have the right to apply for citizenship. Here are the rules.
Naturalization through Qualifying Service during Periods of Hostilities
Generally, members of the U.S. armed forces who serve honorably for any period of time (even 1 day) during specifically designated periods of hostilities (see below) are eligible for naturalization under section 329 of the INA through such military service.
In general, an applicant for naturalization under INA 329 must:
Have served honorably in active-duty status, or as a member of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve, for any amount of time during a designated period of hostilities and, if separated from the U.S. armed forces, have been separated honorably
Have been lawfully admitted as a permanent resident at any time after enlistment or induction, OR have been physically present in the United States or certain territories at the time of enlistment or induction (regardless of whether the applicant was admitted as a permanent resident)
Be able to read, write, and speak basic English
Have a knowledge of U.S. history and government (civics)
Have been a person of good moral character during all relevant periods under the law
Have an attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution and be well disposed to the good order and happiness of the U.S. during all relevant periods under the law
Good luck.
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New Green Card Holder..............
