New Delhi :
In a bid to boost recruitment in the US military, a new program offers fast track citizenship to immigrants who join the armed forces.
This initiative has opened doors for individuals like Esmita Spudes Bidari, a young woman from Nepal,
whose dream of joining the military seemed out of reach until she connected with an army recruiter named Dallas through an online group.
With the number of legal immigrants joining the US military on the rise, the program aims to attract more individuals seeking job opportunities, education,
and proper training in the United States while providing them with a path to US citizenship.
The US Army and Air Force have faced challenges meeting their recruitment targets, and even the Navy is expected to see a decline in recruitment numbers this year.
Many young people, unaware of the benefits and opportunities in the military, tend to opt for corporate jobs, which they perceive as more profitable and less risky.
Furthermore, a significant portion of potential recruits fails to meet the physical, mental, and character criteria set by the armed forces.
To address these recruitment issues, military recruiters have turned to social media, targeting specific countries to spread the message about the benefits of joining the military and offering permanent citizenship opportunities.
Last year, 10 countries were selected for recruitment efforts, and this year the Air Force has also joined in recruiting individuals from other nations.
Successful candidates who take the oath of citizenship during their training process begin their path toward becoming American citizens.
Under the new program, immigrants admitted into the military immediately initiate the citizenship process alongside their military training.
Chicago’s Recruiting Battalion alone has already facilitated the citizenship process for 70 individuals who joined in the 2022 budget year, with 62 more slated for citizenship before the end of 2023.
Overall, there has been a significant increase in Army recruitment, with approximately 2,900 recruits during the first half of this budget year compared to 2,200 during the same period last year.
Jamaica has seen the largest number of recruits, followed by Mexico, the Philippines, and Haiti.
Recently, individuals from Nepal, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic have also joined the growing list of recruits.
