4 ms·

If USA can grant permanent residency in exchange for military service, the whole world will flock to the states. Isn't it an instance of mercenerism?

lostlogin 4y ago
> If USA can grant permanent residency in exchange for military service, the whole world will flock to the states. I’m not so sure about that.
- ip26 4y ago
  It’s certainly an exaggeration, but there are a billion or so military age people in the world, and millions of people waiting in the U.S. visa backlog. I would not be surprised if such a program was very popular.
- barry-cotter 4y ago
  You could get enough people to staff all enlisted roles just from the Philippines, no problem. It would be a terrible idea for the US’s long run political stability but most of the world is poor and the US is the richest country in the history of the world. That’s without even talking about how outside war time and even in wartime if it’s an insurgent operation the US military is not that dangerous for anyone who isn’t infantry. And you can get a pension after 20 years. Many first world citizens would take that deal, never mind the wretched of the Earth.
  - jokethrowaway 4y ago
    Is it a real pension where my money is invested and returned to me in 20 years or is it like pensions in Europe, where you pay taxes that pay out current pensions and then you hope the government will give you X money in 20 years (which will inevitably become 30 years and X/2 by the time of your pension age)?
kodah 4y ago
> If USA can grant permanent residency in exchange for military service, the whole world will flock to the states. Isn't it an instance of mercenerism? We already do, at least during war time. I served with someone who enlisted directly from Mexico and was getting citizenship in return. Other militaries do it with us too, for instance the French Foreign Legion and Australian military recruit heavily out of the US.

lostlogin 4y ago

> If USA can grant permanent residency in exchange for military service, the whole world will flock to the states. I’m not so sure about that.

ip26 4y ago
It’s certainly an exaggeration, but there are a billion or so military age people in the world, and millions of people waiting in the U.S. visa backlog. I would not be surprised if such a program was very popular.
barry-cotter 4y ago
You could get enough people to staff all enlisted roles just from the Philippines, no problem. It would be a terrible idea for the US’s long run political stability but most of the world is poor and the US is the richest country in the history of the world. That’s without even talking about how outside war time and even in wartime if it’s an insurgent operation the US military is not that dangerous for anyone who isn’t infantry. And you can get a pension after 20 years. Many first world citizens would take that deal, never mind the wretched of the Earth.
- jokethrowaway 4y ago
  Is it a real pension where my money is invested and returned to me in 20 years or is it like pensions in Europe, where you pay taxes that pay out current pensions and then you hope the government will give you X money in 20 years (which will inevitably become 30 years and X/2 by the time of your pension age)?

kodah 4y ago

> If USA can grant permanent residency in exchange for military service, the whole world will flock to the states. Isn't it an instance of mercenerism? We already do, at least during war time. I served with someone who enlisted directly from Mexico and was getting citizenship in return. Other militaries do it with us too, for instance the French Foreign Legion and Australian military recruit heavily out of the US.