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Limits in Military Officer Rank for Foreigners?

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BlueTape Since: Oct, 2013
#1: Oct 9th 2013 at 12:16:08 AM

I'm not too knowledgeable about the military, so if anyone can help me out here, it would be very much appreciated?

I hear that some countries offer citizenship to foreigners in exchange for service in their armed forces. If a character were to become a commissioned officer in this way, up to what rank would you say he/she can be promoted to? I assume that he/she can't become, say, a general due to lingering suspicion of being a spy or something.

Take the U.S. Armed Forces, for example. Can a newly naturalized U.S. citizen hypothetically go as high as General or Admiral? Or is it just too much of a security risk?

The story I'm planning is set in a fictional nation, so I can get away with some differences, but I don't want it to be TOO unbelievable.

Thanks for the help.

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#2: Oct 9th 2013 at 7:57:16 AM

There are examples of the Gurka's and the French Foreign Legion where citizenship is offered after x years of service. I would think there's no official ban, but maybe something that's enforced unofficially. I'm sure the US general staff has naturalized citizens.

edited 9th Oct '13 7:58:20 AM by wabbawabbajack

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#3: Oct 9th 2013 at 8:05:42 AM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_militaries_that_recruit_foreigners

Here's one for reference.

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#4: Oct 9th 2013 at 8:50:12 AM

It might depend factors other than trust. For example, the Gurkhas in the British Army were seen as trustworthy as locally recruited British soldiers (quite possibly more so) and pretty highly respected. However there was also a somewhat patronising view of them as a Proud Warrior Race, meaning they weren't often made officers until fairly recently.

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#5: Oct 9th 2013 at 9:07:27 AM

Any citizen of the US can hypothetically rise all the way to the top ranks of the military; there's nothing in the rules preventing it, or limiting rank achieved by whether you're natural-born or naturalized. However, you can't become a citizen by, or in return for, joining the US military — we don't give citizenship in exchange for service.

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BlueTape Since: Oct, 2013
#6: Oct 9th 2013 at 9:20:37 AM

U.S. citizenship may not be automatically granted in exchange for military service. But it is certainly on the fast track to become a citizen. And countries such as France and Russia do exchange citizenship for military service. Not sure if it's only for enlisted ranks, but it's there.

I have read a couple of instances where a naturalized U.S. citizen made his/her way up to General. But in those instances, they immigrated to the U.S. during childhood. What I want to know is, if a fully grown adult left his home country and went straight into the military of another country in order to gain citizenship, could he realistically stick with his military career all the way up to four-star General? Or will he simply not be granted such a security clearance?

edited 9th Oct '13 9:22:13 AM by BlueTape

drunkscriblerian Street Writing Man from Castle Geekhaven Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: In season
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#7: Oct 10th 2013 at 12:40:05 PM

@Maddie: We actually did at one point. The article does not mention when the Lodge Act ended, but it seems to have been around 2004.

EDIT: Appears to have been a short-term thing.

edited 10th Oct '13 12:40:53 PM by drunkscriblerian

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Morven Nemesis from Seattle, WA, USA Since: Jan, 2001
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#8: Oct 11th 2013 at 3:12:50 PM

Service in the US military is not restricted to citizens, though. Permanent residents are also eligible for service, and can be drafted.

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#9: Oct 11th 2013 at 3:46:59 PM

It is generally considered neither desirable nor entirely sane to have a commissioned officer who is not a citizen of the country in question, and is typically only done when a military cannot draw on citizens from its own nation for reasons of education or loyalty.

That said, if you are a naturalized US citizen, conduct yourself well, and pass the security checks...you're a US citizen, and that's all that matters.

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BlueTape Since: Oct, 2013
#10: Oct 17th 2013 at 12:22:48 AM

Thank you for your help, guys. I have a better understanding of it now, I think. I found a Wiki article on a naturalized citizen who moved to the US when he was 14, and went on to become Surgeon General of the US Army.

In retrospect, I should have posted this topic in World Building...

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