The United States Army, Air Force and Navy began a recruitment programme for legal migrants, including those from Kenya, after a recorded shortfall in the number of American applicants for the 2023 recruitment.
According to a report by the Associated Press on Sunday, June 11, the programme targeted job seekers who were looking for additional benefits including education, training and US citizenship.
The American Defence Ministry noted that it was conducting the recruitment through advertisement campaigns, social media and recruitment representatives deployed in different locations.
Air Force Major General Ed Thomas explained that many of the youth in America failed to submit applications to join the forces because they preferred higher-paying corporate jobs.
Further, he noted that the young American population avoided the risk of injury that service in the US defence presented.
“Young people are less familiar with the military and are more drawn to corporate jobs that offer comparable education and other benefits.
“They want to avoid the risk of injury that service in defence of the United States may bring. Also, very few meet the physical, mental and character requirements to join,” Thomas stated.
When applicants are enrolled in the programme, they begin basic training because all the paperwork and other processes begin. They undergo a seven-week training and are sworn in as citizens of the United States after the training period is complete.
Major General Thoman added that their biggest challenge was to identify and reach the immigrant population and to help them navigate the recruitment applications and procedures.
The first group of 14 legal migrants who went through the programme graduated from basic training and were sworn in as new citizens of the United States in April.
“They included recruits from Cameroon, Jamaica, Kenya, the Philippines, Russia and South Africa. As of mid-May, there were about 100 in basic training who had begun the citizenship process and about 40 who had completed it,” the report read in part.
How to Apply
The first step to securing the opportunity is to become a legal immigrant to the United States, meaning that one has to relocate permanently by obtaining a green card that allows for unrestricted employment.
This is done by going through the appropriate visa application process and obtaining approval from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
While applying for the green card, a background check is done and one is expected to submit police reports and answer questions about past convictions among other questions.
Once you become a US immigrant, according to the US government website, you can apply for the military by contacting a military recruiter through the website of the selected branch.
The US government further details that everyone interested in enlisting must take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).
“Each branch sets its own minimum score to join. Your score will help decide which jobs you can do after you enlist,” it explains.
