Any Information On Joining The Australian Defense Force As An American With 7 Years Military

Can a foreign national join the British military?

Define foreigner..that means anyone NOT from the colonies and commonwealth and even then you can serve the Territorial Army.I was dumb n drunk enough to sign up.. as a Singapore Citizen mainly because I was already a seafarer n DID MY NATIONAL SERVICE. The local NHS and Fire Dept will gladly take any ex firefighter trained by the SCDF.Point is..I did the tours.. did a little basic as I passed their basic military tests..and was there for the money only. As a crown servant… I was entitled to the passport as I am entitled to pensions etc.Base requirements: Right to abode or on Spouse Visa. Fit and thats it.

Should I leave the Australian Defence Force if I've decided it's not for me?

I asked myself those questions so many times in the past. I loved the Army, but I also loathed the Army. When I joined artillery I was not accustomed to the huge amount of swearing and confrontation going on all day. By the time I left though, I was pretty crass and probably one of the worst about it. Here is a link to an answer about my personal military experience in the event it might help. Tymon Kapelski's answer to What was your military experience like, both during and after leaving the service? I didn't start with a rough personality but I did develop one quickly, then when I changed specialties I had to try to reverse that. It didn't work well.So all said and done, I left the army twice. Once after 3 1/2 years of service and again at 8 years of service. The first time I left turned out to be a not-so-great decision on my part, but the second time turned out to be a much better decision. I went back and forth about it for a long time when my enlistment was up at 8 years, what it ultimately came down to was this: "Can I personally and professionally make it to retirement?" After a good, hard look into myself I decided the answer was a resounding "No". If I had 10 years in I probably would have tried though.Walking away from the only life I knew was really hard. In the end it worked well for me though. I'm happier now and I can see it, everyone I know can see it too. When job situations aren't working out for me and I get frustrated I think "At least I have options, at least I could leave here and go to there if things get REALLY bad and not have to wait years for a change". It turned out the army wasn't for me anymore, and that's alright. I'm happy I did it, I feel a sense of pride about it, but at the same time I'm happy I started a new life without it.

What is it like to join the military when you're 50+ years old?

When I first joined the military, I noticed the pay scale had all the blocks filled in, from O-1 with under 2 years of service, to O-10 with over 26. Looking high and left, I found my first military goal: become an O-10 with under 2 years of service! Alas, I did not make 4-star admiral in my first two years—it was only one of many goals that I was to fall short of.Anyone over 50 that enters the military does so under time of extreme crisis or need. They are likely highly skilled specialists who are essentially drafted to best take advantage of their talents. Pulling people into the military allows greater legal control over them and has been done quite a few times. Mainly, they are industrialists, brought in to oversee arms manufacturing or some technical project. There have been times when medical personnel with specialties have done this, though. They come in as O-6s and serve for as long as they want (usually until age 60).Having read about the eras where this was less rare—I can't imagine today's military having to resort to this practice—the response was varied. Most often, the person understood that they were only in uniform for the convenience of the government and their authority was limited. These people were accorded the respect they gained through their civilian lives and then maybe a little more for not riding high on false brass. Others took their rank to heart and were not treated very well, sometimes getting slapped down pretty hard by those who legitimately outranked them.

Can international students join the US Army and get a green card (F1 visa)?

International students interested in serving in the military may be eligible for a program called Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI). This program allows certain non-citizens who are legally present in the United States and hold critical skills to join the U.S. military. People with critical skills, including physicians, nurses, and experts in certain languages with associated cultural backgrounds, are in great demand.To apply, students should work with their designated school official (DSO) to understand requirements and complete required forms.The Immigration and Nationality Act (I.N.A.) allows people born in other countries to gain U.S. citizenship through military service -- in some cases without going through the usual preliminary step of getting a U.S. green card (lawful permanent resident). The exact legal requirements depend on whether you served during peace or war time.Military members can take steps toward citizenship by serving in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard, or in a National Guard unit while the unit was federally recognized as a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces.Foreign nationals who serve at least one year in the U.S. military must get a green card before they qualify for U.S. citizenship -- but they do enjoy one important advantage. Instead of waiting until they've held their green card for five years before applying for citizenship, they can apply one year after receiving the green card.Some other conditions apply. Their service must have been considered honorable. They must, like everyone applying for citizenship, be at least 18 years or older, of good moral character, be able to show knowledge about American history and government and the English language (written, spoken, and read), and demonstrate an attachment to the U.S. Constitution.Unlike other applicants, you won't have to pay the N-400 application fee. But you will have to complete and file USCIS Form N-426, Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service. This will require input and a signature from a U.S. military official.Read more Military Options for International Students - Citizenship for Military Personnel and Family Members.