US Military Offers Citizenship to Legal Migrants to Boost Recruitment

The US military is aggressively seeking out legal immigrants to join its ranks and offering a fast track to citizenship to those who sign up, as it struggles to overcome recruiting shortfalls. The Army and the Air Force have bolstered their marketing to entice legal residents to enlist, putting out pamphlets, working social media, and broadening their outreach, particularly in inner cities. The use of recruiters with similar backgrounds to these potential recruits has been a key element. The program requires changes to military policy, coordination with US Citizenship and Immigration Services, and a careful screening process to ensure there are no security risks.