As a Mavni solider myself i have a medical degree from my country in Africa, an MBA from a university here in phoenix and a license in health insurance from Arizona department of insurance, i have worked with one of the largest health isurance company helping seniors enrol in medicare plans and affordable care plans also i have worked as a pharmacist helpdesk agent processing everything from prior authorizations for doctors procedures, medications and medical supplies for many americans .
i have been vetted by the center for medicare and medicaid service and my state department of insurance with no issues.
Though i have not been discharged, my investigation seems not to be progressing as not even my senators and congress woman can get an answer on my background check from the army.
I believe we MAVNIs have so much to offer to this country if they let us.
No dirty trick is beneath this administration.
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Prevention is better than cure!
The way some foreign-born corporate employees have indulged in illegal technology transfers from the US companies makes it imperative for the US Army to be extra-alert.
We can't live with the risk of sleeper-agents among us. Can we??
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I present a 'MODERATE' risk for national security due to foreign ties that my parents are living in South Korea.
-Could anyone please enlighten me what's the difference between cleared people with foreign ties and I
Also it is risk to communicate with non-US citizens from China. I came to the States for college degree and met many friends from China. They all have legal status, some have green card. I usually communicate with them once a month for 'dinner' or 'playing game'.
-Could anyone please enlighten me how Chinese-born Chinese got cleared?
DoD also suspects me because I state "I want to become Army special force or officer after the first contract ends IF POSSIBLE. It seems like having dream of becoming officer can be security risk.
-Could anyone please enlighten me what's the difference between former MAVNI who already became Army officer and I.
MAVNI from China, enlisted in 2015, with 3-year mark just around the corner, is now typing his story here. I hope New York Times can hear my voice, and so will America, the country I love.
Both my parents, together with myself, are strong believers of America, the hope, justice, and light of human beings. I came here in 2013 but didn't know about MAVNI until early 2015, when my dad told me about it:
"Everybody will die eventually. But most die for nothing. What makes a life meaningful is to die for something - the justice of human being."
With what he sad, I signed up in late 2015 and took my oath that I'm willing to pick up a weapon to defend the flag in front of me, against all enemies, including the country I was from, with my life. However, as a lot of other fellow MAVNIs, I have been hold against from being shipped to training until now, for the ridiculously long security check.
During the 3 year waiting, I never thought of going back to China, since my life will be in danger. I will suffer persecution from the country which I took the oath to fight against.
The security check conducted on us is not only ridiculously long, but also works against the purpose of MAVNI program.
But I still believe in America, the greatest country in the world, thought it's not perfect and its imperfection is working against people who believe in it.
America, please hear my voice, please don't let down people who are willing to defend you with their life!
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Why is the military expelling legal immigrants? The article states that these are legal immigrants looking for a way to gain citizenship quickly. Not sure what 'fast track' means, but if they are legal they should be allowed into the military if they choose. This is very bizarre; any more to the story?
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These are people on non-immigrant visas (work/study/business/travel etc that do not automatically lead to a green card).
Fast track, means that once the US mil petitions for a green card based on special skill or ability, applications are expedited.
Moreover such green card holders also are eligible for citizenship much sooner than the standard 5 years of residency.
I am sure that people with special skills can get a job with many of the mil contractors or civilian companies that not only will pay very well but also will petition for work visa/GC. It might take a bit longer and more paperwork but it’s not an automatic deportation.
The military, that is already bloated, is not the only employer out there. Let’s stop the outrage and consider the facts.
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Truly a sad case of the US Army not holding up their end of the contract. An embarrassing breech. If the military had enlisted these people they need to fulfil their end of the contract. The Us Army should have done their research before giving any individual an option to sign an enlistment contract. If they do back out, the Army should pay these individuals the appropriate compensation.
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Immigrants or illegal aliens?
I'm a MAVNI. I feel betrayed by the US Army. Rather more so by the mindless bureaucrats at the helm of the federal agencies involved. I made a promise to serve America by willing to risk my life and limb so as to earn her citizenship. I've wasted 2 productive years of my Life in limbo without the ability to work. I'm a Lincensed Pilot and Flight Instructor as well. On paper at least. What a shame. All of us MAVNIs have been treated like dirt for too long, shortchanged like no other.
Many MAVNIs are highly qualified as Ph.Ds, Doctors, Engineers, Researchers, Athletes, "US Army Soldier of the Year", and I am a Pilot. That should not make me a security threat arbitrary. It is a great misfortune and tragegy that 9/11 happened. I share in that grief like any other good and upright human being.
And we are Enlisted grade Soldiers with jobs like wheeled-vehicle mechanics NOT requiring the Top Secret clearance. In truth we are Officer grade material.
SHAME ON the people at the healm involved with the recent mess they've made in this. It's Our LIVES that is made a mockery of on this end of the line! Do they realize this??
Talk of soldier morale, phaa. I've had a tremendous boot camp on that having sustained and kept it up for the last 2 YEARS. Being simply asked to sit on the side and "stare at the wall".
I've seen first hand, at a great personal cost, that INCOMPETENCE runs rife all across the planet, not just the country of my birth.
God Bless America.
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The US has one of the biggest military operations in the world. It also attracts hordes of prospective recruits- more than it needs and certainly more than it can handle.
There could be nothing against the immigrants per se- they might be upstanding and admiring citizens of this country, but their family ties to foreign countries could be an issue as foreign gov will coerce their family members into service.
Luckily, the US army is not in such a desperate need to entertain such risks, and rightly so. Thank you for their willingness to serve. I am sure there are many other ways they can contribute to this great country that they came to love.
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"The problems with the Mavni program are also costing the Army talent at a time when the service is falling short of its enlistment goals." From the article.
.
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Having goals is not a sign of desperation.
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Around 2 years back, I, an immigrant myself caucused for Trump. I have never before misjudged any politician. I am disgusted with the Xenophobia. International student enrollment is down in double digit percentage; the best and brightest do not want to come to the US. Trump's term will do a long term damage to US competitiveness and fabric of society. I do hope others like myself can turn up in large numbers and send a clear message in November.
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@Ben I don't know how you could have missed his anti-immigrant rhetoric, but I'm glad you have come to your senses
I don't mean to be insulting but I would liken support for trump, especially from a member of one of ths groups he slandered durig his hate filled campaign, to joining a cult.
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Meanwhile the army has a huge problem with recruits with ties to white supremacy one group Atomwaffen encouraged members to enlist for combat training to be used in terror attacks, but it's easier to pander to the xenophobia of trump miller and sessions the three stooges of our current government.
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Hard to be surprised that an entity that frequently clears itself of wrongdoing in the face of mass atrocities feels emboldened by the current administration to chase away recruits-of-color. Who knows how much this goose chase is costing the taxpayers? No one, since the DoD cannot be audited. Disgraceful.
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How at least 2 Russian subjects (who are white) of this article are recruits of color? Maybe by color you meant white also?
Perhaps it’s time to ditch that racist outcry on every single issue? Or at least learn to use it sensibly, when it actually is an issue?
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I wonder what Milo Radulovich would say about this article, if he were still alive today?
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@W Thanks for bringing up his name. I was unfamiliar with his story.
Donald Trump is a threat to national security as are any number of Congressional Republicans.
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If you read the article closely enough you will notice that some recruits were stalled in 15/16/17, still under the Obama administration.
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@Frank Savage I did read the article closely but perhaps you should read my comment more closely since I refer to Donald Trump etc.
Well that was before trump became president. Duh
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On the other hand...There are many seriously evil countries/governments/groups of people that will infiltrate where ever and whenever they can....AND our security vetting process is NOT PERFECT.....so maybe giving the military and our government the benefit of the doubt is warranted here.
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A young guyfrom india, who swore to defend this country at any cost.he gave his life’s precious 2 year and still in limbo by waiting. 2 biggest federal agency gave him suitable for clearance with highest grade. He was happy and he thought this might be it one last interview and he would be good to go. Interviwer failed him just because soldiers’s mom and dad resides in india with no government affiliation and they really dont want to come usa just because they are old and they have language barrier.
This is stand the stand for dod to dismiss.if it is i would happily take discharge
But I promise whenever I become us citizens i will join army again and serve this great nation.
Thats my dream now...
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The parents might not have any foreign gov connection now, but how can you be sure that they will not once the foreign gov finds out their child serves in the us army? Foreign govs do go to extreme lengths to coerce family members into their service.
These and other risks that the us army can’t control and apparently chooses to act on the side of caution.
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@Frank Savage I read ypur multiple comments where you seek to defend this indefensible waste of time and money. These recruits served honorably and were discarded to satisfy trump.and his xenophobic base..We should all be deeply ashamed.
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@Frank Savage There are a lot of soldiers who have foreign ties in the US military. What do you think of them?
Have the geniuses in DOD who though up this "ethnic cleansing" of the military thought of a plan on how to replace them? Mavni was created to get recruits with those skills vital to the efficient functioning of the military. This isn't DOD shooting itself in the foot, this is DOD shooting itself in the head.
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I am an Army veteran who held a TS-SCI clearance. I was intrigued by the headline and started reading it expecting anti-immigrant bias introduced by Trump. By the end of the article I realized this is just typical Army thinking. You haven't met a mindless bureaucrat until you have been in the Army. I feel for those recruits but not because of their immigrant status but because of their trying to talk logic to the Army. Talk about PTSD.
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There isn't one thing that Donald Trump has done that hasn't repulsed me. I can now add another one.
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These bureaucrats in the Army are a disgrace to their country. I think this is grounds for their dishonorable discharge.
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Sounds like a cascading set of problems that began when the DoD ended the Mavni program. Who ended the program? Why specifically was the termination approved? 2016 is a rather vague timeline to assess accountability. Trump may or may not have been elected. He certainly hadn't taken office. The problem likely predates the Trump administration by a long margin. The emails simply represent an unethical solution to a preexisting mistake. You don't typically end military programs; you wind-down military programs.
Again though, why was the program terminated? We don't know. For all we know, the DoD has extremely credible security concerns. The public is only now witnessing the consequences of a harsh policy reaction. We still don't know the nature of the original concerns though.
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Our military has so many restrictions and self-defeating restrictions imposed on it, not to mention social engineering feel-good edicts, that its a wonder it can function. Let alone fight a major ground combat war that involves actual close combat when the expensive stand-off weapons are exhausted. Hope we never need to find out just how hollow it ( Military) is today either.
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@Moe Def: You are insulting all those service s men and women who have died or been maimed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Shame on you.
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@Jeff
Nonsense! If anything I am saying what needs to be said instead of syrupy patronizing garbage they are being fed today , always telling the military how wonderful they are! 99.5% of the citizenry do not bother to serve in this “ volunteer “ lashup! We need a limited draft, desperately for the country’s sake..
Expel??? Immigrants who join the military are putting their lives on the line for a country that is not (yet) their own. this should be one of the guaranteed paths to citizenship for those who serve honorably!
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This situation makes me sick to my stomach! These people have been entrapped by the Army and because of the actions of some anti-immigration zealot are now possibly facing deportation and possible imprisonment in the country of birth. How can we Americans live with the shame of allowing such actions to occur, even as they are represented as being on our behalf. This is just plain terrible, even more so for a country born of immigrants.
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@James Burke
read my other post, this treatment of immigrant recruits, who have not yet been to training, is flat out wrong and xenophobic.
but tell me, how were they "entrapped" as you put it? They volunteered with the expectation of getting a fast track path to citizenship.
No matter what you think of these attempts at xenophobic cleansing, the reality is that background checks are necessary, and despite what life is like in the U.S., most foreign nations don't have our extensive organized record keeping. The connections between people, their social media linkages and even any run ins with the law are not always easy to identify.
The point being, it does take time to do the research. The fly in the ointment is this behavior of re-doing the background checks based solely on country of origin instead of on actual reported disqualifying facts surfacing.
The hyperbole of Trump et al is bad enough, we don't need to make up our own hysterical claims to combat the Trumpian hate mongering.
One comment on the scientist from Nepal, who has developed the way to use solar power to create water: this is, potentially, a wonderful example of how the US uses military spending and research to implement an industrial policy, the same kind of thing it is trying to prevent China from doing. The Pentagon is the US industrial policy.
That aside, these people are being treated shamefully. This kind of action on the part of the military only contributes to the alienation of much-needed immigrants from the US. Over the past two years, the US has sent the message to the world that "other" people are not wanted. Eventually, that message will be received and the US will be much poorer for it.
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xenophobia run rampant.. thanks Trump, you have empowered bigots to harm our nation, our politics, our society and our military.
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The people in the Trump administration who push these mean-spirited and ultimately self-defeating xenophobic policies are beneath contempt. Few of them have volunteered for service and made sacrifices like these soldiers.
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@MEM 2015 they started this.
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Why don't they investigate the Army people in charge of the "security clearance" program and find out if THEY have committed any crimes?
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How is it that some of us have lost the understanding that America's greatness comes from embracing people, not shoving them away? It's hardly the case that we have an excess of native-born Americans lining up to offer their skills and possibly lives to our military services. These volunteers offer things (even if it's only their presence) that are in short supply: insight into other cultures, linguistic skills, scientific skills (remember Werner von Braun?) If they wish to work for the American project, we should be encouraging them.
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@JMD Excellent points. Well illustrated again today in an article in my local paper about an Indian immigrant who has patented a potentially life-saving cancer diagnostic test: https://www.pressherald.com/2018/09/19/une-professor-receives-patent-for...
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