Fewer African-Americans enlisting in the military

A non-citizen can enlist in the military. However, federal law prohibits non-citizens from becoming commission or warrant officers.

In order for a non-citizen to enlist in the military, he/she must first be a legal immigrant (with a green card), permamently residing in the United States. It's important to note that the military cannot and will not assist in the immigration process. One must immigrate first, using normal immigration quotas and procedures, and -- once they've established an address in the United States -- they can find a recruiter's office and apply for enlistment.

The number of foreign nationals enlisting in the U.S. military is dropping, even though service now provides a fast track to American citizenship, an Associated Press review of military data shows.

...

Although non-citizens represent a fraction of active-duty personnel, every recruit matters as casualties mount and more reserves are being called up than at any time since the Korean War. One recent study for the Defense Department, using statistics through 2002, found that non-citizens who enlist were less likely than citizens to leave within the first three years; nearly 20% of them left in that period, compared with 32% of citizens.

Bush pitched citizenship not as a selling point but as a reward for service. Last year, more than 7,500 people already in uniform gained citizenship through the military, the highest numbers since the Vietnam War. But potential recruits who are legal immigrants are less drawn to the offer, noting they can apply to be citizens without risking their lives.

In July 2002, Bush ordered automatic citizenship eligibility for foreign nationals on active duty who joined on or after Sept. 11, 2001 (citizenship also was granted to those who died in war and their families). In November 2003, Bush signed legislation that let all non-citizens apply for citizenship after one year of service, rather than three.

Charles Moskos, a military sociologist at Northwestern University, said he was surprised by the dip but still believes the military will be forced to turn toward non-citizens.

"We can't get enough middle-class kids to die for our country," he said. "This is the next step."