Joining a foreign military?

[jacks]

I intend to apply for USMMA and then try and get a flight slot with the USN, when I leave high school but I'm living in Ireland right now and I was thinking of joining the Irish Army reserves.. would I still be allowed to become a U.S naval officer if I previously served in a foreign force?
The Irish army is neutral so no risk of of danger to our country.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Expect a lot of questions about it when you apply for a security clearance. Not necessarily a show stopper for joining, though.

 

[jacks]

Thanks, I'm already an officer in the Irish (civilian) Coastguard, and want weapons training (military is the only way to do it with gun restrictions)..
I'm curious though, is a 3.78 GPA competitive enough to get into a service academy?

 

[BusyBee604]

Thanks, I'm already an officer in the Irish (civilian) Coastguard, and want weapons training (military is the only way to do it with gun restrictions)..
I'm curious though, is a 3.78 GPA competitive enough to get into a service academy?

Jacks, 3.78 GPA very competitive for a Service Academy. As a non-citizen...in a tough economic environment, getting an appointment very problematical.

MilAcad + FltTrng + Service Commitment = ~12 yrs. Lengthy, strange, long-shot route for some "weapons training". Is that your main goal?

BzB, descendent of Antrim Cty Clan Magee

 

[Brett327]

What's your citizenship status? That might be a bigger obstacle to getting a commission in the US military, where sole US citizenship is a requirement.

 

[Schnugg]

Why not apply to Kings Point as a foreign (Irish) student for admission.

 

[jacks]

Busybee, sorry I meant I was joining the Irish army reserve for some weapons training (no service obligation).
It is my ultimate goal to become a U.S naval aviator.
I am a U.S citizen also so I can apply as a U.S citizen.

 

[jacks]

Why not apply to Kings Point as a foreign (Irish) student for admission.

Wouldn't that make me ineligable for the U.S navy reserve commission?

 

[Uncle Fester]

Put it this way: you're a US citizen, so if you want to get into an Academy, minimize the number of things that can hold up the process. Joining a foreign military will not preclude you from admission, but it will raise eyebrows and hold things up while people ask questions.

If you're thinking you need weapons training to make you compeititve for admission, you don't. Doing something like the Irish coast guard is a great spirit-of-volunteerism thing and will make your application stand out. Doing it just to shoot guns seems kind of excessive.

 

[jacks]

Put it this way: you're a US citizen, so if you want to get into an Academy, minimize the number of things that can hold up the process. Joining a foreign military will not preclude you from admission, but it will raise eyebrows and hold things up while people ask questions.

If you're thinking you need weapons training to make you compeititve for admission, you don't. Doing something like the Irish coast guard is a great spirit-of-volunteerism thing and will make your application stand out. Doing it just to shoot guns seems kind of excessive.

Sorry I wasn't very clear about the reasons for joining the Irish military reserve. I just saw getting weapons training as a benefit. Military service is something I want to do my family has a history of it, 2 of my uncles were NCO's in the Irish army, my cousin is a reserve corporal, another cousin just retired as commander in chief of the Irish Defence forces, My primary goal is to become a U.S naval officer though.

 

[BusyBee604]

I just saw getting weapons training as a benefit. Military service is something I want to do my family has a history of it.

Good luck on your quest. BTW, if you make it as a SNA and especially as a Naval Aviator, you'll get beaucoup "weapons training"...(but not for skeet, trap, or recreation...heh heh!).
BzB

 

[Brett327]

Sorry I wasn't very clear about the reasons for joining the Irish military reserve. I just saw getting weapons training as a benefit. Military service is something I want to do my family has a history of it, 2 of my uncles were NCO's in the Irish army, my cousin is a reserve corporal, another cousin just retired as commander in chief of the Irish Defence forces, My primary goal is to become a U.S naval officer though.

Joining a foreign military service can be grounds for loss of US citizenship. Doesnt' seem like it's worth the risk.

Read this and be informed

 

[Renegade One]

Fascinating discourse. Thanks for letting me take a peek. My only "sorta similar" exposure was this situation kinda in reverse. When I was XO of VF-51 in the mid-80s (Yes, to answer your question...we did ALL of the TOMCAT flying for the making of the movie "TOP GUN" (less the US Navy stock footage)...our squadron "head nod" for that was the script plot line that Maverick's dad, Duke Mitchell, was a Naval Aviator with VF-51 aboard the USS Oriskany (CV-34) during the Vietnam War, and that he died on November 5, 1965 when his McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II was shot down...even though Oriskany never operated Phantoms), one of our more stellar pilot JOs (he flew in the movie...his name is in the credits...) was ending his obligated service, and "felt driven" by family background to join the Israeli Air Force afterwards. He went, and did, and because, I suppose, of a perhaps "special relationship" we may have had or continue to have, there was no issue about his US citizenship. Not really germane to your situation, I understand, but I've never yet had the opportunity before to give this great American a "shout out" for ALL of his service. Thanks for letting me do so here.

 

[Brett327]

^^ Shameless plug.

 

[Renegade One]

^^ Shameless plug.

Absolutely shameless. But it isn't braggin' if you've done it!