Resident Alien Enlistment

[Flying Pig]

I have a Cadet who enlisted in the CA Air Guard. His initial intent was to enlist as an F-16 crew chief, with the hopes of someday being a pilot. In addition, he will be attending Fresno State and will be in AFROTC.

He had to enlist into something unrelated to the jets because of his resident status. He is a resident alien from Mexico. You cant get a "Secret" as a resident alien and cant work with the jets.  Im not sure exactly what he enlisted into though.
This kid is solid and locked on and has been chomping at the bit to enlist. At what point, or what steps does he need to take to get his citizenship taken care of after enlistment? Are there channels for peope in his scenario who enlist to get to the front of the line? Because he cannot even receive a commission until his status changes to a citizen right?

[Cherokeepilot]

He gets the waiver upon the signature of Sec USAF.  One of family went that route.  Politics uber alles.
73s

[desertengineer1]

Hmm.. A little confused.  You can't be a member of the ANG without eligibility for a Secret - unlike the Army.  (It's an AF rule)...

If he is unable to get a clearance, he will be eventually discharged.

Army NG takes non-clearance folks all the time, and has a different set of rules...

[Flying Pig]

Maybe it was the Army Guard he joined?? We have both here in Fresno. He is in with a ship date, and job and all.  So whatever it was, he is good to go in that respect.

[desertengineer1]

Army takes non citizens and even provides a special accelerated track to US Citizen status.

Saw a ceremony in Iraq a few years ago.  It was really cool.

But I'm not aware of the details for ANG.  You can probably get a clearance too.  I just don't know the process off-hand.

Stranger things have happened.  Regardless, send him a congrats.  It's a great adventure.

[DBlair]

As for being an Officer, he must be a US citizen. I don't believe there is any way around this.

[jimmydeanno]

At what point, or what steps does he need to take to get his citizenship taken care of after enlistment?

I would suggest reading this article.  It's pretty thorough: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/a/citizenship.htm

Are there channels for peope in his scenario who enlist to get to the front of the line? Because he cannot even receive a commission until his status changes to a citizen right?

The article above notes that there are "streamlined processes set up specifically for military members who are non-citizens." 

[SilverEagle2]

Curious, if he intends to be AFROTC, why did he enlist?  If he intends to go O-1 after college, seems that the E-route can slow that down a little.

[notaNCO forever]

Curious, if he intends to be AFROTC, why did he enlist?  If he intends to go O-1 after college, seems that the E-route can slow that down a little.

Maybe he needs a career and money now more than four years of college.

[SilverEagle2]

Just delays what has to occur before the looming age 32 by end of UPT limitation.

The AFROTC can pay the college part if on scholarship.

[DBlair]

Actually, I just thought of something regarding paying for college... most (if not all) States seem to have a policy that if you join the National Guard, then you get free tuition at any State College/University. Perhaps this is what led him to join the ANG? Just a thought.

[Flying Pig]

CA doesnt have that.