A Chinese Wishing to join the USMC

[SimonZhou]

Hello everybody, I'm a Chinese student graduating from high school next year. Just before you start wondering "why on earth does this damn commie want to join us", please take the patience to allow me explain this dream of mine.
During the first 15 years of my life, I have grown a negative boy. I used to hate every single thing around me: I hated the Chinese government for lying to its people, hated its officials for corruption which is almost an essensial factor in their lives, hated people around me who surrendered to the autocracy of the government. I hated the world.
But after graduating from Junior High, I went on a one-year exchange program that sent me to Ogden, Utah in the States, and that was later to entirely change who I am.
It would take another post of 1000+ words to explain the process, but when I was in the US, I was soon to pick up joy and hope. People helped me unconditionally to every detail in my life; my host family gave me great love that kept my heart warm throughout the whole year; and the most of all, I was deeply attracted by the democracy and liberty of this nation.
During the year, I met with several marines, who were known, by people around them, to be fiece warriors, but also quality citizens and gentle friends. Their stories as well as characters earned my respect.
When I was to research for a career decision on a career choices system, I scanned the screen for careers recommended for me: architect, engineer, drafter... Non of them awakened any emotion, until I saw the words: Infantry service. Something deep inside my heart bursted.
It was then that I realized that I would like to be a marine, a US Marine, to make one of the best warriors on earth, to return the favor given to me by my families and friends in the US, and to protect the constitution of such a great nation, to safeguard its "liberty and justice for all".
To make the world a better place.
Now, I'm a senior in a high school in China, NO.1 student of the whole school, planning to go to the US for college. All my teachers hope to send me to Harvard, and see me make millions in the future. But something they don't know is that deep inside my heart, the dream to become a US Marine grows stronger and strong every second, way stronger than the desire to make money. I plan to try to enter a top university in the US next year, earn a four-year degress, and seek for chances for immigration. Once that is done, I'll enlist.
I know it sounds strange for a Chinese to wish to serve the US, and I know that it might even make me sound like a traitor. But this is me. My body was born in China, but my soul, a soul that knows to love the world, that is always ready to help people, that is determined to protect and safeguard, and that wishes to make the world a better place, was born in the United States of America. I am willing to defend this nation with my life, at all costs.
Anyway, thank you for you patience, and here come my questions:
1. What is the age limit on foreigners to enlist in the Corps?
2. I know that permanent residents cannot serve with a Recon MOS, but what about the Scout Sniper MOS?
3. Most importantly, and a little personally, how might Marines feel about foriegn members? It is my dream to earn the trust of my future shipmates, but I just wonder how hard it may be.
Thank you very much again, and Semper Fi.
:flag:

Simon Zhou
Determined, Focused, Devoted.

[haebyungdae]

1. The age limit is no different for foreigners as far as I know.
2. Can not factually say yes or no, but I would assume no given the job descriptions that I have read. Would probably have to wait until after gaining US citizenship.
3. I would have no problem serving with a non-US citizen just as long as they showed loyalty to country (the US), Corps, unit, and their fellow Marines and were on the track to gain US citizenship (denouncing their current country's citizenship at the same time).

[achilles097]

You cannot gain any clearance until you have citizenship. So Scout Sniper is a no-go...

[Phantom Blooper]

Enlistment into the U.S. Marine Corps, or any branch of the U.S. military, by citizens of countries other than the United States is limited to those foreign nationals who are legally residing in the United States and possess an Immigration and Naturalization Service Alien Registration Card (INS Form I-151/551 — commonly known as a "Green Card"). Applicants must be between 17 and 35; meet the mental, moral, and physical standards for enlistment; and must speak, read and write English fluently.


Note: The U.S. military branches cannot assist foreign nationals in obtaining admittance into the United States. Questions concerning immigration to the United States should be asked of the U.S. Embassy. Only after immigration procedures are completed and an applicant is legally residing in the United States may an application for enlistment be accepted.

Furthermore, in order to be commissioned an officer in the U.S. Navy, one must be a native-born or naturalized United States citizen.

The U.S. government agency which is responsible for immigration and naturalization is the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. Their web site is at http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm (mhtml:{D17178DD-5484-4FB6-9762-59CD35177C7C}mid://00000008/!x-usc:http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm)

[Apache]

Commitment. Gotta like it !

Direction already given

As a side note
One of the finest Officers I served under was a Japeneese man

He embodied mission first then "take care of your people"

[m14ed]

3. Most importantly, and a little personally, how might Marines feel about foriegn members? It is my dream to earn the trust of my future shipmates, but I just wonder how hard it may be.
Thank you very much again, and Semper Fi.
:flag:

Simon Zhou
Determined, Focused, Devoted.

The MarineCorps , isnt as Vanilla as you might immagine youngster.
There was one R O Korea Marine in my CombatEngineer School/
Two Canadians also in the same class on green cards.
IT is not about where you are from. IT is however, about what you bring with you.

Good Luck Grasshopper, You wont know if you dont try.
and if you're going to try, do your best or dont bother.

[SimonZhou]

Thanks a lot for your replies, people. A lot of INFO and encouragement coming from you!

[SimonZhou]

Another question, how do you edit your thread, please...? I found that I broke a couple of site rules but I could only edit my replies but not the thread....

[m14ed]

Listen youngster.....
I barely know how to type, Keep it low, and maybe nobody will find out....
(Shhhhhhhhh)

[SimonZhou]

Listen youngster.....
I barely know how to type, Keep it low, and maybe nobody will find out....
(Shhhhhhhhh)
haha, thx for that reminder

[Mxzero]

Your best bet would be to get in contact with the US embassy, in person if possible but by phone at least. They'll be able to give you the most up to date information about signing up. And if a student visa qualifies you to enlist. Honestly, if someone's paying for college, I'd finish that first and then think about it. Give yourself the most options.

[SimonZhou]

Your best bet would be to get in contact with the US embassy, in person if possible but by phone at least. They'll be able to give you the most up to date information about signing up. And if a student visa qualifies you to enlist. Honestly, if someone's paying for college, I'd finish that first and then think about it. Give yourself the most options.
Advice taken, thanks a lot.

[SimonZhou]

To answer your question about editing posts here----(Just so you know, the EDIT function on this site is not working right....if you wait just a short time, you cannot go back in and edit anything you posted. It has to be done rather quickly.)
Er, sounds like the evidence of my violation will live forever lol.:sick:
Thank you anyway.

[chulaivet1966]

Another question, how do you edit your thread, please...? I found that I broke a couple of site rules but I could only edit my replies but not the thread....

Zao shang hao....

I've been working on my Mandarin for the last couple of years but my neurons aren't the academic sponges they used to be.

The editing function has some quirks on occasion and has bitten us all on the ass at one time or another.

Carry on.....good luck on your quest.

[chulaivet1966]

Wayne, if Simon doesn't mind the digression, how do you say "I would Like a Sam Adams beer?"
In Mandarin.

I know you and I talk about ol Sam Adams quite a bit, one of our hobbies, apparently.

Here you are: gei wo yi ping jiu (can I have a beer' referring to your first)
Requesting another beer: zai lai yi ping jiu
(awaiting possible refinement from OP)

Of course, one would probably be having a Tsingtao (which I like) in a Chinese establishment.

How about that....:)

[chulaivet1966]

That would make perfect sense, Wayne. LOL
Pretty good on the language, too--

Oh yea...I'm a wealth of common sense this early.;)
The tough part about Mandarin is learning the pronunciations/inflections
when speaking....inherently difficult for most.

Coffee....mud...java...cafe.:)

[SimonZhou]

Hi and thanks for replying though I only came to see this reply one year later.. sorry for that.
You are definitely great at Mandarin! well, better than most westners, at least I would say.
And thanks for the "good luck"!

[SimonZhou]

That would make perfect sense, Wayne. LOL
Pretty good on the language, too--



Well yeah Tsing Tao is absolutely great - having a good taste and mony efficiency. You could be surprised how much American beers we have in China, though. And they are truly very popular.

[fl1946]

Hi Cousin. Perhaps I can lend a perspective as I am also Chinese, 1st generation Chinese American -- born in San Francisco and grew up in the Deep South (that's another story). My father died when I became a monster teenager. Without him as my anchor I was a castaway...until by sheer instinct I joined the Corps. There, I received the guidance, discipline that exposed me to the core values which I strive to live by even today. The saying "Once a Marine, Always a Marine" holds tremendous truth.

My entrance into the Corps in 1964 probably represented less than 1% -- if that, of all the recruits. For sure I was the first Chinese combat cameraman at the time. Was joining the right decision? For me, yes; for you I can't answer that. Only you can.

Joining the Marine Corps means much more than the privilege of wearing dress blues. It is much more than embracing and fighting for God and Country. You will be presented with the unique opportunity to define who you are, what you will become for the rest of your life. It is a life changing experience that you will be critically and often measured by those senior to you and your peers.

The bottom line, Simon, it's not who you are, but what you are to succeed in the Marine Corps. Today, Asians are well represented in the Corps as officers and enlisted. Good luck. PM me and I'll give you a link to my background if you wish to learn more.

Semper fi,

[SimonZhou]

Hi Cousin. Perhaps I can lend a perspective as I am also Chinese, 1st generation Chinese American -- born in San Francisco and grew up in the Deep South (that's another story). My father died when I became a monster teenager. Without him as my anchor I was a castaway...until by sheer instinct I joined the Corps. There, I received the guidance, discipline that exposed me to the core values which I strive to live by even today. The saying "Once a Marine, Always a Marine" holds tremendous truth.

My entrance into the Corps in 1964 probably represented less than 1% -- if that, of all the recruits. For sure I was the first Chinese combat cameraman at the time. Was joining the right decision? For me, yes; for you I can't answer that. Only you can.

Joining the Marine Corps means much more than the privilege of wearing dress blues. It is much more than embracing and fighting for God and Country. You will be presented with the unique opportunity to define who you are, what you will become for the rest of your life. It is a life changing experience that you will be critically and often measured by those senior to you and your peers.

The bottom line, Simon, it's not who you are, but what you are to succeed in the Marine Corps. Today, Asians are well represented in the Corps as officers and enlisted. Good luck. PM me and I'll give you a link to my background if you wish to learn more.

Semper fi,
fl1946, thank you so much for such much-needed first-hand experience. What you're telling me is exactly one of the main reasons why I want to sign up - to be trained to become a quality citizen and safeguard the world under the banner of God and Country.
I am strongly determined that joining the Corps will be one of the best choices that I can ever come to make in my entire life. I know what resistance is ahead of me, but I won't quit.

[SimonZhou]

And to those of you who are still interested in getting some updates from me, I graduated this year from a Chinese High School. But obviously I can't sign up as a Chinese resident, so I am going to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison this fall(I actually wanted to go to, and was admitted by, Duke University, only to find that the tuition was absolutely crazy...). I plan to obtain my bachelor's degree in three years, and then spend one year in pursuit of my master's degree(without it it's going to be very hard to obtain residency in the US).
Afterwards, as I plan, I will have to find a cilvilian job first and then wait for my Green Card to be issued, which usually takes 3~5 years. As soon as I get it I will sign up, no doubt.

During the past year my determination has none but become stronger. My dream of becoming a Marine has taken over every part of my life. I now do 45 minutes of freeweight training plus a 3-miles run almost every day because I wish to serve with a MOS 03XX. A lot of my friends in China don't understand why I'd sign up in the States, but a few closest friends of mine have given me strong support. And that along with the encouragement I got from you all is all I need. There is still a long way ahead of me, and many obstacles still await. But I just know that one day I will stand under the flags of America and of the Corps, sworn and well-trained to defend them proudly against all enemies.

[fl1946]

Since you are going to school here in U.S., see if the school has an ROTC program. This will give you a chance to experience the military. If you are in Navy ROTC, (not sure if Marine Corps OCS accepts Army ROTC), sign up for the Marine Corps PLC (Platoon Leader) program where you'll spend your summers at officer training in Quantico, Viriginia. Corps would even pay you.

Semper Fi,
Your Elder Uncle

[fl1946]

Belay my last message. First requirement to enter ROTC...U.S. Citizenship. Sorry for posting incorrect info.

[SimonZhou]

Since you are going to school here in U.S., see if the school has an ROTC program. This will give you a chance to experience the military. If you are in Navy ROTC, (not sure if Marine Corps OCS accepts Army ROTC), sign up for the Marine Corps PLC (Platoon Leader) program where you'll spend your summers at officer training in Quantico, Viriginia. Corps would even pay you.

Semper Fi,
Your Elder Uncle

Hi Uncle,
Thanks for the advice, though I'd even like to pay THEM if they'd let me into the NROTC - I think it's limited to US Citizens only.:cry:

[SimonZhou]

Belay my last message. First requirement to enter ROTC...U.S. Citizenship. Sorry for posting incorrect info.

Well no problem lol. I actually checked on that about a year ago when preparing my college application materials. It surely is a pity though.