An Irishman to Join (Green Card Question kinda)

[IrishGav]

Hi there,
I am 18 and Irish. I am born and raised in Cork, Ireland and I live here still, for the time being.
I love my country but due to colour-blindness I cannot join the Irish (Permanent) Defence Forces (Army). I am a member of the Army Reserve here but only because I was very forthright with the Doctor during the medical. He did however assure me that I had no chance of Joining the PDF.

Let me just say Ireland does not have an equivalent of a Marines, we only have Army, Navy and Air Corps. Otherwise this would have Irish Marines all over it.

So I decided that I was going to go for a foreign service. My obvious first Decision was close to home the Royal Marines but then I would never be able to go home for fear of being shot by idiots. (Due to British occupation)

Next, The good ole USMC came to mind. I realise that some of you may say "It wasnt your first choice so you are not welcome" but I dont believe this is true because I wanted to serve MY Country and now I am willing to serve YOUR country.

I have heard a large amount of Information about the USMC (only a small amount from a true blue Marine) and still I want to join more that anything in my life.

The problem lies in the fact that I am Irish. How easy would it be for an Irishman to get a Green Card for entry into the Corps? I know that there are various places that say the USMC/US Army do not help people get green cards but this is just to check.

How long would it take from signing the Dotted line to actually starting recruit training?

Also, my final question is with regards specifically to Green Cards.
Do you have to have a person living in the states to endorse you?

and If anyone has anyother advice, from personal experience or even speculation, it would be most welcome.

Thank you very much,
Gavin.

By the way I would just like to add so that the True Blue guys there know. The Marines isnt my second choice Per Sé it is just the Choice that comes after my own country. I am determined and Dedicated to becoming a lifer in the Marines.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

Getting the green card is up to you. Once you get that, you can enlist. If you sign up at the right time, the time frame from signing to shipping to boot camp could be very short.

Contact the local US Consulate and tell them what you're wanting to do. They can point you in the right direction and help get you started.

Since you cannot do what you want to do in your home nation and are looking elsewhere to serve. I think it would only be appropriate to link you to this site. (http://www.legion-recrute.com/en/)

[IrishGav]

Echo Four Bravo, Thank you for the Advice there but to the last bit all I have to say is I am no Merc.

I want to be a US Marine. A lifer. I do not want to be a Merc no matter what.

[ecfree]

Hey Gavin,God bless you son,and God bless The Marines.Your problem may be your'e color blindness,not the green card.
By the way,Up Cork.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

What? You can be a Marine and be color blind (Trust me, I've failed every color vision test I've ever been given.)

As for the mercenary part- there really isn't all that much difference in leaving your country to fight for the US or leaving your country to fight for the French (other than what political ideals you're fighting for at times.) Afterall, the first definition of a mercenary is "a person who takes part in an armed conflict who is not a national or a party." That would apply to you whichever way you went.

I don't say any of that because I am pushing you in that direction. Just noting that things like green cards aren't a problem if you go that route.

[IrishGav]

I consider them Mercenaries because they are a Unit Purposely made for Foreigners to Join. I realise I would technically be a Mercenary by joining the Marine Corps but not in the same sense. I also do respect the FFL but not even close to the scale at which I rank the Marines.

Also on the colorblindness bit, I am to believe from reading http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r40_501.pdf
that if you are Red Green you can get in as long as you Pass what is known in Ireland at least as the Lantern Test.

Well, whenever the next Green Card Lottery come around I guess I will see if I get one.

[hump_drop]

Do you not know anyone that you could live with as a means to get a work visa or something?

Several Marines I know didn't have green cards, but I have no details on the process to get one.

Contact a recruiter, either he/she or their recruiter instructor will have seen something like this before.