Pentagon seeks recruits on visas

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By Pauline Jelinek ASSOCIATED PRESS

The effort to find the recruits begins early next year. If there is a need for more recruits in the future, it would take a new authorization, Mr. Carr said.

Of the 1,000 new people, at least a third must be medical professionals, Mr. Carr said.

"It is exceptional, limited, vital," he said of the effort.

The linguists are to be used in a broad range of military jobs - as infantrymen, seamen and military police. Those with the best language skills would be used in intelligence fields.

The armed forces have used foreigners since the War of 1812, and over the years, some 700,000 have served.

But because of the counterterrorism war begun after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, President Bush signed an executive order in 2002 making foreigners who join the military eligible to apply immediately for citizenship.

They essentially go to the head of the line among citizenship applicants, having their cases processed in about three years as opposed to the five years it takes others, Mr. Carr said.

There are now 29,000 noncitizens in uniform today, Mr. Carr said, with about 8,000 more enlisting every year.

He expects that among those who will be interested in the new effort are doctors with work visas who are working at hospitals around the country, a program aimed at tackling shortages among U.S. medical professionals.

The military has never recruited those without a green card, but a law passed three years ago lets them do so when it is determined to be vital to the national interest.

On Nov. 25, Mr. Gates declared that to be the case for the purpose of getting more doctors, nurses and linguists.

Mr. Carr stressed that recruits will have to pass the same physical, mental and aptitude tests required of all who join the armed forces.

Health care workers also will have to meet all medical-professional criteria to practice, be proficient in English, and agree to enlist either for three years on active duty or six years as reservists.

The linguists/culture experts will have to enlist for four years of active-duty service.

The military's most pressing need is for neurosurgeons and dermatologists to treat troops coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan with brain and burn injuries caused by insurgents' wide use of roadside bombs and suicide bombs.