united-states citizenship military non-citizen
Which military ranks in the U.S.A. can be held by non-citizens?
<p>Which military ranks in the U.S.A. can be held by non-citizens?</p>
<p>Might it be everyone except commissioned officers?</p>

<p><strong>Might it be everyone except commissioned officers?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Not necessarily</strong></p>
<p>Non-commissioned ranks require either a Green Card as per <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/504" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Title 10 U.S. Code § 504</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>(1)A person may be enlisted in any armed force only if the person is one of the following:</p>
<p>...</p>
<ul>
<li>(B)An alien who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence, as defined in section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20)).</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>Or</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>(2) ... the Secretary concerned may authorize the enlistment of a person not described in paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines that such person possesses a critical skill or expertise—</p>
<ul>
<li>(A)that is vital to the national interest; and</li>
<li>(B)that the person will use in the primary daily duties of that person as a member of the armed forces.</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>And <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/532" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Title 10 U.S. Code § 532</a> states that non-citizens cannot hold a commission:</p>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>(a) ... a commissioned officer (other than as a commissioned warrant officer) in the Regular Army, Regular Navy, Regular Air Force, Regular Marine Corps, or Regular Space Force may be given only to a person who—</li>
</ul>
<p>(1)is a citizen of the United States...</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>UNLESS</strong> they have a Green Card and a waiver:</p>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>(f)The Secretary of Defense may waive the requirement of paragraph (1) of subsection (a) with respect to a person who has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence, or for a United States national otherwise eligible for appointment as a cadet or midshipman under section 2107(a) of this title or as a cadet under section 2107a of this title, when the Secretary determines that the national security so requires, but only for an original appointment in a grade below the grade of major or lieutenant commander.</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
