中新网7月24日电据美国《世界日报》报道，今年3月美国陆军开放的“紧缺人才征兵计划(MAVNI)”如今已接近尾声，南加华人聚居地各陆军征兵站收获颇丰，华人女性应征入伍数量暴涨，成为今年征兵新趋势。报名者中不仅有“投笔从戎”、盼磨练意志的在学女生，也有期待早日经济独立、事业有保障的女硕士，更有初为人母、希望快速入籍好与隔海幼儿团圆的坚强妇女。无论出于何种目的选择参军，今年的华人女性报名者爆棚，预示着参军入美籍已不再是华人男性们专属的快捷方式。

　　独自赴美读书的孟同学于日前与美国陆军部签约入伍。她表示，三年前赴美学习会计已研究所毕业。走出校园发现工作难找，有朋友虽拿到工签转绿卡，但排期就等了七、八年。“虽然父母移民美国的意愿不大，但她却希望能拿到绿卡、也算对多年高额的留学费用有个交代”。咨询后，发现参军可快速入籍并非军队唯一吸引力，“军中不仅提供职业训练、将来若退伍后入校进修还有奖学金等优惠，更对长远发展有益”。所以“先斩后奏”报了名，没想到申请过程如此顺利。“后来告知父母确实让二老担心了许久，主要还是怕被派到前线有生命危险，解释许久才让两人心情逐渐平复”。

准备于近日参加最终体能测验的魏薇表示，父母未来有意到美国养老，所以自己愿做马前卒先得到身份。选择工作签证不仅时间长而且不保险，随时可能被裁员，但军队是最保保险靠山，如今选择在军中的从业方向为汽车修理，由于也要用到计算机建模等知识、所以和过去自己专业也算有所联系。另外，在军中参加四个半月职业训练结束后，可以拿到一张职业证书，即便将来不再是军人，凭借此证书也可以自己开设修车厂，所以参军是解决身份、就业，一举多得的快捷方式。

　　在语言学校念书的华人女生杜同学，日前也通过体检与背景调查。她表示，大约一个多月前，母亲得知参军可快速入籍的消息，从小到大一直在校园、从未真正独立、平时性格也较内向。此次参军希望突破自己，在军队中磨练吃苦耐劳精神，同时也早日经济独立，为父母减轻负担。

　　当兵者中也不乏有报名的华人女性有难言之隐，一位不愿透露姓名的华人妇女日前也与陆军部签约。她表示，已经31岁的她赴美三年多，在国内有一个五岁大的孩子。因几年前与孩子生父离婚，不想再让生活在一个城市的前夫烦扰母子俩、同时家庭条件一般又想孩子未来接受好教育，因此独自来到美国。几年间与孩子的交流只能透过电话和网络视频。如今当兵是她圆梦的一个快捷方式，一定会尽自己所能将几年当兵时光熬下来、好与儿子快点团圆。

　　罗兰冈Punte Hill购物广场募兵站的华裔士官王强表示，截至目前，募兵站招募的报名者中，共有八名女生已签约、是去年的一倍。如今，韩国裔报名参军者的名额已满，而华人征兵人数也即将于近日关闭、目前已只剩下四、五个名额。“今年女生报名者上升似乎成为新趋势，同男性一样，身份与事业的考虑是大家报名的初衷”。

 

Understanding the Pilot MAVNI Program

 

What is MAVNI?

The Military Accessions Vital to National Interest Program (MAVNI) allows certain non-citizens to join the military and obtain U.S. citizenship. This program started in 2009 and was suspended a year later. However, the one-year recruitment process allowed the military to acquire highly qualified medical and language professionals. The positive results, along with an online petition started by non-citizen immigrants, caused the Pentagon to issue a two-year extension of the program effective until May 15, 2014. The program is currently open for qualified applicants.

 

Who can apply?

Holders of the following non-immigrant visas may apply: E, F, H, I, J, K, L, M, O, P, Q, R, S, T, TC, TD, TN, U, or V. Those with asylee, refugee, or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) may also apply. Applicants must be legally present in the U.S. for 2 years with no single absence for over 90 days. International students must maintain full-time enrollment throughout the application process. Aliens with undocumented status or who overstayed are not eligible to apply.

To be specific, the military needs applicants with backgrounds in health care and special language and culture. These areas will help fill the demand for dentists, surgeons, nurse practitioners, and psychologists in the military. Psychiatric care is especially needed to treat soldiers that were previously deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

The military also needs skills in over 44 languages such as Chinese, Korean, Hindi, Nepalese, Punjabi, Russian, Swahili, etc. They also need speakers of special languages such as Igbo (native language of an ethnic group in Nigeria), Moro Languages (native language of ethnic groups in Southern Philippines such as Tausug, Maranao, Maguindanao), and Pashto (oldest preserved Iranian language spoken in Afghanistan and Pakistan).

 

How do I apply for MAVNI?

There are primarily two types of applications: 1) Health Care Professionals; and 2) the Language Program. To apply, you need to contact a local recruiter in your area, or you can register on the particular military department’s website. It is expected that some recruiters will not know that the program is open. You may tell such recruiter to check USAREC Message 12-245 (Language Program) and 12-248 (Health Care Professionals).

The screening and background checks are more rigorous for MAVNI applicants. However, the goal of this program is naturalization after 10 weeks of Basic Combat Training. The application for naturalization remains on Form N-400 and the processing will still be handled by USCIS.

The MAVNI program is still very small. It has a cap of 1,500 which is allocated among the military departments as follows:

• Army – 1,000 (Health Care Professionals and Language Program)
• Navy – 250 (Health Care Professionals and Language Program)
• Marine Corps – 125 (Language Program only)
• Air Force – 125 (Health Care Professionals and Language Program)

 

Conclusion

Opening military service to immigrants shows how immigrants can help promote the national interest of the United States. Although the MAVNI program only offers a small number of slots to qualified non-citizen applicants, it provides an opportunity for non-citizens to show their allegiance to this country. Finally, the MAVNI program signals the continuous need for skills, abilities, and talents that are crucial in preserving the liberties enjoyed in this country.