Joining the USAF

[uwochris]

There was an Airshow recently in my hometown (CYXU... London, Canada), and there were many USAF types.

I was speaking to one of the C130 aviators, and I was told that Canadians can join the USAF, and will be granted automatic USA citizenship if they qualify- the catch is that you must give up your Canadian citizenship. I was also told that you do not need to have 20/20 uncorrected vision, as is required by the Canadian Forces. I currently have close to (perhaps worse) 20/100 vision.

Is there any truth to this? I am currently going into my 4th year at University, working on my IFR and MIFR ratings. I have NO greencard, but have many cousins, aunts, uncles, etc in California. I am 22 years old, and would seriously consider this if I am elegible.

TIA.

 

[smellthejeta]

There was an Airshow recently in my hometown (CYXU... London, Canada), and there were many USAF types.

I was speaking to one of the C130 aviators, and I was told that Canadians can join the USAF, and will be granted automatic USA citizenship if they qualify- the catch is that you must give up your Canadian citizenship. I was also told that you do not need to have 20/20 uncorrected vision, as is required by the Canadian Forces. I currently have close to (perhaps worse) 20/100 vision.

Is there any truth to this? I am currently going into my 4th year at University, working on my IFR and MIFR ratings. I have NO greencard, but have many cousins, aunts, uncles, etc in California. I am 22 years old, and would seriously consider this if I am elegible.

TIA.

I have no knowledge of the issues surrounding the admission of non-US nationals to the United States Armed Forces. You need to get ahold of an active duty or reserve recruiter. In your position, getting into the guard would be extremely tough. Why admit a Canadian when there are plenty of qualified US nationals beating a path to the door?

I can comment on your question about vision requirements. US Army requires 20/50 correctable to 20/20. USAF is more lax, they require 20/70 correctable to 20/20. So, 20/100 would not cut it.

 

[Tweetdrvr]

I am fairly certain you can enlist in the US Armed Forces without being a citizen and that will give some credit to speeding up the process it takes to becoming a citizen. Some of the brave young Marines killed in the most recent Iraq conflict were given posthumous citizenship as a form of acknowledgement to their families of their service and sacrifice.

You MUST be a citizen to be granted a commission as an officer.

 

[FastMover]

I was just looking at the Canadian AF website. And it looked like the were in need of pilots them self. You might want to explore that option. They have a little bit of everthing it looks like even F-18s.

 

[JHook]

It has been a while since I have known or cared what the medical entrance requirement for the USAF are however I believe, the guy that said that 20/70 vision is required is somewhat misleading. If I remember correctly, you had to have 20/20 to start with but then once you passed your initial medical, the standard goes to 20/70.

Has that changed?

 

[BeachBum]

I believe, the guy that said that 20/70 vision is required is somewhat misleading. If I remember correctly, you had to have 20/20 to start with but then once you passed your initial medical, the standard goes to 20/70.

It's changed. The 20/70 correctable to 20/20 is acceptable now.