Once a Soldier

[US] Veterans

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December 28, 2011

Military.com|by Bryant Jordan

With the Iraq War officially over and the Army downsizing in the face of defense budget pressure, more troops will be making the transition back to civilian life -- a potentially challenging prospect given the state of the economy.
But for those who want to stay in uniform, there may be a new option emerging -- just not an American one. Australia has put out the "Help Wanted" sign for foreign national veterans.
"We are looking for serving or ex-serving foreign military personnel, who can directly transfer their job and life skills to whichever Service they join, with limited training and preparation," the Australian Defence Force has announced on its website.
Jobs to be filled include special forces types, intelligence officers and submariners, according to the announcement, but the separate recruitment pages for each service branch show that the Aussies will consider veterans with a broad range of military experience.
As the U.S. tightens its defense belt slightly over the next year, the Army and Marine Corps will cut end strength by thousands of men and women. The Army expects to lose about 7,400 Soldiers by October, to reach an end strength of 562,000.

The Corps eventually plans shrinking its manpower by about 16,000 to reach a total Marine force of 186,800. The Navy already has brought down its numbers by more than 50,000 since reaching a wartime strength of 383,000 during the build-up for the Iraq invasion. It expects to ship another 3,000 Sailors off to civilian life by next fall.
Only the Air Force expects to add people next year, but just a few hundred; and its end strength of about 333,000 for 2012 will still be about 40,000 Airmen lighter than it was in 2004.
According to the U.S. State Department, the U.S. and Australia each recognize dual citizenship. Serving in the military of one is not listed as a cause for losing citizenship in the other. The Australian defense site also notes that security clearances acquired while in the U.S. military are transferable to the Australian military.
"Australia is a great country and staunch ally, and aside from a common language, we share the same values and beliefs," said Joe Davis, a spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. "As our military begins to downsize, it could be a great opportunity for those who want to continue serving."
Among veterans who saw a story on the Aussie recruiting announcement posted to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America site on Tuesday, a number said they would consider making the move Down Under, and some indicated enthusiasm for the idea.
Ricardo Mireles of Texas, a retired Navy man, posted that if he were just out of the Navy, he'd "be there in a heartbeat, no doubt!"
"Why not?" posted Laci DeLisle, whose Facebook page shows her in an Army uniform, hugging family members at an airport. "People here are trying to stay in when they don't need us anymore. I'd be down for it. Probably get better accommodations than the U.S. Army provides, but that really wouldn't take much."
But other posters were adamant they would never wear another country's uniform.
"Can't ever imagine putting my life on the line for another country," posted Larry Josefowski, an Iraq War veteran and Army reservist in Delaware, "even for Australia."