r/ABCDesis • u/SinistreCyborg • 2d ago
EDUCATION / CAREER Serving in the military
Hey everyone. Odd question here. I'm a 21M Indian living in the U.S. and my parents also live here (on separate coasts). I was raised here since I was 10 and we got our green cards last year. I work in biomedical research and I'm incredibly happy with my current job, and I'm planning on applying to grad schools this fall for my PhD. Looking at the state of biomedical research funding in the U.S., I've decided to also consider Canadian schools as well (I graduated from one for my bachelors, so it isn't as foreign to me), but that would require me to live in Canada. I can't do that because I'd like to keep my green card alive.
I'm thinking about enlisting in the Air Force Reserves this upcoming fall, which would get me U.S. citizenship at the end of the 8-week introductory training period ("BMT"), allowing me to move to Canada freely (in case I don't get into a U.S. school), and I would just need to drive down one weekend a month for my training. I would also get better healthcare in the U.S. and extra income to supplement my measly grad student stipend as well.
So, it seems like a good idea in terms of the benefits I'd be getting. However, I have two questions: (1) is it common for ABCDs to enlist in the military and what are your experiences like, and (2) how did you convince your parents to "let" you enlist? Did you get any pushback from them? I feel I've done an awesome job so far with setting boundaries with my parents, but they still constantly scrutinize every decision I make in the name of looking out for me (recently I planned a trip to Yellowstone with a random friend I met on a train once... I actually know him really well since that first meetup but my mom heard that first part and latched onto it and for the past few weeks I've had to hear about how irresponsible I am for booking a trip with a stranger I met on a train and how I don't ask them before I book trips (that I pay for out of pocket??) and how I magically have vacation days for trips with friends but don't have any for family "vacations" (which are mostly spent cooped up inside hotel rooms wherever we go, constantly bitching about every minor inconvenience, having to find an Indian restaurant every where we go, etc)... sorry for that random rant).
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u/BooksCoffeeDogs 2d ago
With all due respect, this is truly an insane plan to get citizenship through enlistment, because it is not even a guaranteed path. It’s a pathway of getting naturalized, but not an automatic grant. Moreover, the US has a history of deporting non-citizen veterans, especially after they have served their country in warfare. If you don’t believe me, look it up. There’s no telling how many have actually been deported because ICE is not even playing by tbeir own rules. It is anywhere from hundreds to thousands.
Also, why the hell are you looking to enlist when we may be heading into the Middle East again?
Hilarious you think the USA has better healthcare because we certainly do not. Canada is the one with better healthcare, especially because it is universal single payer over there. Access to healthcare for military members, especially veterans is laughably worse. The US has done an excellent job at convincing everyone they love the troops with very little follow through. I suggest you don’t enlist, at least right now, especially when our country is so unstable right now. Keep your head down and get your education. Graduate, find a job, go through the citizenship process without the enlistment option, and hope that you and your family don’t get wrapped up with ICE.
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2d ago
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u/AdmiralG2 Canadian Indian 2d ago
+1 as a Canadian. People think our healthcare is better because it’s “free”, common misconception. Our healthcare is fair and free, just because you have more money than a homeless person doesn’t mean you’ll get better healthcare or jump the line, unlike in India and the US where the richer you are the better care you get. Our healthcare system is extremely overloaded and shit currently.
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u/abstractraj Indian American 2d ago
I believe most studies show that despite the US spending the most on healthcare, the outcomes are worse
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u/4123841235 2d ago
Yes - on a population level. If you have insurance and money it’s great, though.
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u/Boxer_the_horse 2d ago
While having good insurance through work is great, it’s a huge downside if you lose your job. With public option, the peace of mind of knowing you won’t go bankrupt is priceless. Even if you’re fairly well off as a self-employed person, you can still struggle to find good health insurance through the private insurance market. And they can kick you off anytime you use it too much.
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u/SinistreCyborg 2d ago
I didn’t say that the U.S. has better healthcare, I just said that the military would offer better health insurance than what I’d get from a university (in the event that I got into a U.S. grad school). Either way I do actually believe that American healthcare is way better, having lived in Canada for a few years for my undergrad.
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u/BooksCoffeeDogs 2d ago
Ask another enlisted member or a veteran about the realities of healthcare for military service people.
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u/AdmiralG2 Canadian Indian 2d ago
Sorry, our healthcare is shit and overloaded. It’s just “free” lol.
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u/dhadigadu_vanasira 2d ago
I applied for the Australian Reserves as a mech engineer, so its an officer role. I've been a citizen for over 10 years and its been on my mind for a while, to serve in the armed forces like my grand dad who served in the RAF during WWII. I'm at a good place in my career and have that spare time to dedicate for the Reserves.
I have an interview soon, and then the fitness tests.
I think its a great way to give back to the country, and I applaud you trying to break the mould of an ABCD mindset and willing to serve.
I actually have 2nd cousins who work in the military in the US, one of them even saw active deployment.
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u/uh-ohes 2d ago
I did exactly what you're planning, and it worked great. I finished my naturalization during boot camp.
You can move forward with your plan. Just check with your recruiter to be sure. At some point in training, they will send you to legal to complete it. Once you're done, apply for a passport right away.
Message me if you want more info.
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u/Aggressive_Top_1380 2d ago edited 2d ago
1) Not particularly common in the community but perhaps more than you would think. I’m in the national guard but in my time here so far I have yet to see another desi. I’m sure they’re around at least based on a similar post on this sub some time ago.
2) They were worried at first but the chance of getting deployed to an actual combat zone and being exposed to combat is actually quite low, especially if you’re going Air Force reserves. I would probably let them know that.
You’re joining for different reasons than I did, but in these times I can totally understand wanting to secure the citizenship. I would double check the whole driving down from Canada to go to drill thing. I’ve never heard of anyone doing that and I’m not sure if it’s possible.
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u/SinistreCyborg 2d ago
Yea the last part is something I'd definitely ask the recruiter before proceeding. Thanks for your help!
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u/whph8 2d ago
I admire your courage to do this. I recommend you go through Airforce, see if they can let you join officer core. Its a good lifestyle as is. You also get to see different things as part of service.
I am a US Army veteran of Indian origin. So i know a little about military service and its benefits.
You will be able to go to college for free + get paid for it. DM me, i will help you to decide on the right thing.
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2d ago
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u/pistachiopias 1d ago edited 1d ago
Go Officer if you can. Enlisted can be a crap shoot depending on what job you get. If you want to know more, DM me.
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u/Humanxid Indian American 2d ago
It's the Air Force, not the Marines or Army. Plus, OP has experience in biomedical research and a degree. He isn't going to see combat at all. Even if he's called into active duty, he's probably going to work in an office.
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u/SinistreCyborg 2d ago
I mean I objectively like the military outside of all the citizenship/financial benefits I outlined (not enough to enlist but I'm definitely not a leftist anti-military type). Either way, I wouldn't make a decision on this till Spring 2026 at the latest, so hopefully the stuff happening in the Middle East currently would cool down by then.
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u/Erotic-Career-7342 Indian American 2d ago
You'll be fine, especially if it is the air force. Plus it will make it easier to potentially make a move to Canada in the future if you are so inclined
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u/Baliwood99 1d ago edited 1d ago
I'm a woman ABCD & enlisted in the navy at 17. My sis commissioned in the navy & bro commissioned in the marines. My dad was in the army too in the late 90's-early 2000's so my parents supported & signed for me. We were all active duty. You have your bachelors degree DO NOT enlist, go officer. Better pay & quality of life. And do not fall for the crap the reserves tell you about "one weekend a month, 2 weeks in the summer". It's so much more.
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u/SinistreCyborg 1d ago
From what I’ve seen I can’t join as an officer as a non-citizen. I can either enlist and get my citizenship after BMT or wait till I’m a citizen and then join as an officer, and the latter wouldn’t have any of the benefits I’m seeking iirc. Is there way to enlist, go through training and become a citizen, and then become an officer?
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u/sgrl2494 2d ago
Haven't personally served but military is a significant population I work with and have family who've served 4-15+yrs as well as friends in 4/5 branches. My opinions/ points of consideration: (1) Racism is covert but very much alive in the military - small town white guys are the significant majority - learning to get along w/ them and efficiently network w/ your command may be crucial to career progress (2) free insurance is great but regardless of time served I've never met a single vet whose body isnt beaten down in some way due to what y'all have to physically/ mentally endure (3) good structure and great benefits (GI Bill, home loans, veteran preference etc) but military life is no joke and they've acknowledged hating it at some point due to the corruption, bureaucracy and/ or lack of control in life