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Hello,
I am currently a Cadet in an Army ROTC bataillon, and I was wondering if my dual citizenship will potentially stop me in my career as an Officer.
I was born and raised in France from an American father and a French mother. I decided to moved to the States to get my B.S in an I.T field after I quit Law School (in France, you can jump in Law School after Hogh School).
I know you must renounce any other passport to get the TS clearance, but how will my previous life in France affect my further assignments if I choose to branch MI, and potentially work in the intelligence field?
Also, have you ever seen a native French serving in the Armed Forces?
I would appreciate any insights.
Thanks,
CDT Green
I am currently a Cadet in an Army ROTC bataillon, and I was wondering if my dual citizenship will potentially stop me in my career as an Officer.
I was born and raised in France from an American father and a French mother. I decided to moved to the States to get my B.S in an I.T field after I quit Law School (in France, you can jump in Law School after Hogh School).
I know you must renounce any other passport to get the TS clearance, but how will my previous life in France affect my further assignments if I choose to branch MI, and potentially work in the intelligence field?
Also, have you ever seen a native French serving in the Armed Forces?
I would appreciate any insights.
Thanks,
CDT Green
France
Security Clearance
ROTC
French
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 18
12
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According to Cadet Command (CC) Regulation 145-1 and its associated CC Pamphlet 145-4, you MUST be a U.S. Citizen or national to contract in the Senior ROTC program (as an MS 3/4), as that is a statutory requirement of gaining a security clearance. The REG says nothing about dual-citizenship, but the PAM does. (Both can be found via Google pretty easily.)
According to CC Pam 145-4, Section 2-39 (Citizenship):
"a. Citizenship criteria apply to all contracted Cadets, both scholarship and Non-Scholarship. This is a statutory requirement. No waivers/exceptions are authorized. Cadets who hold dual citizenship must be advised that, when requested, they will be required to provide a statement to the OPM investigator, or the adjudicative authority, expressing their willingness to renounce dual citizenship. Failure to do so may result in denial of a security clearance, which is a prerequisite for commissioning, and will result in disenrollment."
That's very particular language. It does NOT say you must surrender your citizenship now; it says you must be prepared to do so if requested by the service. It is entirely possible that, due to the dual-citizenship being with a friendly nation, you may be able to hold on to it, but that's up to the service.
That said, for Military Intelligence, or any job requiring access to TS and/or SCI, it is going to likely be an issue, and you will probably be asked to renounce in order to assess into that branch. But, the important thing is that you don't need to do it now, only at that point when requested.
According to CC Pam 145-4, Section 2-39 (Citizenship):
"a. Citizenship criteria apply to all contracted Cadets, both scholarship and Non-Scholarship. This is a statutory requirement. No waivers/exceptions are authorized. Cadets who hold dual citizenship must be advised that, when requested, they will be required to provide a statement to the OPM investigator, or the adjudicative authority, expressing their willingness to renounce dual citizenship. Failure to do so may result in denial of a security clearance, which is a prerequisite for commissioning, and will result in disenrollment."
That's very particular language. It does NOT say you must surrender your citizenship now; it says you must be prepared to do so if requested by the service. It is entirely possible that, due to the dual-citizenship being with a friendly nation, you may be able to hold on to it, but that's up to the service.
That said, for Military Intelligence, or any job requiring access to TS and/or SCI, it is going to likely be an issue, and you will probably be asked to renounce in order to assess into that branch. But, the important thing is that you don't need to do it now, only at that point when requested.
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1LT (Join to see)
Thank you Sir for the precious information.
I am well aware that I would have to renounce my passport and my citizenship, but I was more worried about the "you lived in France, you are not fully American" types of comments I heard in the past.
I am well aware that I would have to renounce my passport and my citizenship, but I was more worried about the "you lived in France, you are not fully American" types of comments I heard in the past.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
1LT (Join to see) -
You will have disclose all of that. its not a show stopper. You will have disclose any long term foreign contacts you have or had. They will want to know if you have contacts that are in the foreign military, especially if they are involved in intelligence. They will want to know if you were employed or know someone employed by a foreign entity that has ties to that countries military/defense industry. You have time. So I would try to get contact info for people you know still over there. You will want to be as detailed as possible in order to make the investigators job easier. You do not want to try to hide something. If it gets found out then its game over.
You will have disclose all of that. its not a show stopper. You will have disclose any long term foreign contacts you have or had. They will want to know if you have contacts that are in the foreign military, especially if they are involved in intelligence. They will want to know if you were employed or know someone employed by a foreign entity that has ties to that countries military/defense industry. You have time. So I would try to get contact info for people you know still over there. You will want to be as detailed as possible in order to make the investigators job easier. You do not want to try to hide something. If it gets found out then its game over.
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I can only speak anecdotally on this. My former Scout Sniper Platoon commander was married to a foreign national, who was born in a foreign country, but had lived in the US since age 5~. It caused no end of problems when they were adjudicating his TS/SCI (SSBI) in 1997~.
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I would like to add my voice to the chorus calling for you to drop the French citizenship, given your stated intention to try to branch MI and get a TS clearance.
I'm a natural-born citizen, but married to a German. It's been an issue in my last periodic reinvestigation, because the investigator made it an issue. I'm lucky he didn't recommend denial. And this is my wife, not me....
You having the dual citizenship yourself is going to be a stumbling block somewhere down the road. Better to take care of it sooner rather than later.
I'm a natural-born citizen, but married to a German. It's been an issue in my last periodic reinvestigation, because the investigator made it an issue. I'm lucky he didn't recommend denial. And this is my wife, not me....
You having the dual citizenship yourself is going to be a stumbling block somewhere down the road. Better to take care of it sooner rather than later.
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1LT (Join to see)
Thank you for the information.
My mother is not American, I hope it won't be an issue.
My mother is not American, I hope it won't be an issue.
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CW3 (Join to see)
It should not. As long as you list all your foreign relatives on your SF-86 when applying for a clearance. Also, I'm assuming you don't live with your mother....I live with my wife.
My issue came up with my periodic reinvestigation. The investigator questioned me pretty sharply about her loyalty....
My issue came up with my periodic reinvestigation. The investigator questioned me pretty sharply about her loyalty....
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