“Joining the Army? Don’t hesitate to ask questions.”
The United States Army is aggressively marketing itself to Los Angeles Koreans.
Korean-American Army officers, including Sgt. Dong-ryul Lee, Sgt. Young-chan Choi and Sgt. 1st Class Jung-ho Jin, recently visited the Korea Daily to raise the awareness on the U.S. Army in Koreatown as they are seeking more participation.
One question the sergeants have been receiving is the availability of the MAVNI program, designed for non-U.S. citizens. Since the program closed indefinitely in June, about 1,000 of the foreign citizens who were set to join the U.S. Army are on the brink of losing their eligibility.
“There’s no other conclusion other than the fact that MAVNI is not available at this very moment,” said Lee. “I’m predicting that an official statement will be made around October.”
Then, Lee further explained that the benefits of joining the U.S. Army do not just lie in granting citizenships to foreigners.
“The preconceived notions have prevented Korean-Americans from joining the army,” Lee said. “Those who join are given premium benefits, including medical insurance, college grants and loans, annual pay and much more. We hope that more Koreans are aware of this information.”
Jin added: “Benefits only get bigger for those who are younger. Joining the army doesn’t mean you’re giving up on school. In fact, joining the army will help you cover tuition. You even have opportunities to take online classes while you’re in the army.”
Eligibility is based on age and educational background. Green card and citizenship holders are eligible to apply if they are between ages of 17 and 34.5 with a high school diploma. Those interested are encouraged to contact any one of the sergeants.
▶Sgt. Dong-ryul Lee (Torrance, Gardena, Santa Monica):(310)370-3438
▶Sgt. Young-chan Choi (L.A. Koreatown):(213)381-1995
▶Sgt. 1st Class Jung-ho Jin (Burbank, La Crescenta and Glendale):(818)602-7607
By Jiyoon Kim
