Columbus Business Daily

How will dual citizenship affect me joining the military?

Lets start off, I am a US and German citizen living only in the united states, my father a original german citizen now has dual citizenship from living here for the required time, my mother has only american citizenship. Now: 1) Do I have to serve the draft for the German army, if i live in America? 2) How will Dual citizenship affect me if I join the US military? 3) Am I even allowed to join armed forces with dual citizenship?

Public Comments

1. 1) I don't know about the German draft 2) You're security clearance may take a little bit longer to get, but its not impossible (or really that hard) 3) Yes, you can definitely join the US military with dual citizenship, and its especially easy if you were born on US soil.
2. you may join the US military with dual citizenship, but if you wish to become an Officer or take a job that requires a Clearance you must renounce your German citizenship.
3. You shouldn't have any problems joining up. I do not know how the draft system is in Germany though. God bless you if you do join. It seems like a lot of our "home grown" citizens don't have the gumption to join and instead badmouth or inject there own warped view. I sure am glad there are people like you out there otherwise a lot of us would probably be bars of soap right now!
4. Guten taug You won't have any problems. As long as you're an American it doesn't matter if you have a dual citizenship or not. My grandparents came from Germany and my grandfather joined up with the Union Army in 1864. First and foremost you're an American. You won't have to serve in the German military.
5. I have no idea about the US side of things, but as a German who has served his time in the German Army some points regarding the German service (from memory, things might be different nowadays, no guarantee that all this is correct). In principle, all male Germans have to serve in the German military, no matter where they live. However, with the German military shrinking over the last couple of years, a lot less people get drafted now compared to the times of the Cold War. In general, the military can draft you until you have reached the age of 27. However, as a) you live in the US as you say and the German authorities probably have no clue where you are (would you live in Germany, you would get your "invitation" for the medical tests, etc, shortly before your 18th birthday) and b) we have "too many" young men for our small military anyway - I am pretty sure no one in Germany will ever care to draft you. Hope this helps. German Tank Corps 1993-1994