American Army Citizenship Rule Is An Absolute Joke

Before we had this current group of Kenyans I remember a lot of sub elites racing over the years. I also have met none runners who have become US citizens through the program. Your simply being a douche and asking questions you don't have the answer to.

Brit Abroad wrote:

I didn't say it was a new phenomenon or that I had a problem with the US gaining new citizens... I'm merely suggesting that these people are completely manipulating your system to take places of legitimate AMERICAN (not just American by a citizenship technicality) athletes.

You could never look down the line and try and predict who will be making American teams for the next Olympics cycles like we can do, because those teams are going to be made up of people who aren't even 'American' yet, it's a joke.

Bro, if you are a brit, this doesn't concern you. I know you aren't a brit. Listen bro, join the US Army, then come talk. You redneck.

Brit Abroad wrote:

Yeah, fine with me. He's been in England since he was in primary school (6/7/8 years old ish) and is therefore British as far as I'm concerned. Not even remotely similar situation.

I'm not against people contributing to other countries or even gaining citizenship in other countries, but this DOES NOT make someone American (in this example). Tell yourselves what ever you want, but these guys aren't there to serve on the front line in Iraq, they are part the army for the sole purpose of running for America, which for them is a much easier route to major championships than competing for their actual country.

I don't expect them to be joining the military for the sole purpose of killing people. I do understand the commitment they make if running doesn't work out. They've committed many years of service to the US whether they are in WCAP or not in order to get their citizenship. You think there aren't Kenyans who have signed up and when running didn't work out the ended up in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Brit Abroad wrote:

I didn't say it was a new phenomenon or that I had a problem with the US gaining new citizens... I'm merely suggesting that these people are completely manipulating your system to take places of legitimate AMERICAN (not just American by a citizenship technicality) athletes.

You could never look down the line and try and predict who will be making American teams for the next Olympics cycles like we can do, because those teams are going to be made up of people who aren't even 'American' yet, it's a joke.

Also couldn't have looked down the line and predicted Sara Vaughn would be on the team 2 years ago when she was 7mo prego. What's your point?

egocentric ultrarunners wrote:

Brit Aboard, I doubt you are a brit. I'm sure you are a stupid redneck american posing as an online brit. Brits for the the most part have more class.

Really? Hmm, seems to me you've been watching a little too much BBC on PBS, they aren't all Darcy. Exhibit#1, Robert Young. Should we talk about Exhibit #2, LEJOG???

Brit Abroad wrote:

How are you guys happy with this happening? They are not American, they do not serve in the US Army, they are literally Kenyan blokes training full time at the expense of the American public and making US teams at the expense of actual American athletes.

Such a joke...

Ever heard of "Brit" hero Mobot?

My point is that there is very little progression through the ranks of these longer distance events. They're literally filled up with whichever decent Kenyan college graduates decide they want to become American every year.

And in answer to whoever said about if it doesn't work out for them then they have to do actual service - I should hope so - they've signed up to the army after all!

Again, to reiterate the point, they are signing up purely for the sake of making teams, and if that comes with the risk of doing a few years in the army where they'd be getting paid generously, then so be it... But their alternative is to go back to Kenya, never compete abroad again and earn 1,000 Kenyan Shillings a week, worthwhile risk I'd say.

Eva Heard Of . . . wrote:

Brit Abroad wrote:

How are you guys happy with this happening? They are not American, they do not serve in the US Army, they are literally Kenyan blokes training full time at the expense of the American public and making US teams at the expense of actual American athletes.

Such a joke...

Ever heard of "Brit" hero Mobot?

I mean, I don't agree with the OP, but Farah is clearly British. Just lived here nearly his whole life from a child, went through the British school and athletic system and clearly carries British culture.

The US Army system seems fine to me, anyone risking their life for a country deserves citizenship, of course.

If Ches wants to be an American and run for the stars and stripes why don't he go this route?

It took Sally Kipyego 10+ years to get her citizenship so as it stands now Ches has a long road

Brit Abroad wrote:

I didn't say it was a new phenomenon or that I had a problem with the US gaining new citizens... I'm merely suggesting that these people are completely manipulating your system to take places of legitimate AMERICAN (not just American by a citizenship technicality) athletes.

You could never look down the line and try and predict who will be making American teams for the next Olympics cycles like we can do, because those teams are going to be made up of people who aren't even 'American' yet, it's a joke.

This is true.

AND it has a negative impact on people's interest, in the United States, in the sport of track and field. Tough to identify with bought athletes that haven't come up the ranks in the country they now represent.

Brit Abroad wrote:

My point is that there is very little progression through the ranks of these longer distance events. They're literally filled up with whichever decent Kenyan college graduates decide they want to become American every year.

And in answer to whoever said about if it doesn't work out for them then they have to do actual service - I should hope so - they've signed up to the army after all!

Again, to reiterate the point, they are signing up purely for the sake of making teams, and if that comes with the risk of doing a few years in the army where they'd be getting paid generously, then so be it... But their alternative is to go back to Kenya, never compete abroad again and earn 1,000 Kenyan Shillings a week, worthwhile risk I'd say.

You're also forgetting the point that these guys now get to have a family and raise their kids up in America. They never have to worry about Boko Horom, starvation, or any of the third world diseases we never had to worry about. You're to single minded to understand there is a lot more at stake for these guys becoming American citizitens than running. In America we tell talented young kids to work hard for a scholarship and in Kenya they work hard to sunply survive and escape. I hope we accept every hard working individual from every third world country we can. There is nothing stopping any US native citizen from getting to the top and at the same time nothing is ever guaranteed or deserved. Asia has a better culture for academic excellence and America has benefited greatly with the thousands or even millions of jobs created in Silicon Valley by their creations. There are many pathways to US citizenship and each of them have their own difficulties, but none of them are easy.

Discovery wrote:

Brit Abroad wrote:

I didn't say it was a new phenomenon or that I had a problem with the US gaining new citizens... I'm merely suggesting that these people are completely manipulating your system to take places of legitimate AMERICAN (not just American by a citizenship technicality) athletes.

You could never look down the line and try and predict who will be making American teams for the next Olympics cycles like we can do, because those teams are going to be made up of people who aren't even 'American' yet, it's a joke.

This is true.

AND it has a negative impact on people's interest, in the United States, in the sport of track and field. Tough to identify with bought athletes that haven't come up the ranks in the country they now represent.

If you watched Chelimo's 5k and lost interest in American distance running than you are an idiot. There have been few times I've watched a race in recent years with such excitement. Guess you liked the slow AF sit and kick races executed by Rupp? Chelimo has a big personality which is something Rupp has never had. Chelimo could end up having a bigger impact on US running than Rupp and he's not even WHITE! Look at what Meb has done and he's not WHITE either.

65.83 wrote:

If Ches wants to be an American and run for the stars and stripes why don't he go this route?

It took Sally Kipyego 10+ years to get her citizenship so as it stands now Ches has a long road

See, does this not strike you as strange? 'If Ches wants to be an American'... Ches is NOT American, he's Kenyan. Just like Chelimo and Lagat and Bor and Korir and Kebenei and Kipchirchir and Sambu and so on and so forth.

They might be American citizens, but THEY ARE KENYAN.

And the talk about them 'putting their lives on the line for your country', give it a rest... None of them are active soldiers, they're all full time athletes.

As much as I respect Chelimo and I'd say I'm even a big fan, I do not agree with this backdoor routing of E. Africans to the US Olympic team.

HIs Rio performance was truly fantastic and inspiring but come on, were giving these guys secure jobs where their primary duty is to RUN. Serving in the Army, riiight...I'm sure they head out to tora bora between training blocks. Get real, just being in the Army does not make one a patriot or a war hero.

If I'm mistaken and these guys are in combat, then I retract but I doubt that is likely.

dlk2234 wrote:

If I'm mistaken and these guys are in combat, then I retract but I doubt that is likely.

Not everyone in the armed forces goes into combat and that doesn't make the sacrifice they make for our country any less meaningful or important. You are a f*cking joke for suggesting it does.

I actually worked as an Army recruiter in a small college town. A program called Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) recruited non-resident F1 visa holders that were native speakers in languages deemed critical by the Army. Swahili was one of those languages. The requirements to join MAVNI are not easy . They have to score significantly higher on the entrance test and complete a foreign language proficiency test. There are visa requirements that were rather complicated as well.

In the three years I recruited, we put in around 10 Kenyan MAVNI recruits. Not a single one of them ran their 1-mile fitness assessment in less than seven minutes. One guy who boasted about being a serious runner ran his first 400 in around 69, blew up and finished just inside the 8:30 cut off.

I actually preferred to work with MAVNI over average Americans. Their attitudes were generally much better, they were typically very punctual, etc. It seemed that your average American high school senior was not generally respectful and had a attitude like they were doing us a favor.

dlk2234 wrote:

Get real, just being in the Army does not make one a patriot or a war hero.

It most certainly does. From your attitude I can tell you are a self-centered jackass who could never think to put your country or anything else above yourself but others can and that should be honored and respected.

What's an American to you?

800ftw. wrote:

Eva Heard Of . . . wrote:

Ever heard of "Brit" hero Mobot?

I mean, I don't agree with the OP, but Farah is clearly British. Just lived here nearly his whole life from a child, went through the British school and athletic system and clearly carries British culture.

Farah is a Tax Exile who has not lived in the UK for many years.

The Mobot illegally moved to the UK at age 8 and exiled himself 7-years ago. So, he has not lived in the UK nearly all his life; even discounted his first 8-years in Somalia.