Joining the Military in Japan

[Jpstw]

I never seen this come up before since I've been on this board, just curious of anyone knowing what its takes, how you get recruited, and if they even would except foreigners to join the military(This is different ethnicity but lived in Japan and can be labeled as Japanese, or you have permanent residence but are a American,etc). Please keep the topic on point and no lame arguing thank you .

 

[Iron Chef]

I have taught (and continue to do so) the JSDF on a regular basis at one of their officer candidate schools. For me to get that position alone as an English instructor required numerous background checks, a mountain of paperwork that had to be submitted on my behalf, and numerous other protocols (meetings with command personnel, etc.) just so I could gain on-base clearance as an outside contractor. Attempting to make inroads into actually joining a foreign military institution as a non-native is most likely prohibited by law (or else we'd have Al Qaeda infiltrating our armed services ranks...).

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Probably......

be a lot easier to join the France Foreign Legion then the Japanese military. Besides being a Japanese citizen, I bet you would have to read & write Japanese as good as a native. I bet the discipline would be SUPER strict also.
It seems living in Japan is difficult to do without a 4 year college degree and getting hired as an English teacher, but some people manage to do it; just don't think their military is the way to go.

Uncle Frank

☝

 

[undrentide]

ﾅｽﾂｩ窶ｰq窶佚?ﾋ?ｵ (members of Japan Self-Defence Forces) are national public officials thus only those who have Japanese nationality are able to apply, I believe.

 

[Jpstw]

So even if someone had permanent residence and all the paperwork needed, since their not of Japanese blood line its not happening? sorry i couldn't really catch on all the way.

P.S. What about women, are they allowed in the Military?

 

[Ewok85]

So even if someone had permanent residence and all the paperwork needed, since their not of Japanese blood line its not happening? sorry i couldn't really catch on all the way.

P.S. What about women, are they allowed in the Military?

People who are not born as Japanese cannot enter the military in Japan. Its come up a few times, and its just impossible.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

Actually, I would assume that if you became a naturalized citizen of Japan, you could legally join the self-defense forces, but you would be at a disadvantage in many ways.

I would definately rule it out as a possibility. If you want to join the military, do it in your own country.

 

[Mike Cash]

It has come up before, although if history is any indicator, that won't be enough to stop a complete rehash of the topic.

Japanese army

Basically, no, you can't join.

 

[nice gaijin]

Just out of curiosity, Jpstw, what makes you want to join the JSDF?

 

[epigene]

Sorry, but you can't join unless you're Japanese national, as Mike said.

A little off-topic, but my kids received invitations to join from the Self-Defense Forces in their last year of high school. (I think all high school students do.) They got a small leaflet explaining all the perks they are entitled to by joining SDF. The perks are basically attractive to students who wish for higher learning but don't have the financial means--basically the same as in the US, I guess. I've heard many go into SDF Air Force to become pilots.

When my son got the invitation, the leaflet promised a free skydive to accompany the introductory tour. Although my son wasn't interested at all (he had other ambitions), my daughter (who was a third-year junior high school student at that time) was excited and said she's going to the tour for the skydive (although she had no intentions to join SDF either )

By the time, she was in 3rd year high school and got a similar leaflet from SDF, the free skydive offer was gone!! She was so awfully disappointed...

 

[Sukotto]

Attempting to make inroads into actually joining a foreign military institution as a non-native is most likely prohibited by law (or else we'd have Al Qaeda infiltrating our armed services ranks...).

Actually.....
Though I did not know it was this high:
"41,000 foreign citizens in the U.S."

(many?) are called "Green Card Recruits" and some of the first "coalition" soldiers dead in Iraq were non-citizens. According to this father they are typically sent to the front lines.

Every country would have different rules.
I would guess the US is an exception to what seems to me the opposite would be the norm.
Mike Cash is probably right on this topic for Japan.




It did at first surprise me, but maybe it shouldn't have, in an attempt to keep the number of dead Us soldiers down (and since this particular act of agression requires more than arming death squads as they did in 80s central america because most Americans are morally opposed to empire[trash] ),

they use all the stops to prevent a draft: the "poverty draft"; the back-door draft which includes extending tours, calling back people whose two or so years after being out has passed (usually they can be called back within X number of years but they've been calling up people regardless).

To tell you the truth, I don't know why they have a problem having some 2 million?
troops in the armed forces.
Maybe they have to keep those over 700 known/acknowledged bases in over
120 different countries operating...?

Another foreign national's story

Staff Sgt. Camilo Mejia, a Costa Rican citizen, also argues that under an 1851 treaty between his homeland and the United States, he cannot be forced to perform compulsory military service beyond eight years.

 

[mr.sumo.snr]

Mike's right. This also applies to firefighters, air-sea rescue or other jobs where the person may be asked to risk his/her life to save another - so I guess gaijin becoming police officers would be FINE!

I 'think' gaijin can join the local volunteer fire-fighter 'militia' - I've certainly seen news stories about guys who have, but I don't know what tasks they are permitted to undertake.

One thing about the JSDF I've always wondered is: are recruits under the age of twenty, and therefore technically minors, expected to stand on the line and defend the country. Were there under-20s dispatched to Iraq? If so isn't this contrary to the principles of a modern democracy. The first generally recognized right of full citizens being suffrage. If you're being asked to 'die' for your country, I think the right to vote should be part of the package deal. Buying a pack of cigarettes and a can of beer might also be nice!

 

[Mike Cash]

Mike's right. This also applies to firefighters, air-sea rescue or other jobs where the person may be asked to risk his/her life to save another - so I guess gaijin becoming police officers would be FINE!

For the benefit of those who are too literal-minded and can't spot sarcasm:

No, you can't be a Japanese police officer either.

 

[Sukotto]

One thing about the JSDF I've always wondered is: are recruits under the age of twenty, and therefore technically minors, expected to stand on the line and defend the country? Were there under-20s dispatched to Iraq? If so isn't this contrary to the principles of a modern democracy. The first generally recognized right of full citizens being suffrage. If you're being asked to 'die' for your country, I think the right to vote should be part of the package deal. Buying a pack of cigarettes and a can of beer might also be nice!

This does not answer your question, but...


11.b. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict New York, 25 May 2000


Under Japan's signing Declarations and Reservations says nothing about not sending their 18-year-old recruits into combat.

Interestingly, they have Youth Cadets who are recruited at a minimum age of 15 years who receive educational training at schools within the structure of the Japan Self-Defence Forces.

 

[Ewok85]

Interestingly they have Youth Cadets who are recruited at a minimum age of 15 years who receive educational training at schools within the structure of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

Thats interesting to me in that I did a similar thing (from the age 13). I was part of the Air Training Corps, which exist in Australia and the UK as a youth cadet program in-part coordinated and funded by the Royal (Australian) Air Force and government.

Nothing more fun that living on an Air force base for a month, being able to go out to the flight line and chat with fighter pilots and watch the planes come and go.

 

[Sukotto]

Nothing more fun that living on an Air force base for a month, being able to go out to the flight line and chat with fighter pilots and watch the planes come and go.

Yeah, probably. There is the possibility I might have done the same at that age if it was offered in the States. I still have a poster of a stealth fighter sitting at my parents house in a closet. And an illustrated book about the history of war I bought in like 7th grade.

In the states one can join at 17 with parent's permission. It is called Delayed Entry program.


Like the States, I'm surprised that Australia even has a military. Who's going to invade them? It's not like there are hostile neighbors with border disputes. Oh, wait, East Timor and all that oil the gov't continues to steal. (i know it is not you but the gov't)

 

[Ewok85]

Well New Zealand is pretty dodgy, need to keep them in line (j/k guys)

But Australia has been attacked in the past, the Navy acts as our coast guard, and all 3 forces do excellent work assisting in time of war and disaster in the general area around Australia (after the tsunami a few years ago as well as other floods and things).

 

[Sukotto]

I hear yah. Mexico & Canada are fixin' a joint two front invasion any day now. And you never can tell how many soldiers will swim across the two giant moats to avoid radar.

I know it's off topic, but i can't help it. besides, the topis seems pretty much done...

 

[mr.sumo.snr]

Well New Zealand is pretty dodgy, need to keep them in line (j/k guys)

But Australia has been attacked in the past,

Indeed, Darwin was extensively bombed by Japanese aircraft in early 1942. About 250 people were killed. Northern parts of Australia continued to be bombed until the end of 1943.

I don't keep such facts to hand. Please credit Bill Bryson - I recently finished reading his excellent 'travelogue' about Australia.

--

 

[Sukotto]

Let's face it, the reason countries like Australia and the US, looking on a map and with vague limited knowledge of their neighbors, as well as the other rich industrialized countries maintain a military, is to maintain their positions in world economic order.

If any particular country decides it does not want to trade with others, particularly the US, or decides they do not want the legal constructions called corporations in their country, then they will be denounced as communist or anti-US or anti-west. What a flippin' joke.

Not much has changed since the days of imperialism with violent full scale invasions.
In fact this way of staying rich is back.
Why can't we have international cooperation and not arm this group or that overtly or covertly, US, UK, France?

Where are these supposed enemies?
Oh yeah. Iraq, Iran, and NKorea.
Oh, wait. They are every where. Remember the terrorist under your bed?

The only reason to join the military is to do what the guy who met historian Howard Zinn did in WW2. Zinn was there to fight fascism. This other guy told him he was a pacifist, but joined to meet guys like him, who thought war was a way to go.