Army To Boost Skills Citizenship Program

The Army announced plans to enhance a program that provides a fast track to citizenship for enlisted immigrants with special language or medical skills, according to guidance published Friday. The Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (Mavni) will allow 3,000 enlistments this fiscal year and 5,000 in 2016 -- a boost from the current limit of 1,500. Foreigners accepted to the program have been in the U.S. legally on temporary visas, but the program was also opened to young, undocumented immigrants with deportation deferrals under President Obama's 2012 initiative. None had been accepted to date, according to Army spokesman Hank Minitrez.