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Vermont Guard leaders tell committee S.56 study could boost recruitment, speed citizenship for new Americans
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Summary
Leaders of the Vermont National Guard told the House Government Operations & Military Affairs Committee on April 24 that a study of an Office of New Americans (S.56) would help recruit lawful permanent residents and other immigrants, assist with language and documentation challenges, and create workforce pathways through Guard service.
Senior Vermont National Guard leaders testified to the House Government Operations & Military Affairs Committee on April 24 that a legislative study of an Office of New Americans, as proposed in S.56, would help the state recruit and integrate immigrant residents — including those who join the Guard — and assist with employment and credentialing challenges facing immigrant families.
Bringing numbers: “Since 2020, we have 14 non‑citizens who have joined” in the Air National Guard and 11 who gained citizenship through Guard service, General Knight told the committee, adding that in the Army National Guard the unit tracks 35 lawful permanent residents with 14 enlisted since 2022 and five who have become citizens; he also said there may be additional service members who have since naturalized but have not reported it up the chain. General Knight described active outreach and targeted recruiting, including translated recruiting materials, as critical to reaching immigrants interested in service.
Brigadier General Hank Carter, Deputy Adjutant General for Vermont, illustrated the Guard’s role in helping immigrants succeed inside the state. He described an airman, Mahat Abdulahi (originally from Somalia), who joined the Air National Guard, deployed with the Guard and later participated in a naturalization ceremony that included his family. Carter said the Guard can provide training, education benefits and a career pathway that also supports retention in Vermont.
Challenges identified: Witnesses told the committee language proficiency and documentation are frequent barriers. A representative of Guard recruiters said prospective recruits must meet the same enlistment standards as other applicants — including the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), background checks and medical requirements — and that language gaps often make the ASVAB harder for otherwise qualified candidates. Recruiters and Guard leaders said they have used volunteers who speak applicants’ native languages and classroom assistance from local educators to prepare candidates for testing and service.
Documentation is also an obstacle. Committee members heard that some newcomers arrive without easily verified education or identity records (for example, high‑school diplomas or birth certificates), which complicates the enlistment process. Witnesses suggested a study office could coordinate state supports to help new Americans collect documentation, access licensing and connect to civilian workforce opportunities.
Lawmakers and witnesses described workforce and family impacts. Representative Stone, a committee member and sponsor on related legislation, noted that assisting professional licensing for spouses — for example nurses and other licensed professions trained abroad — can affect a service member’s family stability and thus influence recruitment and retention. Guard leaders urged coordination between military opportunities and state workforce development programs to create dual career pathways.
No vote or formal committee action was taken during the testimony. Committee members encouraged continued collaboration between the Guard, refugee resettlement agencies and legislative staff to shape any study or office charged with assisting new Americans.
