# Can Someone Serve in Two Armies **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 27, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915 "2011-04-27T17:15:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/1 "2011-04-27T17:15:05Z")
Joe American graduates high school, joins the Army, serves for a couple of years, maybe a tour or two in Iraq, and is honorably discharged. For reasons not germane to the thread, he winds up living in Canada. Could he join the Canadian Army? ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/2 "2011-04-27T17:19:51Z")
It’s not completely unheard of here in the US. This guy was in the British army, then in the US army. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick\_Rescorla](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Rescorla) ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/3 "2011-04-27T17:20:42Z")
I don’t see why not. Doesn’t every army have their own qualification standards? I don’t know if Canada requires Canadian citizenship for joining - does it? If he became a Canadian citizen, he probably could, assuming he fulfills age and fitness requirements. I don’t think rank would automatically transfer, though. He’d need to be reappointed or recommissioned to his “old” rank specifically. One of my ancestors served in the British Army (Black Watch) before emigrating to the US with his family - I don’t know if he ever served in the US Army or not. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/4 "2011-04-27T18:40:49Z")
Here’s another (more recent): > **[Former British soldier joins U.S. Army to serve in Afghanistan](https://www.army.mil/article/32819/former-british-soldier-joins-us-army-to-serve-in-afghanistan/)** > > At first glance Robert Sumner looks like any other American soldier - until he speaks. Then Sumner's thick British accent comes out. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/5 "2011-04-27T18:42:41Z")
> [@bump](#): > > [Rick Rescorla - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Rescorla) Wow. That is one hell of a guy. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/6 "2011-04-27T20:24:40Z")
A number of American soldiers who fought with distinction in Vietnam later volunteered for Rhodesia. Some even served in special units like the Grey’s Scouts. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/7 "2011-04-27T20:36:42Z")
I’ve known several former Israeli soldiers who had previously served in foreign armies, including a couple of American Vietnam War vets and a whole bunch of former Russian Army guys. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/8 "2011-04-27T20:42:46Z")
[John Babcock](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Babcock) served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in World War I, and the US Army in World War II. [This guy](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8474282/Royal-wedding-Sailor-chosen-for-wedding-duty-discovers-he-is-distant-cousin-of-Kate-Middleton.html) was in the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force before joining the Royal Navy. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/9 "2011-04-27T21:13:46Z")
My late brother-in-law served in the British Navy then moved to the U.S. and served in the American Navy. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/10 "2011-04-27T21:21:46Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’ve known several former Israeli soldiers who had previously served in foreign armies, including a couple of American Vietnam War vets and a whole bunch of former Russian Army guys. I was going to say there were probably hundreds of WWII veterans who emigrated to Israel in the late forties and served in the Israeli military. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/11 "2011-04-27T21:29:38Z")
I’ve met several people who had served in the Soviet and other soviet-bloc militaries who moved to the US and joined the US military. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/12 "2011-04-27T21:31:29Z")
[Lafayette Escadrille - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafayette_Escadrille) (WW1) [Eagle Squadrons - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_squadron) (WW2) American volunteers were formed into their own airforce squadrons under foreign (France & UK) service, and eventually, after America’s entry, transferred over to the US services. Does that count for the OP? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/13 "2011-04-27T21:49:46Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I was going to say there were probably hundreds of WWII veterans who emigrated to Israel in the late forties and served in the Israeli military. Not just immigrants. Many thousands of Jews living in Palestine volunteered for the British military during WW2. [The Jewish Brigade](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Brigade). ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/14 "2011-04-27T22:50:34Z")
How about George Washington? He fought for the British during the French and Indian War, then later led a revolutionary Army against the British. All the US Navy Sailors that were impressed by the British Navy in the years leading up to the War of 1812 probably qualify. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/15 "2011-04-27T22:53:09Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > J…For reasons not germane to the thread, he winds up living in Canada. Could he join the Canadian Army? Drill Sergeant: “March! It’s aboot time you sorey little maggots learned some discipline, eh!” ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/16 "2011-04-27T23:02:15Z")
Well, Benedict Arnold did! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_of\_Lucan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_of_Lucan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/17 "2011-04-27T23:26:51Z")
Many Irish people have served in both the Irish army and the British army. ---
**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/18 "2011-04-28T00:11:42Z")
And I would imagine that similarly many people have served in both the British military and in the military of one of the other Commonwealth realms. Even more so in WWI and WWII, when the distinctions between British nationality and Dominion nationality were quite fuzzy. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/19 "2011-04-28T05:39:27Z")
The grandfather of a friend of mine served in three or four armies, depending on your definitions - first in the Hungarian military, then in the British military during WW2, then in the Irgun (the right-wing Jewish organization) and finally in the IDF. ---
**Author:** ![williambaskerville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@williambaskerville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williambaskerville)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/20 "2011-04-28T05:53:22Z")
> [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](#): > > Many Irish people have served in both the Irish army and the British army. My best man did 10 years in the Irish army,then went and did a stint in the French Foreign Legion, basically just for the hell of it and for the bragging rights. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915.md?page=2)