# 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:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/21 "2011-04-28T06:16:41Z")
> [@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. If you someone serves in their home military, then imigrates to Israel while they’re still of military age are they exempt from military service in Israel? > [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > …[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. Didn’t alot of pilots from the Royal New Zealand Air Force join the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Air Force after New Zealand scapped all it’s combat aircraft? And speaking of the RAF, before the US entered the way alot of Americans joined the RAF. Some resigning from the USAAC to do so. Most trasnfered back to the USAAC after Pearl Harbor. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/22 "2011-04-28T06:26:07Z")
I was going to mention that - yes, the French Foreign Legion allows people from wherever to serve no questions asked, it’s its entire purpose. Well, that and getting dumped in godforsaken hell holes, the better to find overwhelming odds to die against in futile last stands :). Oddly enough, the French themselves are officially barred from joining, although they often do so anyway by declaring themselves to be Belgian or Swiss. Used to be serving a couple years in the Legion gave you automatic French citizenship upon discharge as well, but I’m not sure it’s true any more. ---
**Author:** ![Grey\_Tama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@Grey\_Tama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey_Tama)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/23 "2011-04-28T06:45:18Z")
Larry Thorne did three: Finnish Army, Waffen-SS and US army. Well-decorated and quite high-ranking in all three as well. Buried at Arlington National Cemetery (can’t be too many other SS-guys there…) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry\_Thorne](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Thorne) ---
**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, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/24 "2011-04-28T08:29:52Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > If you someone serves in their home military, then imigrates to Israel while they’re still of military age are they exempt from military service in Israel? No, although if they’re married, or over a certain age, they may only be asked to serve for a brief term - usually six months - in order to qualify them to serve in the reserves. ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/25 "2011-04-28T10:00:48Z")
co-terminusly? if they’re allies yes. remember WW2 and even the gulf war. ---
**Author:** ![footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footballisplayedwithyourfeet)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/26 "2011-04-28T10:01:33Z")
My grandpa was sent to the eastern front in WW II to fight for the germans, got injured and during his recovery most of his platoon (or whatever it was called) was destroyed. He then deserted, found his way back to Slovenia and joined the Partizans. I think there were a lot of stories like these, the Germans in this (occupied) area just rounded up people and sent them to Russia. ---
**Author:** ![medicated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@medicated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medicated)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/27 "2011-04-28T10:19:48Z")
I’ve met someone who apparently served in three different militaries. Drafted into the Soviet army in the late 80s, then left for Israel, and served in the IDF. Later moved to the US and enlisted there. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915/28 "2011-04-28T13:33:06Z")
My next door neighbor served in both the Canadian Army and the American Navy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-serve-in-two-armies/579915.md?page=1)