I was a Marine military advisor in both Iraq and Afghanistan (1 year each) and lived and worked with local forces and interpreters. They endured the same hardships and dangers we did. When we needed supplies, they went out in town and bought them for us without any complaints. These guys weren't 'house cat' interpreters in Kabul or Baghdad, these guys were out with us in the shittiest parts of southern Helmand province. Some can’t even go back home.<p>These guys accepted more risk for our country than many Americans would and they did it proudly. Sure, some did it for money. But these guys love America as much as we do because they know what it stands for--something that's difficult to see sipping Starbucks, waiting for the new iPhone to come out. We’re incredibly fortunate, but we forget that sometimes. They've earned the right to be citizens, which is more than many of us can say because we were just lucky enough to be born here.<p>Are they all great? No, but I’m not talking about those guys. I’m talking about the ones that are phenomenal and they deserve better. For our interpreters, we screened and recommended the ones we thought were qualified. The process should be thorough, but not as cumbersome and slow as it is now, particularly for those who are vouched for by senior ranking officers. In my heart I believe we owe it to them for their sacrifices. If they didn't do their job, there'd be fewer of us coming home. The green-on-blue threat in Afghanistan is real. You guys talking about money are missing the point.