I claim to be a disciple...
...but I don't claim to be a monk by any means. The problem lies in the jiaheshang, but that can be broadly defined. To some, it's just those who denigrate Shaolin by posing as monks but not acting like monks. This gets to be really sticky when you examine the wuseng as there is a longstanding tradition. However, when wuseng are out drinking, cavorting with women, etc., well, there's a longstanding tradition of criticism of that sort of behavior too. It's a uniquely Shaolin problem.
Good questions, Chan Quan!
As disciple vows, the difference is the martial angle. Becoming a disciple is common in the martial arts outside of Buddhist traditions. It's a Confucian thing, deeply embedded in Chinese culture. Anyone can become a disciple. You just need to find a master to agree. So many martial artists have become disciples of wuseng strictly on a martial level. For example, I know a Shaolin disciple that is Christian, and only took vows under his Shaolin master for the martial arts. At my disciple ceremony, we did bows to Guanyin, but it was clearly stated that we were taking vows under Shi Decheng to be martial disciples, not Buddhist disciples. Of course, as the vows are taken in Chinese, many disciples don't really know what they are saying, which is kind of ironic, so they misinterpret their disciple vows as taking Buddhist refuge. This adds to the confusion. I took my Buddhist vows separately at Green Dragon Temple here in California.
As for Buddhist monks in America, there are scores of them in every tradition of Buddhism. We're the great American melting pot after all. If you mean that specific to Shaolin monks, there are a few. One of the monks that I am currently training under says he keeps his vows of abstinence and remains robed. I'm just getting to know him, so I can't validate that as of yet. There are others. It's sort of case by case, as many have officially disrobed (like the other former monk I train under). Others continue to don robes but have given up their vows. That happens at Shaolin too, not just in America.
I hope you enjoy my book. ;)