WP: Violations by Military Recruiters Up Sharply

[DeepModem Mom]

Violations by Military Recruiters Up Sharply
Numbers Rose From 2004 to 2005 With Pressure to Meet Goals, GAO Finds
By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 15, 2006; Page A05

The number of alleged and substantiated violations by U.S. military recruiters increased by more than 50 percent in one year, a rise that may reflect growing pressure to meet wartime recruiting goals, according to a Government Accountability Office report released yesterday.

Allegations of wrongdoing by military recruitment personnel rose from 4,400 cases in fiscal 2004 to 6,600 cases in fiscal 2005, with substantiated cases increasing from 400 to almost 630, according to the report. The number of cases found to be criminal violations more than doubled, from 33 to 68.

The increase in violations was noted despite a significant decline in the number of people who joined the military. The number of new recruits fell from 250,000 in fiscal 2004 to 215,000 in fiscal 2005, even as recruiting efforts were significantly boosted, according to the GAO report.

The report noted that part of the increase in violations could be due to the Air Force's improved ability to track wrongdoing. But GAO officials concluded that because the Defense Department does not have an appropriate method of tracking violations across all the services, the total is likely to be higher....

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Citing internal Defense Department data, the GAO found that about 20 percent of active-duty recruiters believe that irregularities -- such as coercion, concealing information that would disqualify a candidate and falsifying documents, among others -- occur frequently. A majority of recruiters also reported dissatisfaction with their jobs....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081401002.html?nav=most_emailed

[Monkeyman]

1. Yep explains shit in Iraq does it not

[sutz12]

2. Well, they said they wanted to increase the Army by 30,000

How do you expect them to do that? :sarcasm:

Are there that many out of touch people left in America? One has to wonder.

[katinmn]

3. They're under extreme pressure. I read in Time (Aug. 7)

that the military is considering opening up shop in India and recruiting from there, with the promise of US citizenship.

There just aren't enough bodies for The Long War.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Isn't the use of foreign mercenaries supposed to be illegal?

I know, I know... "illegal" is just an inconvenience to the Junta. Let's just pretend that someone in power gives a snake's fart.

[katinmn]

5. Well, as soon as they sign, voila! They're American citizens!

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. No, actually - "Well, as soon as they sign, voila! they're cannon fodder"

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That'd be more realistic

(sigh)

[katinmn]

7. You gave me the idea to check icasualties to see if they were

tracking deaths of these new recruits from Mexico, Hondurus and other points south.

Couldn't find anything.

[ConcernedCanuk]

8. Surprised?

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I suspect not