More Army recruits require 'conduct' waivers

[RamboLiberal]

Source: USA Today

The percentage of recruits requiring a waiver to join the Army because of a criminal record or other past misconduct has more than doubled since 2004 to one for every eight new soldiers.

The increase reflects the difficulties the Army faces in attracting young men and women into the military at a time of war. "Each month is a struggle, for the Army in particular," said Bill Carr, a top military personnel official.

The percentage of active and Reserve Army recruits granted "conduct" waivers for misdemeanor or felony charges increased to 11% last fiscal year from 4.6% in fiscal 2004, according to Army Recruiting Command statistics. So far this fiscal year, which began last October, 13% of recruits have entered the Army with conduct waivers.

Most waivers involve misdemeanors. The Army has granted 4,676 conduct waivers among the 36,047 recruited from October through late February. The waivers have helped the Army meet its active and Reserve recruitment goals of about 100,000 people a year for the past several years.



Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2008-04-06-Waiver_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

[Radical Activist]

1. Great. Take a criminal mind and train him to be a killer.

Just what this country needs.
I'm sure this won't have repercussions down the road.

[DUlover2909]

2. In their defense:

A whole lot of people have very benign charges on their records. Just because someone smokes weed and gets caught, or even if they become an addict of harder drugs, and gets busted, doesn't mean they are horrible people and many of them can actually change and become great people.

I know, because I am a convicted felon who at one time used hard drugs and got caught. I also have a college degree and I love my country. Criminal behavior + military training does not equal a crazed lunatic anti-American murderer.

I think each case should be looked at individually and evaluated for each person's ability to contribute.

[Kolesar]

7. I have heard this expression that, in time, somebody becomes "a new person"

People deserve a chance to learn and grow. I don't think that locking up millions of Americans on lesser charges has been good policy, either.

[merwin]

8. Do you honestly think they're weeding out people who haven't

become "new people"? I'm pretty sure they're just giving them waivers and then handing them an M16, without much of an interview or background check. They need bodies.

[lligrd]

3. Good, They Are Getting People With Some Life Experience

instead of only the young and naive. Quite easy to get a misdemeanor record in this country.

[Bobbieo]

4. BRING BACK THE DRAFT1111

[SpiralHawk]

5. Hell, Commander AWOL got a conduct waiver...and the republicon VP got 5 deferments

republicon homelander "values" include all kinds of lameass moral excuses, under the 'leadership' of the chickenhawks...

Why are republicon chickenhawks trashing our Army and our veterans?

[Turner Ashby]

6. I'm not opposed to it.

I think sometimes young people do stupid things, and they are not necessarily bad people. However, if it is a felony record, I think they should contact the attorney who was handling the case, both the prosector and the Defense Attorney. The prosector may not remember much (I remember very few cases) but, a defense attorney would probably remember most of their cases (I certainly remember cases that I thought were overcharged or unfair). That way, the Armed Services could make an informed decision about the person.

My ex was told go in the service or get a record (they could say that in those days). The service turned him around. So, it works both ways, and probably more for the better, then the Lee Harvey Oswalds.