More Felons OK'd to Enlist - How desperate the military is..

[Speciesamused]

I have mixed feelings with this. Of course there are people in prison who do not deserve to be there, so this
provides an opportunity. But then again they may lose life. On the other hand what type of people are we sending to
represent our military strength. Seems a weakness. Americans are showing they will not enlist in a war brought upon us
with lies. So they ignore the masses and move to those who have little choice. Priceless.

By Lolita C. Baldor - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Apr 21, 2008 17:42:12 EDT

WASHINGTON — Under pressure to meet combat needs, the Army and Marine Corps brought in significantly more recruits with felony convictions last year than in 2006, including some with manslaughter and sex crime convictions.

Data released by a congressional committee shows the number of soldiers admitted to the Army with felony records jumped from 249 in 2006 to 511 in 2007. And the number of Marines with felonies rose from 208 to 350.

Those numbers represent a fraction of the more than 180,000 recruits brought in by the active duty Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines during fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2007. But they highlight a trend that has raised concerns both within the military and on Capitol Hill.

The bulk of the crimes involved were burglaries, other thefts, and drug offenses, but nine involved sex crimes and six involved manslaughter or vehicular homicide convictions. Several dozen Army and Marine recruits had aggravated assault or robbery convictions, including incidents involving weapons.

Both the Army and Marine Corps have been struggling to increase their numbers as part of a broader effort to meet the combat needs of a military fighting wars on two fronts. As a result, the number of recruits needing waivers for crimes or other bad conduct has grown in recent years, as well as those needing medical or aptitude waivers.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, who released the data, noted that there may be valid reasons for granting the waivers and giving individuals a second chance.

But he added, “Concerns have been raised that the significant increase in the recruitment of persons with criminal records is a result of the strain put on the military by the Iraq war and may be undermining military readiness.”

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/04/ap_upfelons_enlist_042108/

[Lerkfish]

1. what it means is that the regular army will have to babysit behavior problems

and likely you will see an increase in Haditha events.

Putting a killing weapon in the hands of felons to fight a war usually does not bode well for the occupied country, nor indeed for the fellow soldiers.

[Speciesamused]

5. Yes, What do our solidiers think of this?

I agree. Former Army here. I remember people with problems of all sorts in my company.
So its bad enough having to babysit people who just cannot adapt let alone having
tendencies that may be criminal. With practically no accountability there.

[whistle]

2. Sounds to me like the criminal leaders need criminal soldiers to do

...their dirty work including handling revolution on U.S. soil

[DrDan]

3. you know - it seems as though taking these felons would be a last recourse . . .

but, they really fit in juniors view of fightin' a war better than law-abiding patriots.

I don't think he, or cheney, or any of the rest of the cabal have any misgivings about bringing in felons to do the dirty work.

[MADem]

4. Who needs a draft? Empty the PRISONS!!!

:eyes:

Gee, beats that prison college and training program they have working! The old "earn as you learn" paradigm, rewritten!

Of course, it makes service for your average young non-prison prospect a bit less attractive...burglars, thieves, killers, druggies...meet my company, MA!

These "low quality recruits" end up costing more than they are worth in the long haul. They're commonly recycled and often wash out in a year or two. As a short term solution, though, it'll do until December...and then, it's someone ELSE's problem...

[DBoon]

6. way to teach felons how to use weaponry

I am not looking forward to these people coming out of the military with all their training.

Al Capone was a street punk until he learned how to fire a machine gun in WW I

[indepat]

7. The more hard-core criminals one has to implement one's criminal policies the better

:D

[Sam Ervin jret]

8. Hide the puppies, children and young women over there.

BushCo's finally sending his own kind.

Our long national disgrace continues.