More convicted felons allowed to enlist in Army, Marines

[shah269]

This can't be good! gopers! Sign up save your boy kings war!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080421/...kxWH0OXSUDW7oF

WASHINGTON - Under pressure to increase their numbers, the Army and Marine Corps have sharply raised the number of recruits with felony convictions they are admitting to the services. (not good! we are now going to arm and train individuals who are scocial misfits!)

Data released by a congressional committee shows that 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.

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.
(Ok so only 511+ highly trained nut jobs? I wonder what damage they could do in a country that lacks laws?)

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.
(Yeah we need warm bodies to fight!)

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."

The services use a waiver process to let in recruits with felony convictions, and many of the crimes were committed when the service members were juveniles.


Oh this is going to be so much fun!

[Dakota Kid]

You should be happy, Shah. See, this way you won't have to someday scramble for a draft exemption.

[Mr. Whippy]

Actually, this is an ominous sign for the military. Individuals coerced into enlisting and then hoping they can be trained out of their (perceived) anti-social or non-conforming patterns of behavior.

Not the ideal setting for a intelligent, highly trained military.

[Baldrick]

The only thing worse is a draft, IMHO. These are the very people the Marines DOESN'T waqnt in its ranks.

[Dakota Kid]

The military has always processed "morals waivers" liberally, some branches more than others. As an AF recruiter I got in a few...but it was tight. The ones we had to reject usually got lapped up by the Army, they seemed to be the most liberals in terms of waivers.

Felonies are another whole matter....

[shah269]

Originally Posted by Dakota Kid

You should be happy, Shah. See, this way you won't have to someday scramble for a draft exemption.

So are you going to enlist?
As for me and a draft exemption? Well.....I recall in Iran only those who were unable to buy their way out served. Which oddly isn't that different from what happened here in the states. How many deferments did Dirty Dick get? 7?
And how did your boy king get that nice gig with the air national guard?

Never the less back on topic, this isn't a good thing.

[Dakota Kid]

[quote=shah269;3506698]So are you going to enlist?

Actually, I did, on Sep 15, 1984. Liked it so much that I stayed 20 years.

You?

[shah269]

Me....no thanks! Didn't vote for the boy king and never believe in his lies. I think I'm exempt. That and I've had the privilage of seeing war once. It was nice......but no thanks!
Thought I think that your boy king would greatly appreciated if you rejoined and fought for him. God knows he could use the help at the moment.

[636blurr]

I dont see what the bid deal is, at one time in this country for some convictions people were given something of a choice between the military or prison.

[gatorSMASH]

isnt the point of prison to "fix" negativity? That is what the goverment says anyways, so keeping true to there word...plus only about 500-700? Most likely on a case to case basis.

[shah269]

Ask your self this. Would you want a convicted fellon who has been traiend by the Army who is professant with the use of fire arms and is a bit desensatized by death as your neighbor? Oh...he he has a bit of soft tissue trama due to an IED.

[gatorSMASH]

your a idiot, im 100% sure you have no friends who have been convicted of any crimes at all. I have 2 good friends who are very nice people, but when your young shit happens sometimes. Its not hard to get a felony convicition.

[jerome_oneil]

Yeah! All you gotta do is commit a felony! Sheesh!

[gatorSMASH]

im just saying, because you have a felony doesnt make you a bad person. Its ridiculous how people look down upon people so much for things like this, you dont know the circumstances of the case so who are you to judge? If they are JUST enlisting most of them are young, and have to be off probation, meaning they were even younger when this happened. Kids do stupid shit, should they pay the rest of there life by being branded as you put it "a social misfit"?

[RayOSV]

Yep, exemptions for convictions (including felonies) are up as the branches try to make their numbers.