CBS4 Investigates Army Recruits' 'Moral Waivers'

[deadparrot]

(CBS4) DENVER A CBS4 investigation shows how the U.S. Army is accepting more applicants with criminal records, including drug problems, through a system of "waivers" to bypass regulations.

With a high demand for soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army has struggled to meet its recruiting and retention goals in past years. However, in the 2006 fiscal year, the Army exceeded its goal by enlisting 80,635 new troops.

The Army failed to reach its goal by 8 percent in 2005 which is a year they said was a less challenging recruiting environment.

The factors for an increase in enlistment include the change of the age limit from 40 to 42, a lowering of aptitude test score standards and an increase in what the Army calls "moral waivers."

http://cbs4denver.com/topstories/local_story_325001958.html

[Wickerman]

1. My god, they are allowing people who have smoked pot

into the military where they will have to fight an illegal war? damn, that is simply insane! I'm series!!1!

[Tikki]

2. Steven Green comes quickly to mind......

:(



Tikki

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

3. Basically a guy I go to college with

his little brother is in the military right now, He told me his brother is like one of the few members of the unit that didn't sign up to avoid jail time for a drug charge.

[Aviation Pro]

4. Great....

...so now we're press ganging criminals into the service. And we need a draft exactly why?

[Miss Chybil]

5. It used to be pretty common practice to give people a "second chance"

in the military. Sometimes it all somebody needs to get their life on track. Sometimes they end up being your roommate and they steal all your stuff. My roommate had no criminal record and she stole a bunch of my stuff, so what's the difference? As long as they're not repeat offenders, or violent offenders, I see no problem with this.

[davhill]

6. During VietNam and Previous Wars

I was common for judges to offer convicted criminals suspended sentences if they agreed to join the army.