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Military Accepting Recruits With Criminal Records
The U.S. Army and Marine Corps are allowing more recruits with past criminal records—even some convicted of felonies—as a result of the increased pressure of the extended war and rising casualties.
The number of Marine and Army recruits who need waivers for felonies and misdemeanors, including drug offenses, has nearly doubled since 2003, according to statistics compiled by the Defense Department.
The military frequently grants waivers to recruits with medical problems, criminal records, or low aptitude scores that would normally disqualify them from serving. The vast majority, however, are morals waivers, which include misdemeanors, some felonies, and drug and traffic offenses.
Lowering Standards?
Felony waivers issued by the Army increased from 411 in 2003 to 901 in 2006. Misdemeanor waivers for such crimes such as writing bad checks, petty theft, and some assaults soared from 2,700 to over 6,000 in 2006. More than three-fourths of the morals waivers the Army granted last year were for minor crimes, up by more than 50 percent since 2003.
According to Defense Department and Army Officials, the criminal waiver program offers young people who made past mistakes overcome their behavior. However, lawmakers are concerned that the military’s struggle to fill ranks during this time of war has lowered their moral standards.
“By lowering standards, we are endangering the rest of our armed forces and sending the wrong message to potential recruits across the country,” said Washington Democratic Rep. Marty Meehan.
Army Spokesman Paul Boyce contends that any serious felony or infraction of the law is given the utmost level of review before admittance. “Our goal is to make certain that we recruit quality young men and women who can keep America defended against its enemies.”
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