Increasing Number Of Felons Accepted Into Army, Marines

Last year, the Army accepted more than double the number of convicted felons it accepted in 2006. Increasing Number Of Felons Accepted Into Army, MarinesBy Cliff Montgomery – Apr. 21st, 2008Forced to meet current combat needs, both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps are accepting into their ranks far more recruits who have been convicted of a felony, including a number with manslaughter or sex crime convictions.Recently-released congressional committee data reveals that in 2007, the Army accepted 511 recruits with felony records–more than double the 249 it accepted in 2006.The Marines accepted 350 recruits with felonies in 2007, up from 208 in 2006.We must remember that these numbers are a mere fraction of the 180,000+ soldiers brought into active duty by America’s Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines over its fiscal year 2007, which ended on Sept. 30th of that year. But it’s a disturbing trend which worries many, both on Capitol Hill and in the Pentagon.Most of the felonies were burglaries; many others involved theft or drug offenses. But nine felons admitted into the military were convicted of sex crimes; six were convicted of manslaughter or vehicular homicide.Several dozen recruits in the U.S. Army and Marines were convicted of robbery or aggravated assault–actions which sometimes involved weapons.Army and Marine brass are battling to increase recruitment as the Bush Administration forces the U.S. military to fight two different wars at once. Hence the number of soldiers needing waivers for past crimes has increased in the last few years. The scores of recruits needing aptitude or medical waivers also have increased since the Iraq War.Though Henry Waxman, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, released this information to the public, he added that some individuals who have been granted the waivers for past mistakes may indeed deserve a second chance.But “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,” Waxman noted.The Pentagon uses a waiver process which allows potential recruits with past felony convictions to join the armed services. Many of those accepted committed their crimes when they were juveniles.”Waivers are used judiciously and granted only after a thorough review,” Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Withington told The Associated Press (AP).Though, a cynic may counter, the numbers show that the Pentagon certainly has been more forgiving of felons in recent years.Withington appears to have admitted as much to AP, adding that a combination of “low unemployment, a protracted war on terror, a decline in propensity to serve,” and a growing objection of adults to recommending the U.S. military as a viable career option to young people has made recruitment much more difficult.One cannot help but note that the Pentagon spokesman blames everyone and everything else in the world for its current recruit crisis, but refuses to admit the real problem: Very few young people with a future wish to risk everything for a false war in Iraq, fought for no other reasons than the lies and self-delusion of those now occupying the White House.Like what you’re reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of thee-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now! Graph by Associated Press