[Gondring]

The problem has been known and studied for a while, and continues to be studied. For example, 15 years ago, they found that nearly half of Navy recruits had a criminal record, and those with criminal records had much higher rates of attrition.

During the Iraq War, though, they soared--including felons. From 2006 to 2007, the number of active-duty felony recruits more than doubled for the Army, and nearly doubled for the Marines. And the 2006 rates were more than double the rates early in the Iraq War.

It's largely a function of the economy, but it's more than that.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"The problem has been known and studied for a while, and continues to be studied."

If you look at history, many great armies were filled with criminals. The Romans, the British Army and Navy both during their great empire of the 17th - 19th century. The French Foreign Legion is probably the most celebrated of armies who take criminals though not as much anymore.