Posted on 02/15/2007 5:05:15 AM PST by PurpleMan
"More recruits with criminal records, including felony convictions, are being allowed to join the Army and Marine Corps as the armed services cope with a dwindling pool of volunteers during wartime."...
"'Our armed forces are under incredible strain and the only way that they can fill their recruiting quotas is by lowering their standards,' said Rep. Martin T. Meehan, Massachusetts Democrat'"
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
You are correct. They may indeed instill a draft sometime in the near future.
Because it's unfair to the honorable men and women who volunteer to serve to have to watch their back and their possessions from criminally minded punks.
Boot camp style prison is where they should be sent, not military boot camps.
I don't have a problem with the military granting carefully vetted waivers after they've done their time and give them a 2nd chance.
The number of felony waivers granted by the Army rose from 411 in 2003 to 901 in 2006, according to the Pentagon. Other misdemeanors, which could be petty theft, writing a bad check or some assaults, jumped from about 2,700 to more than 6,000 in 2006.
To this number:
The fact that the military has allowed more than 100,000 people with such troubled pasts to join its ranks over the past three years illustrates the problem we're having meeting our military needs in this time of war," said Aaron Belkin, director of the center
Some how numbers buried in the middle of the article that add up to less than 12,000 or so has suddenly multiplied to over 100,000 in the final paragraph. Let me guess, it's just an accidently stray zero.
"Felons can many times make damned good soldiers if they want to rehab.'
Think of it as post-graduate gang initiation.
Uh oh. This is bad news. Although in my day, at least in the USMC, many guys had the choice between jail or the Corps. Most of these offenses were probably more serious misdemeanors rather than felonies but I can't be sure of that.
Whatever the offense, after a day or two of 1950's/60's era "Boot Camp", jail probably didn't look to bad for a lot of 'em!
Hey guys!! Suppose a kid gets in trouble, repays society and stays out of trouble for 10 or 15 years?? I believe the guy should be given an opportunity to serve his country.
You know, of course, that gangs are sending members into the military for training that is brought back on the street? It's become a big problem.
G. Gordon Liddy would probably disagree with you.
I refer you to post #22
"G. Gordon Liddy would probably disagree with you"
He very well might. I don't base my life opinions tho on anyone other than my own observations.
"For those that threatened it on me, I replied with a brief statement. "I get out before you, and if you do anything to me, then whatever life you were thinking of going to when you get out will no longer exist."
"Our Military is being used as a mercenary force by our government. I know I was in it."
"The only difference these days between convicted felons and the average enlisted soldier, is the felons got caught. I know I spent a few years enlisted recently and there is all manner of stuff going on in the Army all the time. I saw drug dealers on post, child molesters in my unit,"
"That doesn't even get into the National Security breaches that were being covered up by some of senior enlisted and Officers."
Domicile of Doom, you have really been around, from fighting off rape in prison to having to watch the drug dealers and child molesters, and the national security breaches while serving as a mercenary in the American military.
"Hey guys!! Suppose a kid gets in trouble, repays society and stays out of trouble for 10 or 15 years?? I believe the guy should be given an opportunity to serve his country."
I would agree with that. However he'd probably be too old by then to be allowed into the Military.
You are so full of shit.
I've got 16 years in officer and enlisted and saw a few dopey things, but it is rare and uncommon.
There are many guys that get jammed up in their teen years. The military takes people into their late 30's and the Army is taking them at 40.
Are these the same weak on crime libral democRATS who install revolving doors in our prisons to go easy on "victims of society?" Only if they want to fight for their country, then they're awful people we should fear and the librals would rather keep them locked up.
No apologies necessary, just pointing out that the nyt published it also. Since they are the leader of the enemy's Fifth Column in America I am quite sure of their motives.
I have no problem with it being reported, just the tone and manner in which it was reported.
This is a good way for a person who has lived dishonourably to regain honor. I don't believe in permanently labeling felons. Society must make a way for them to work their way back.
They are more than welcome to make their way back.
How about you hiring them?
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