"Felons can many times make damned good soldiers if they want to rehab. "Goto war or Goto Jail""
I disagree with you and I disagree with you from experience. Not with war directly, but with what we called Cat 4's.
With rare exception, Cat 4's were nothing more than criminals in a Marine Corps uniform. During the 60's and 70's, many judges gave scumbags an option. Go to jail or join the Marines.
They infected my beloved Corps with scumbags of the worst order.
There's only two places for felons.
In Jail or dead.
The rules from the 60's and 70's no longer apply.
G. Gordon Liddy would probably disagree with you.