Got a letter in the mail...
Said go to war or go to jail...
++++
There were plenty of “jail or the army” privates in my basic class - way back in the day. Most turned out to be pretty good soldiers.
I was headed for trouble.
Army discipline straightened me out.
I went to Basic in '88 ("Be All You Can Be" Army,FT, Benning) and we had just one fat guy who died on a long run (God rest his soul)and had a few guys who were jail or Army. I believe a few went Ranger and had fine careers. The new "Army Strong" era has military advances that are incredible but overall, the recruits outside of Infantry and SF etc. are just bodies to fill MOS. After 9/11 the recruiters would take anyone and later Obama took a big Obama on the military. It's time to refit and tool for future war.