Because recruiting levels have dropped from 75,885 in 2001 to 73,373 last year, recruiters are increasingly seeking waivers, the newspaper said Monday.
In 2001, misdemeanor waivers were part of applications for 3 percent of recruits, while last year it doubled to 6 percent, Army records show.
This is a question we get all the time: Can you get into the Army with a criminal record? The answer has always been "it depends", and it still is. But it looks like the Army is increasing the number of waivers it gives for those with misdemeanors. I'm sure this won't last so if you were wanting to get in and you have a record, now may be the time.
Read the full story.
i believe this is a very good thing the army is doing... cause they are now giving citizens with criminal background history the chance to better themselves and serve there county... and this also lowers there risk of resorting back to there criminal behavior and actions... i respect this alot... and want to give all my fellow soldiers out there over seas a shout out... i love you all and hope you make it home safe... take care.... from your friend private bret jones... u.s. army... OVER AND OUT
It's great that the military is recruiting, and good that people with minor charges are given a chance to serve their country. But why not just allow gay men and women to serve openly. By doing this, no waver would be required, and I guarantee that recruiters would more than exceed their recruitment goals.
Ok,
Here's My Sound Off. Gays um no...Women in combat HELL NO!!! As for criminal records, I think Judges should do what was done in times past. Give the criminals a choice. The reason jails are overcrouded is because the military stopped taking criminals. It used to be a judge could offer a military service sentence in liu of prison. It filled the ranks during Vietnam and WOULD fill them now.
Most of the criminals out there have some education. they could still take the manditory minimum education level if they can pass the ASVAB I say LET EM FIGHT!!!
It worked before it can work again.
I'm an Army vet and I have to admit that I somewhat agree with SSG Mills about how the military was a good alternative to a prison sentence..back in the old days. The days when a blanket party (known as a code red in the USMC) was common, or an NCO could knock some sense into a troop.
Nowadays, where punishment is "hands off" and NCO's cannot give the most effective kind of discipline anymore, criminals in the military will only lower the standards of living on the post and in the surrounding areas (and they don't need to be worse than they already are). Overall, the likelihood of the image of the US soldier dropping will rise.
I think the military should remain with a tight view of what to waiver.
As for the gays and women in combat roles, I just have to say that I've met some gay men that could kick some *ss if given a chance and I've met women who I would definitely want on my side in a combat situation.
Let's stop being so damned picky about men and women with clean records who want to serve their country. A patriot is a patriot, no matter what their sexual orientation or gender happens to be.
well , i'm one of those people that gets a bad rap about all this . i'm a hard working person who wants to serve this country , but i get treat it like a criminal .just for one mistake ....my opinion is that some of us deserve to have a second chance in life .
