| Allowing More Convicts To Enlist |
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The U.S. Army and Marine Corps let 861 convicted felons join their ranks in 2007, an 88 percent jump over the previous year that helped meet recruiting goals in wartime, according to data released on Monday. The Army, the largest branch of the U.S. military, gave felony waivers to 511 recruits last year, up from 249 in 2006, according to the figures released by a congressional panel. The Marine Corps granted 350 waivers, up from 208 the year before.
There are two basically two schools of thought on this issue. One is that these people have served there time and paid their debt to society so why not let them better themselves and join the military. The other school of thought is that we are lowering our standards to much as is and we are just begging for trouble in the future. Along the second line of thought those in the field may resent having to serve along side a convict. Should the military be allowing so many ex-cons to serve?
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posted at 17:17:22 on 04/22/08 - Category: Army
Article Opinions
yes x cons should be able to enlist they have paid for their crime. and the military would be a good place for them to start a new and put their past mistakes behind and be productive members of the community.
I really think that if the crime took place when the person was young and never commited another crime since then, why not give that person the opportunity to make a difference. Serving in the united States Army is such a great accomplishment and would definitley be good solid dicipline that anyone one person could benefit. from A person could have made a careless mistake in their past that was in deed not good, but if the person have learned from their mistake and want to do something better why not allow them that chance. I feel that noone is perfect and many people makes many mistakes in life sometimes over look, some pay by getting a record. At some point if that person admits that is was wrong and do not commit any other crime, give them a chance to better theirself and make a difference in their lives and others.
We are all human!!!
This is great! It gives a person who made a mistake a chance to give something back to their country. It can also give them the self respect and pride they need to be a productive member of our society. There are many very talented and smart people who are locked up. If only they would apply it to something acceptable to society. This can be just that.
I served in the service for approximately 14 yrs. I did make a mistake back in 1992, positive urinalysis, was given an Honorable Discharge. I have a Separation Code of JKK with a Reentry Code of RE3. Would like nothing better than to join the Army Reserve and serve my country once again.
my husband wants to join the army but they say he is to old why the age limit?
I am currently TRYING to join the service at 38. They say I have too much on my record.. And come back in two years..
The first thought, sure, let them join if they are rehabilitated enough. Most are not if just coming out. They are most likely not ready for the stress involved for time in Iraq or Afghanistan. There are always exceptions of course.
For the second school of thought, it's totally understandable why some "good" soldiers would resent serving convicts because it shows the military of the United States has had to result to lower standards of selection just to keep up numbers.
As long as the recruiters and higher command are making the exceptions of these people on another standard that keeps to the military standards of honor then go get em' boys.
I believe that having some of the x cons come in and take charge for us is ok ...only if they didn't kill somebody. If the killed somebody before then they should not be able to into war because if they were known to have killed somebody then they might kill someone on the armies side, then he might end up in Leavenworth
Having konvicts maybe be a good idea depending on the circumstances. But the goverment have to take little steps in order to prevent disaster.
I am a convicted felon. I got tried as an adult at the age 16. For a high school prank. Been trying to get into the military since i was 16. I am now 23 going to be 24. I want to be in the military because I want to be able to hold my head up high. I dont want to be living with shame. I want to be proud an make people see what kind of a person I realy am. I want to go to Iraq where all my friends are. They all got in. Now its my time, let me know what you can do for me.
If anybody can help me out please do....I had a misdemeanor domestic battery on my record and was already enlisted and got sent home from basic and they knew all the information on it and I was only charged not convicted and it was also found that I didnt even do the crime and I dont know what to do...the case is closed and has been for 3 years please help me if you can...
I think that people who has paid there debt to society and do not represent a threat to others, should have the opportunity to reinvindicate themselves. I served 8 1/2 years in the military and when I was there, one of the guys inmy unit was one of those cases where it was either the army or jail (back in 1985) He was a model soldier, dependable, respectable and very disciplined. Whreas, there were others, who were doing a lot of things that were illegal. They just were not caught. SEo, for all those who think that only people with clean records should join the ARMY, LET ME TELL YOU THAT NOT EVERYTHING THAT SHINES IS GOLD. So, do not be deceived.
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