Armed Forces Enlist More Criminals

Trend may undermine 'military readiness,' lawmaker says
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 21, 2008 8:29 PM CDT
Armed Forces Enlist More Criminals
A U.S. soldier of the 101st Airborne Division patrols as Afghan women pass by in Mandozai, in Khost province, Afghanistan, Saturday, April 19, 2008.   (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

The US Army and Marines are signing up more felons in an effort to overcome flagging enlistment, the AP reports. The Army doubled its recruitment of felons last year and the Marines upped theirs from 208 to 350—including conscripts with sex crime and manslaughter convictions. The rise in felon recruits "may be undermining military readiness," said Rep. Henry Waxman, who revealed the data.

But a Pentagon spokesman told the AP that waivers for felony crimes are "granted only after a thorough review." He said that "low unemployment, a protracted war on terror, a decline in propensity to serve" are among factors making US military recruitment more difficult. (More military recruits stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X