"The number of waivers granted to Army recruits with criminal backgrounds has grown about 65 percent in the last three years, increasing to 8,129 in 2006 from 4,918 in 2003, Department of Defense records show."


http://www.wtkr.com/Global/story.asp?S=6086480&nav=menu78_1_1

If you keep up with the news regarding crimes charged under the UCMJ in the Army, then you know already there has been a definite increase in the number of violent crimes committed by servicemembers. I do think the lowered standard has played a part. What I'd like to know is that if a convicted felon cannot be in possession of a weapon, how can they serve in the military? Regardless of whether the military has a waiver for entry, it remains a statutory crime by state and federal law. I work in "Gun Court" (part of a state and federal firearms initiative) and see felons nearly every day charged with Unlawful Possession of a Gun - sometimes the feds prosecute and sometimes the state handles it. Never, in any of the statutes, have I seen a waiver for military service. Good question, Patti.

I think they should. To me, it's an effort to reform, but I may be too naive.

This is wild - I was just on one of the military sites I am active in - and we were discussing this very issue!

Patti

I think that some of them should be allowed to join the Army or any other branch of service. But there would have to be strict guide lines that they would have to follow to let them. But I dont see why they cant protect our country all so.

Well back in the 60's and 70's joining the military was often an alternative to being prosecuted and going to jail for many young men. Thats how a very good friend of mine ended up in the Marine Corps and died during his 3rd tour in Vietnam!

I think that some of them should be allowed to join the Army or any other branch of service. But there would have to be strict guide lines that they would have to follow to let them. But I dont see why they cant protect our country all so.

AmyLynn, those in the military are subject to multiple jurisdictions: local, state, and federal civilian as well as the Unified Code of Military Justice. If serving overseas that are also subject to the laws of the nation they are in off base.

So the guidelines are there, what it all boils down to in the long run is this: you have been given a chance to get out of the life that you were in, and if you don't want to go down that road, the opportunities in the military are boundless.

Yes, the honor of serving your country and her people, but education, travel, help when needed from your brothers and sisters in arms, and the today's military is very, very concerned about the welfare of their greatest asset: people. Health, benefits, both physical and mental if needed, I could go on and on and on. So the guidelines are there so is the tools to make a better life whether you do twenty years in the service or four.

All you have to do is serve well and take advantage of what you have earned as a member of the United States Armed Forces. If your smart, most are, there is no choice. A chance at a good life, or prison?

I wish the courts would give the choice as they did from WWI on to the mid eighties. Teaches discipline and more lessons of life, and gives people to grow up, escape bad situations, and just have the life they would not have had if they had not been given the opportunity.

Patti

My personal opinion is that it really depends on what they're convicted of. If they only have ONE conviction for a non-violent, non-sex offense, then they should be permitted to join the military. Violent or sex offenders or those with more than one conviction should not. That's my two cents.

Why don't they do like a boot camp in prison? Teach them some discipline and manners and get them into physical and mental shape?

Give them the choice to sit on their butts and stay where they are or take classes to better themselves. If they choose to better themselves and behave well, they can advance into less-restrictive pods, with more privileges.

That's how it works out here. They should learn to behave in a way that is conducive to succeeding when they are released.

It would be kinda like that movie "The Dirty Dozen.":D But seriously,even though I was wrongfully convicted(my appeals and newly discovered evidence are pending) my conviction bars many job opportunities except this(I'm going back into the National Guard at age 41).I was in Desert Storm with the Guard when I was 24 years old).

This gives me another idea.:idea: If non-citizens are allowed to serve and get citizenship granted after so much time in the military,why can't felons serve and receive an expungement after Honorable service.:confused:

As a historian,I know that felons in the American ranks during the French & Indian War and American Revolution made the army tougher and better.

This b.s.with felons and firearms only came about afterwards in 1794:rolleyes: