Really?
There’s been a lot of talk by those who detest this administration and are clinging to anything they can that “supports” their notion of an unjust war. One of the reasons they site for why we shouldn’t be at war in Iraq is that the military has had to resort to “lowering our standards” with more moral waivers than ever before. The fact is that moral waivers have been increasing since prior to the war in Iraq.
Under pressure to meet combat needs, the Army and Marine Corps brought in significantly more recruits with felony convictions last year than in 2006, including some with manslaughter and sex crime convictions.
Data released by a congressional committee shows the number of soldiers admitted to the Army with felony records jumped from 249 in 2006 to 511 in 2007. And the number of Marines with felonies rose from 208 to 350.
Those numbers represent a fraction of the more than 180,000 recruits brought in by the active duty Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines during the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2007. But they highlight a trend that has raised concerns both within the military and on Capitol Hill.
I have another perspective I’d like to share.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistic’s ”Indicators of School Crime and Safety” report that came out two years ago – the latest report available:
71% of public schools experiences one or more violent incidents and 36% of public school reported violent incidents to the police. 20% of public schools experienced one or more serious violent incidents, and 15% reported serious violent incidents to the police.
According to FBI statistics in 2006 (the latest available), the number of juveniles arrested for assault (ie, schoolyard fights, but not including aggravated assault) rose 5.0% in the past decade. The number of robberies by juveniles rose 34.4%. Violent crimes involving arson by juveniles rose 7.6%. Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter by juveniles rose 17.8%. Vandalism among juveniles rose 10.4%. Weapons offenses by juveniles rose 30.9%.
In 2006, 414,822 juveniles committed the offenses that the article highlights being waivered in to the military. The military recruited 680 of those juveniles – a mere 0.16%! Those individuals made up less than one half percent of the total enlistment contracts signed. With all these increases in crime by juveniles – the government’s constant drive to make everything illegal! – it’s only natural that the military would have fewer individuals to pool from.
I don’t think the military is lowering its standards. I think American society is!! It’s time the American media used a little context instead of making our jobs harder than they need to be.
Pingback: Woke up to this article on yahoo « Jeremy A. Byrd
I think the armed forces SHOULD accept SOME convicted felons, as each has its own set of circumstances. Also, not every convicted person is “guilty” of the crime of which they ARE convicted! Our system is set up so that you are NOT actually considered innocent until proven guilty…which is evident in the fact that people are incarcerated for lengths of time during which they lose their jobs, homes, families, etc….far before they are tried and “proven” guilty! Therefore, many innocent people plea out to convictions just to get out of the “spider-web” of a system and to try to pull their lives back together, rather than languish for unreasonable lengths of time in a jail and/or prison. Furthermore, with so many questionable “wars” that the US enters, our nation should be thankful that ANYone is willing to put their lives on the line to fight! I am 100% in favor of the military accepting people with certain felony convictions!
I totally agree with Ms. Rodriguez. Some convicted felons should be allowed to enlist in the US military armed forced. The reality is that the majority of arrests and incarcerations in this country are of men (*women) of color. And, before some self-righteous tea party right winger goes off in an “I told you so tangent”, it’s NOT because black & Hispanic men commit more crimes. White men do the same things, but they get passes/breaks by white cops, are afforded access to better attorneys (i.e., penalty for cocaine use/sale is different & less harsh than for crack, etc.). It’s about the diverse socio-economic dynamics of our communities. Consequently, once they’ve been incarcerated & released, society isolates & brands them. They can’t find employment, so… the cycle begins & repeats itself, over & over. Not ALL felons are criminals… many of them want, need, & deserve the opportunity to improve themselves & their circumstances, & to become viable contributors to our society. The military teaches them self-control & discipline, gives them the opportunity to go to school & learn a trade or a profession. Regarding giving ALL Americans (even those who may have gone astray early in their lives) a chance to serve, I say, “Hoo-Rah!”
i am a felon, i have made horrible choices in my life that held a high cost. i can’t even take my kids to school because of drinking and drugs. fortunantely i cleaned up my life but i still have this haunting past and am stuck in a dead in job and want to do something better with my life. i have been trying to find out more about whether it is possible for felons to join some kind of military service to improve my life
Koni,
Congrats on cleaning up your life. You should be proud!
Have you talked with the local recruiters? Unfortunately, the military is going through a rough time and all of the branches are downsizing. That said, it wouldn’t hurt to see what a recruiter could do for you.