How do you feel about the military recruiting felons, racists, gang members to make quotas?

Question

Maybe that's why people like Pat Tillman are getting fragged. Since we have been militarizing our police force for some time now, how far are we from hiring those same scum to our police force?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-recruit11oct11,1,6617133.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Army met its recruiting goals for the last year but enlisted thousands of new soldiers with criminal records and fewer who have earned high school diplomas, according to figures released Wednesday.

The spike of new enlistees given "character" waivers for fiscal 2007 continues a steady upward trend in the number of recruits with past arrests and convictions allowed into the Army since the start of the war in Iraq.

Related

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/10/01/ING42LCIGK1.DTL

Answer 1

That's a horrible idea. Their felonies show that they obviously don't have any respect for the country, so what's to keep them from simply resorting to treason?

Answer 2

"Maj. Gen. Thomas Bostick, commander of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, stressed that a vast majority, about 87 percent, of those allowed in with waivers had misdemeanors for such offenses as joy riding or violating curfew. Most faced little punishment beyond community service for their actions, Bostick said."

Sounds like this is a serious epidemic. Joyriders.

I also see no mention of racists here, and I'd be curious to know how the army determines that someone is a racist, and why they'd ask to begin with. I also don't see what the requirement of having a high school diploma has to do with serving in the military. If you can't get a high school diploma, then I would think the military is the best place you could ever hope to be.

Answer 3

They are letting people with records in, but they can't allow felons in, because felons can't handle weapons, and um, that is all the Army is about.

It doesn't take much to know how to shoot and what to shoot at. Even then, they don't actually have to hit the target, just lay down cover fire. Also, if they can drive, then they will be ok. The waivers are to make their goals, but really, if they have criminal records, its one good way to get good with society.
The problem I can see is, the criminal recruits are going to cause problems with their superiors. If they can't follow the rules, I would say at least 40% of those recruits will be kicked out within a year, because they will probably have discipline problems and be forced out.

Answer 4

Just because someone is a convicted felon doesn't mean they can't change, become a better person and serve their country. I think it's great that the government is rethinking their policies when it comes to "good moral character". People make mistakes. Time and experiences change people. I was arrested for assault & battery and then for pumping gas and leaving without paying at age 18. I'm 30 now and I'm not the same person who made bad decisions back them. I wasn't convicted and charges was later dropped, but my point is give people who better themselves a chance. We are all human.

Answer 5

With the correct guidelines I am all for it!!!! Do you as an American citizen; truly know how much investment we place in the care and keep of all inmates in our correctional facilities? Why do we have to send citizens of America that have never commited any crimes to defend this country when their protection is also protecting the criminals? In our correction facilities we give three complete meals, housing, medical and dental care, psychiatric care as needed. The inmates can actually attend colleges and gain degrees while they are institutionalized. This is not the first time this was done. Nor will it be the last I hope. If that pedophiliac was sitting in Iraq instead of awaiting his time off for an artificial change in his behavior which is mainly because he can no longer see a child, and his as* was running from bullets, and the insergents, who don't give a damn about the Geneva convention or the rights there of. Or the man that killed his entire family but was not placed on death row because of some soft hearted legality. I say unless he is convicted of crimes against this country or on death row.... he should have an opportunity to defend a country that punishes its criminal by generally treating them better than the normal joe~~~ then he and or she, should go.
Why not????? you think that because these people have commited crimes that they wouldn't defend this country..... that's bull.... Some of them might even truly change. You see we in America have been spoon fed the Angus cow with a solid gold steak knife and fork. We are the most blessed people on the earth. If you think I'm wrong tell me the poorest American you know and I'll give you five reasons why he's not poor in the real world of poverty. Yes we do have problems but by far our problems don't consist of determining which one of our children is too weak to make it thru another day but he maybe enough to feed the others so the rest can live or, maybe he will be smothered in the night by the parent that can't feed or care for him and thinks that he is better off dead. I have been thru hard times and cry when things are getting tough but then I see the true struggles of the life of true poverty that is not in this country and I realize that even in my worst of worst I am blessed. I am ALLLLLLLL for criminals of crimes that could be considered a misfortune of their situations to be allowed if not encouraged to go to the front and defend those meals, housing and care that they continue to receive free of charge. You're paying for that you know. What cracks me up is that I have yet to see any complaints about the people on welfare going to serve. There was a time in this country that these people were considered lazy and unacceptable. " of course you're right.... only in America!" The thought that these people would get together and commit some anti-American warfare is .-00002% probable on a scale of 1 to 10. Remember these people still have family and reasons to want to return to America. Like I said with the right guidelines and the right agreement for so many years of faithful service and duty to this country for some form of time off of their sentences is not a bad ideal. You have some well cornfed, cornsyrup served healthy people in our jails, state jails, prisons, half-way houses, and penitentiaries. Oh and yes a lot of them were trained by our military to use those guns and weapons that they used during their criminal act~ So why not and don't forget they have to serve the agreed time and... live thru the wartime they have agreed on. It amazes me that we'd rather send little Johnny or Judy the pre-med student, or young mothers and fathers. And cringe at sending these uncircumcised Phillistines (metaphorically speaking)~

Answer 6

There were racists when I served in the military 10 years ago.
Some even went as far as to display the Confederate flag in the dormitory.

I think there will always be racists in the military, because most white people are in fact racist. But there are different levels of racism. Some people are more racist than others.

As far as felons serving in the military, it would depend on the offense, and the circumstances surrounding the offense. I believe in giving people a second chance at life. The military will certainly give ex felons the discipline needed to turn their lives around. If they are willing to go to Iraq and die for this country, who are we to deny them.

Answer 7

Not all felons are equally bad. Besides - I think it will be a good experience for them. Ya know, back in the day they used to offer you a choice between jail and the Marines (maybe just for misdemeanors...).

Answer 8

great its awesome its how we won the first time we need some insane criminals read a book u moron we emptied our jails we need these criminals to go and handle buisness i wish i coulda got in but now it is too late i got kids n yadda yadda but man if they jus let them loose and let these people with felonies who know how to handle a weapon just do what they were made to do this war would be won inside of a week

Answer 9

You sound like a bright,upright citizen.Why don't you join the military?Why do the middle and upper classes shun military duty and rely on the poor and undereducated to protect their country?Perhaps we should reinstate the draft?You seem to have all the answers,you figure it out.

Answer 10

Downside more "accidental" shootings and rape/pillage activities.
Upside the always desired "more boots on the ground"

Imperialism is doomed to fail eventually. Just takes time.