This report here says that the US Army is granting more waivers to recruits who have a criminal background. Of course, since it’s the al Qaeda Times of New Yorkâ„¢ who’s reporting the story, they are putting the most negative spin they can on the story.
We’d expect nothing less from them.
As much as we hear from the Liberal left about expanding efforts to rehabilliate criminals rather than incarcerate them, and an even louder roar from the Left about decreasing the penalties and jail time for drug dealers and users — you’d think they’d be glad to see that criminals who have paid their dues and served their time are being fully integrated back into society and being given an opportunity to do something positive and of value with their lives.
But you’d be wrong.
The majority of moral waivers are for serious misdemeanors, most often committed by juveniles. As Douglas Smith, the public information officer for the Army’s recruiting command, said, “We understand that people make mistakes in their lives and they can overcome those mistakes.â€
These are most often young kids who have made mistakes. The Left is usually the loudest champion of giving exactly these types of kids a second chance. Of course the Left doesn’t think this is the same thing, because a career in the military is a “poor choice”, a “waste”, or for people “too stupid” to do anything else.
But I think it’s a good thing. You know my opinion — there is no greater service or more noble endeavor than to serve in our nation’s military. And I think that there is no better way for a person who has a criminal background to “pay back” his community and his nation than to enlist in the military.
The military should be commended for offering these young men and women a second opportunity to do something of value with their lives. Instead, the Left will use it as another attempt to smear and denigrate our military.
I had a criminal record when I enlisted in the service. My little brother had a more serious criminal record when he enlisted. I wouldn’t say that I was on a fast track to nowhere when I enlisted, but I’d say that my little brother might have been on his way to lifetime of trouble had he not enlisted.
Back then, the Army gave both of us a second chance. And we’re both better men today because of it.
I’ll see if I can get a comment from my brother later — he’s been an active duty full-time US Army recruiter. He was previously a Station Commander, but is now preparing to become an instructor at the USAREC training center in Columbia, SC.
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Another thought — it’s not like the Army is taking kids out of jail—getting them released early so they can serve. These kids have already been released. They’ve paid their debt to society and have paid for their crimes.
Does anyone really want to argue that they shouldn’t have a the chance to become productive and responsible memebers of our society via military service?
Linked at Perri Nelson’s Website
Does anyone really want to argue that they shouldn’t have a the chance to become productive and responsible memebers of our society via military service?
Your argument is oddly divorced from current events: the reason that they are lowering the standards is because they are having difficulting recruiting people who will go to Iraq.
It’s fine if the military changes its recruitment policy because it believes that a criminal record does not prevent a young person from becoming a good soldier. It is not fine if they change the policy only because they cannot find qualified recruits.
Left by Preston on February 14th, 2007 at 11:44 am