We should be grateful that there are people willing to serve in an all volunteer army during a time of war. I feel a minor infraction in their past should not overshadow the fact they have opened themselves up to the possibility of making a far larger sacrifice serving their country.

Sent by dave pace | 11:44 AM ET | 07-13-2007

It's amazing how you can write a news story with so few facts. The only real data were the statistics about the percentage of moral waivers. Hutson's comment was only speculation.

As a reader, I would like to know whether the waivers were for fighting in school, smoking pot, or murder. In addition, are the new recruits causing more discipline problems, which seems to be the implication of Hutson's quote.

What about the ASWAB and AFQT scores of those with waivers? Are they significantly lower than those without waivers?

Sent by Terry Walbert | 11:53 AM ET | 07-13-2007

I've always thought the US military would eventually find a way to send our prisoners to war: What better way to have less concern at home about who is dying and to keep up this mock battle over supposed 'terrorists' when we are really in it over land grab, control of oil resources, and to secure Israel's spot on the map. This is no surprise; prisoners are already used for the purposes of sweat shop manufacture... why not let them become targets in this most unjustified and lied about war?

Sent by unknown | 3:20 PM ET | 07-13-2007

We've been through something like this before. In the Cold War and especially during and post-Vietnam era. Jimmy Hendricks was given the choice of going to prison for auto theft or going into the army. Same thing happened to a friend of mine, only he'd broken a police officer's jaw, so they sent him to the Marine Corps. I wonder if white-collar crimes will land someone in the Air Force. No, they're meeting their recruiting goals.

Sent by John R. Otten | 4:31 PM ET | 07-13-2007

I suppose people love our soldiers so much not because of their high moral standards, but because at least the poor devils go fight for our country and we don't have to. Now inviting them over to meet our daughters might be another matter.

Sent by Bill Dee | 5:54 PM ET | 07-13-2007

I think most people would be shocked to learn a great many of the personnel in our military are gang members. Just as our military, trained Osama......we now train street gang members. We will one day reap the foolishness of this "wisdom" just as we have with Osama and others. Will we ever learn... my guess.....is NO.!

Sent by Austin Robles | 10:44 PM ET | 07-13-2007

This isn't unusual in professions in which certain aggressive behaviors are strongly encouraged, and, I might add, desired. I know of police departments around the country which waive misdemeanors, and in some cases, felonies for police candidates who eventually become officers. I would guess the most police departments have a rate of about 4-5% that have a past record.

Sent by David Nelson | 11:38 PM ET | 07-13-2007

We turn people away every day from the Army. We may have stretched the paramaters a little but for people that should have gotten a chance anyway but didn't because of a downsizing army in the 90's "peace dividend".

Sent by Volunteering Still | 5:36 AM ET | 07-14-2007

I believe we should deploy all of our criminal prisoners. As I remember my grandperents stories from WWII, Stalin open all prisons and let them fight the German front, and if they tried to desert Russians took care of them.(bullet in the head) Let them play with the gun like a real men, I bet most of them will need dipers on first day.

Sent by evo | 10:18 AM ET | 07-14-2007

"In addition, are the new recruits causing more discipline problems"(comment sent by T.W.). My observation (from within the system - Army mental health) is that, yes, it is causing more problems. "This isn't unusual in professions in which certain aggressive behaviors are strongly encouraged, and, I might add, desired" (comment sent by D.N.). Aggression and antisocial (criminal) behavior are not the same. The Army can recruit whoever it pleases, but the quality of those recruits is going to show one way or another -- within the ranks or on the battlefield.

Sent by Patrick DeBusca, Jr. | 1:39 PM ET | 07-14-2007

Accepting recruits with a past history of misbehavior, is a choice that will return to haunt the services.

Sent by Bob Browne | 4:04 PM ET | 07-14-2007

The only criminals in the Army is the gang in the White House that sent them there. That bunch doesn't need "moral waivers". They never had any to start with.

Sent by John Doe | 10:48 PM ET | 07-14-2007

I teach adult education in a county jail. I am not a pro-military person; however,I wish that the military would give many of my students a chance at being a productive member of society rather than a victim of the environment, schools and culture they had been exposed to the first 18-26 years of their life. My brothers earned their GED in the Navy in the 50's. They were honorably discharged, used the GI bill to get additional training and were productive citizens their entire lives.
Everytime I hear a memorial about an upstanding young person who had a bright future in front of him or her slaughtered in this war it breaks my heart. Yet at the same time, it frustrates me that my students do not have an opportunity to prove that they can become "all that they can be" because of stupid things they did before their frontal lobe was mature.

Sent by Elaine Moscovitz | 7:20 AM ET | 07-15-2007

how many times in history have the "undesirables" of the world been asked to help. Every time in our history a shortage of soldiers has occurred the country has done something like this. It's war people there are a lot uglier aspects of it than this.

Sent by R.D.B. | 10:25 AM ET | 07-15-2007

Before the US bacame such a rightious country, it was common practice for judges all over the USA to say to young men.."4 years in jail or 4 years in the Army". I remenmber this from my life and I can tell you that all the men that told me the story came out the better themselves with a chance in life due to the order and regimentation that the military provides. I cannot say t hat jail terms provide much of a second chnce in life. I also wonder if our politicians who start wars at the drop of a hat and did not serve their country would not have benefited with some time either in the service or in jail?

Sent by Al Borrero | 2:53 PM ET | 07-15-2007

I had two misdemeanor theft convictions and a DUI from 5-10 years prior when I joined the GA Army National Guard. I wasn't a gang member, as another poster generalized, or anything else violent - just misguided. At the time of enlistment, I happened to be finishing up my MBA and had previously been enlisted in the Marines. I think I made valuable contributions to infantry (abn) unit I was in and was honorably discharged. Just because you didn't have your sh** together in the past doesn't mean you're guaranteed to be liability to the military. If they're willing to put it on the line (and you're not), then let them, support them, and thank them if they make it back home.

Sent by CW | 6:32 PM ET | 07-15-2007

It's unfortunate that the military has lowered the common denominator. However, it's not surprising and it might provide a second chance to some. The optimist in me wants to believe that the military can instill a sense of discipline and self-worth in wayward youth, but the realist in me knows there will be challenges.

I see the key issues behind lagging recruitment numbers as the continued effort in Iraq and the lack of incentives offered to the over-entitled youth of our country.
We're a democracy. We fought the Civil War in our own country because in a democracy, we cannot let the minority dictate terms to the majority. If we do, we lose the credibility to govern ourselves democratically. This exact thing is happening in Iraq.

While our efforts in Iraq are admirable, I'm increasing convinced that democracy is not for everyone. Some cultures seem to respond only to a level of brutality that our nation is not comfortable dispensing unless our own futures are at risk. Shelby Foote has said that the North fought the Civil War with one arm tied behind its back.
We're doing the same in Iraq, and it's making us weary. Unfortunately, when the moment we pull out of Iraq, it will be the group that is most brutal who will take control. Perhaps the trains will run on time, however true freedoms, like the freedom to choose leaders, will likely be lost.

In the meantime, I hope the guys who slip past the "true" requirements for the military use the opportunity to build a positive future and don't merely improve their criminal capability.

Sent by Tony Wenzel | 1:32 AM ET | 07-16-2007

There is nothing wrong with the military granting a moral waiver in order to bring someone into the military. There is nothing wrong with giving someone a second chance, especially when that someone is volunteering to go to war for his country. I get choked up when I think about the young men and women with checkered pasts who try to turn their lives around by joining the military during a war. To whom do we as a nation owe more to -- the sniping, self-righteous critic who makes disparaging remarks from behind his desk about the quality of our troops, or the volunteer, combat-hardened infantryman who may have made a few mistakes in his past?

Sent by c. cunningham | 6:50 PM ET | 08-07-2007

Its people like these that keep people like us from joining the military. there are so many people out there that want to change their life for the better by going into the service.

Sent by Nate | 6:38 PM ET | 11-02-2007

I have been convicted of a felony that I didnt even do, because I had a public defender, that didnt even explain any options I had, so in order to stay out of jail for how ever long it was suppose to be, I took the deal, and it hurt me in the long run, but when I go to the recruiting office to enlist, who's gonna believe me??? I have a gut feeling that there is alot of people that want to serve the military, and are unable to because of faulty felony convictions. In my case, and several others, it's very hard to get any kind of help to be able to help us clear this up. As far as ending up in military court for commiting crimes in the military just cause we're convicted felons, that is absolutly untrue!! That a very biast statement on the behalf of people who are just like me, that just want to serve there country! The judicial system is quick to slap a charge on you, but is AWOL when it come to helping you.

Sent by Pete L. Salazar | 12:28 AM ET | 11-08-2007

Im a OIF and OEF veteran. I ETSed after my last tour. Ive been seeking reenlistment but was denied for a bullsh** felony assault and battery charge. My girlfriend and I were followed to a parkinglot by some drunk, 6'1 240 pound stranger. when getting in my vehicle this wanted criminal tried to attack us. Me being 5'6 150 pounds and not much of a boxer I hit him once with a baton i had in my vehicle. the police charged me because i used a baton. And as Mr. Cunningham was saying thanks to some critic that sits behind a desk I cannot volunteer for the third time to go back overseas.

Sent by Terry | 1:59 PM ET | 05-01-2008