Army Recruiters Relax Focus On Criminal, Misconduct Records To Boost Army Numbers

April 7, 2008 6:58 a.m. EST

Washington, DC (AHN) - The large number of troops needed to fight America's war in Iraq and Afghanistan is leading to a requirement ease in the recruitment of Army soldiers. Proof of this is the rise in number of active and reserve soldiers with past criminal or misdemeanor charges, who were still accepted on the strength of conduct waivers.

In 2004, 4.6 percent of the Army recruits had a criminal or misdemeanor past. By 2007, recruits who had to secure waivers went up to 11 percent. while latest figures show the rate had gone up further to 13 percent.

Most of those with a questionable past had misdemeanor cases, according to USA Today. Relaxing recruitment rules by accepting waivers for those with criminal or misdemeanor records helped meet the Army's goal to recruit at least 100,000 annually. From October 2007 to February 2008, 4,676 of 36,047 new recruits entered on the strength of a waiver.

The waivers apply only to those with cases involving a single charge of possessing marijuana or drinking under the influence, disorderly conduct, trespassing and vandalism. Offenders with serious cases like sexual crimes or those related to alcohol or drug addiction are not covered by the waivers.

Frank Shaffery, deputy director of the Army's Recruiting Command, explained to USA Today the reason behind the rise of recruits with waivers. "When you have people volunteering that have made some mistakes in their life, you give them fair consideration," Shaffery said.

The large number of troops required by the protracted Iraq and Afghanistan has led to a number of revisions in policies in the Army including a possible one year duty, one year rest. President George Bush committed more U.S. troops to Afghanistan in 2009 at the recent NATO Leaders' Summit.