USA Today reports, “The percentage of recruits requiring a waiver to join the Army because of a criminal record or other past misconduct has more than doubled since 2004 to one for every eight new soldiers.”
Personally, I’m encouraged by this news. I’ve always thought that people who want to join the military should have that opportunity. Yes, even those who’ve had conduct problems in the past.
Bill Carr, a top military personnel official, told USA Today that recruits who come in with waivers generally perform better than peers who haven’t needed special permission to join the Army.
And Frank Shaffery, deputy director of the Army’s Recruiting Command, reportedly said, “When you have people volunteering that have made some mistakes in their life, you give them fair consideration.”
They believe waivers don’t degrade the integrity of a particular military service because exceptions are only granted after carefully considering the recommendations given by coaches, teachers and others strong in the recruit’s community.
We all want to think that everybody who raises a right hand to join the armed forces is pure of heart and spirit. No murky history. No shadowy past. And yet, ask active-duty military friends and they will tell you.
Some of the worst petty crime offenders - thieves, cheaters, liars - are found among those in uniform standing at attention beside them.
In all services, ranks and job designations.
Should those who commit a single felony or up to three misdemeanors in the past be allowed a waiver for Army enlistment, especially now when the Army is struggling to attract enough people to join during a time of war?
I, for one, say absolutely.
Now, of course, no waivers can nor should they be made possible for more serious offenses - crimes caused by alcohol or drug addiction, sexual crimes, treason, etc.
But when you see that the percentage of active and reserve Army recruits that received waivers in the last fiscal year rose from 4.6 percent to 11 percent and thus far this fiscal year, 13 percent have received them, it’s clear that we have people in this country who want a second chance, they want the chance to serve.
We are, after all, human - we make mistakes. It’s the wise who are able to learn from those mistakes and move on smartly, changing their lives for the better as a result.
In my view, these men and women deserve that second chance. And they deserve the opportunity to serve their country in uniform.
