Brett Corrigan '09

U.S. military enlistment of felons has doubled over the past three years due to a strong need for service abroad, according to the Michael D. Palm Center, a political think tank based in California.

The group presented the information in a news release on Feb. 13 after requesting a statistical release from the United States Department of Defense. 

In the study, Michael Boucai, a law professor at Georgetown University, argues that "a more forthright, well-informed, and humane public engagement with the question of ex-offender enlistment could help promote the development of policies and programs for more effectively integrating ex-offenders into the armed forces." 

While this is just one opinion on the matter, the facts speak for themselves: There clearly have been changes in enlistment procedures and regulations with the enlistment of convicted felons jumping from 824 in 2003 to 1,605 in 2006. 

The military allows these felons to enlist under what is known as the "moral waivers program," which allows the military to examine the circumstances in which the crime was committed in order to determine the stability of the individuals and evaluate their likelihood of serving their country morally and honorably. 

Such considerations may be taking into account the age of the person at the time the crime was committed, the possible motives for which the crime was committed, and an interview process.

The military allowed for the enlistment of 43,977 individuals who were not convicted felons, but were found guilty misdemeanors were allowed to enlist under the moral waivers program. 58,561 illegal drug users were also enlisted through such waivers. 

With such high numbers of criminals enlisted, many military analysts have begun to hypothesize as to why so many offenders are attempting to enlist. 

Boucai said he thinks that "Increasingly, as ex-offenders are statutorily barred from one occupation after another, the job market death sentence is imposed by law." 

Combining the troubles offenders face when re-entering society and the increased need for troops to serve in both Iraq and Afghanistan, it is no wonder that the numbers of past offenders serving in the armed forces is rising.

In the Army alone, the number of waivers granted for felonies rose from 411 in 2003 to 901 in 2006. 

Some lawmakers are seeing this increase in the percentage of charged offenders as a positive way to substantially reduce the probability of repeat crimes through lessons of discipline while also helping to replenish the need for troop increases. 

Others fear, however, that "lowering standards" may endanger other troops or lead to a lack of morale among other recruits who were not involved in criminal behavior prior to enlisting. 

These two conflicting viewpoints put the Department of Defense in a difficult position, especially with the need for troops continuously rising. 

Just last Friday, Feb. 16, Marine Gen. James Conway announced that the United States Marines will see a troop increase of 27,000 by the year 2011.