Military allowing more convicted felons to enter their ranks

[terry78]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080421/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/military_felons

Well, if it's one of the few things they're able to do, knock yourself out.

 

[tzarinna]

Can they pass the physical? I thought quite a few would be HIV positive.

 

[DBella]

It's quantity over quality these days.

 

[PyroChamber]

I guess if it gets them off the streets.

 

[C.F. Kane]

And onto worse ones.

 

[bunk]

Aren't the number of sexual assaults against females in the U.S. Military at an all time high right now? I guess we can't expect that horrible problem to get any better...

 

[Arkady Rossovich]

It's quantity over quality these days.

No one wants to go,so of course the army would accept anyone now. I once heard recruitment goals have been on the decline for the past few months..

 

[Bill]

We need more shock troops.

 

[SoulManX]

 

[terry78]

Well, Johnny Frat Boy from the suburbs doesn't plan on going, so if the ex-cons want to use their roughneck skills to protect the borders, let 'em.

 

[Warhammer]

Aren't the number of sexual assaults against females in the U.S. Military at an all time high right now? I guess we can't expect that horrible problem to get any better...

I'm not sure about that. That seems more like a generalization than anything else. It's not like felons are only convicted of sex crimes, and even if they were, that doesn't mean that after some time in prison, they will all just automatically revert to doing what put them in jail in the first place. In order for someone to be convicted of a sexual assault, you have to be a scumbag with a clean record first. Those scumbags with clean records are everywhere, and bam, that's how it starts. The military is no different.

As for the topic, I don't see a problem with the military allowing it. If they are willing and/or desiring to go and defend our country, go right on ahead. More power to you, because unless I am unluckily drafted, my ass won't be out there. Better to be serving in the force, than back out on the street anyways. This is also a felon's second chance to turn their life around, and have a reformed life.

 

[bunk]

On the news they mentioned some cases of sex offenders being allowed in, that's what had me thinking about it.

I'm just bothered by lowering standards as a quick fix rather than solving core issues. There's also already an issue with gang members in the military, and their conflicting loyalties. I don't see that problem getting any better by this either.

 

[Aristotle]

Well, if it's one of the few things they're able to do, knock yourself out.

Oh, hey, classism.

Can they pass the physical? I thought quite a few would be HIV positive.

Oh, hey, more classism.

Aren't the number of sexual assaults against females in the U.S. Military at an all time high right now? I guess we can't expect that horrible problem to get any better...

Because robbing a convenience store out of desperation or smoking dope (a felony in some states) is basically the same thing as rape.

Well, Johnny Frat Boy from the suburbs doesn't plan on going, so if the ex-cons want to use their roughneck skills to protect the borders, let 'em.

This all stinks to high heaven of yet another way for the government to send poor folks to the front while letting white middle-class America continue to completely ignore the war.

 

[EdRyder]

There's also already an issue with gang members in the military, and their conflicting loyalties. I don't see that problem getting any better by this either.

You could say they are connected but, there was gang graffiti popping up in Iraq long before they lowered the standards to allow convicts to enlist.

 

[Warhammer]

On the news they mentioned some cases of sex offenders being allowed in, that's what had me thinking about it.

I'm just bothered by lowering standards as a quick fix rather than solving core issues. There's also already an issue with gang members in the military, and their conflicting loyalties. I don't see that problem getting any better by this either.

I'm hoping that gang members shouldn't be a problem. All gangs are stupid, and a military beating will beat the gang crap out of a person. A member of the Aryan Nation joins the military. I bet he won't be a Neo-Nazi after he finishes his term. A crip or blood joins the miliary. He better keep that crap to himself, or he'll probably get a quick beatdown, and will be have a new perspective on life by his sergeant, other superiors, and/or peers. They have no time for that crap.

 

[QueerMike]

From what I have heard, the boot camp programs being instituted in prisons nowadays are actually tougher than military bootcamps.

 

[Warhammer]

I'd think that boot camp programs in prisons are for all the wrong reasons, as opposed to a military boot camp. The former would probably build resentment and make matters worse.

 

[Aristotle]

I'd think that boot camp programs in prisons are for all the wrong reasons, as opposed to a military boot camp. The former would probably build resentment and make matters worse.

Well that's the point of prison, isn't it? I mean, that's all prisons do...

 

[Warhammer]

Well that's the point of prison, isn't it? I mean, that's all prisons do...

Exactly. Prison boot camps would probably focus only on the negative, and really has no point other than to "punish," as opposed to military boot camps, which would focus on getting ready to be on the battlefield, build team work, extra training, building endurance/stamina for the fight, etc. I was replying to QueerMike's post, who was replying to my post above his, by the way.

 

[QueerMike]

Exactly. Prison boot camps would probably focus only on the negative, and really has no point other than to "punish," as opposed to military boot camps, which would focus on getting ready to be on the battlefield, build team work, extra training, building endurance/stamina for the fight, etc. I was replying to QueerMike's post, who was replying to my post above his, by the way.

Actually, in most cases, the prison boot camp is completely voluntary as a way for prisoners to get an early release. They can quit at anytime, but if they do, they MUST complete their entire sentence - no early release whatsoever.

 

[Aristotle]

Actually, in most cases, the prison boot camp is completely voluntary as a way for prisoners to get an early release. They can quit at anytime, but if they do, they MUST complete their entire sentence - no early release whatsoever.

A predatory, vicious "deal" that preys upon the weaknesses and despair of the desperate to get them into violent, dangerous, painful situations for little to no reward? Gosh, it does sound a lot like the military.

 

[Warhammer]

Actually, in most cases, the prison boot camp is completely voluntary as a way for prisoners to get an early release. They can quit at anytime, but if they do, they MUST complete their entire sentence - no early release whatsoever.

 

[QueerMike]

They get their freedom, for what it's worth. In my younger years, if in that situation I'd have went through the hell to get the early release. Now, the older I get, I am more inclined to say '**** it, I'm not in any rush.'

 

[Aristotle]

I love love love that image.

 

[tzarinna]

Oh, hey, more classism.

Oh, ho, all I knows is what I was told when I did some electrical work at a jail, there was a high infection of HIV among the prisoners.