Posted by
Rich on Friday, April 25, 2008 10:04:09 AM
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune editorial board has an excellent piece titled, "Recruits with a record - Don't jump to conclusions about the military's felony waivers".
The
editorial rightly points out that, "Last year, the Army granted 511
felony waivers, more than double the 249 granted in 2006. The Marine
Corps' waivers increased from 208 to 350.While these are large
[percentage] increases, the waivers represent a tiny fraction of the
more than 180,000 active-duty recruits who joined the military in 2007."
They
also state, "The military says it is extremely judicious in granting
waivers. Applicants for waivers must submit character references, are
personally interviewed by commanders, and must be approved for
enlistment by a brigadier general or a higher ranking general."
Let's put this in perspective.
At
the February 2008 meeting of the Sarasota County Veterans Commission,
Florida Senator Mike Bennett talked about his run ins with the law when
he was a young man. He told about how a judge gave him the option of
jail or joining the U.S. military within 24 hours. Senator Bennett went
downstairs from the court room and joined the Navy. Senator Bennett
voluntarily served four tours in Vietnam, distinguishing himself in
combat operations. He went on to start a successful business and of
course run for the Florida Senate.
At the same meeting Eugene
(Top) Harrison, USMC (Ret.) came to the podium and said he joined the
Marines under similar circumstances. Top Harrison is a highly decorated
veteran of the Korean War and Vietnam. He taught in and retired from
the Sarasota County School District. Top Harrison taught at risk kids
in the dropout prevention program at Venice High School. Top Harrison's
son is an Air Force Lieutenant Colonel currently serving in the Middle
East.
We miss the time when judges had the option of sending
troubled youth to the greatest institution on this earth, the U.S.
Armed Forces, rather than the worst institutions, our prisons.
The
U.S. Military has the ability to transform bad behavior into good
behavior. It has done this for centuries. Military training and service
provides structure and discipline to those without it. Military service
instills duty, honor and personal responsibility in our youth.
Now for the liberal hypocrisy.
The
Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Democrats in Congress question, "whether
the number of waivers is being increased for the right reasons, and
whether that change is affecting the military's performance."
What does this mean. Right reason? Isn't putting criminals to work in an honorable profession the right reason?
We
know of a company in St. Louis, Missouri that employs thousands of
criminals, including felons (murders, etc.). This company provides one
third of the pay to the prisoner to purchase personal items, puts one
third of the pay into an interest bearing account for the prisoner so
they have a nest egg to draw on when they finish serving their
sentence, and the final third is paid to the State of Missouri. The
annual payout to the State of Missouri for this program is
approximately $15 million.
Doesn't it makes sense to put
properly screened felons to work. If they are not working then they
will fall back on the only skill they know, crime. That costs all of
us. Would it not be better that they be given the chance to redeem
themselves by serving our nation?
You would think that the
liberal Democrats in Congress would be looking for ways to turn more
criminals into loyal soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines.
The
Sarasota Herald-Tribune wants questions answered about these 861 Army
and Marine recruits. Having the military follow these soldiers and
marines around to collect data on them just makes matters worse.
Putting more pressure on them needlessly can do more harm than good.
Don't
worry, if they fail the military will take care of that. I trust our
military leaders to make the right decisions on who enlists and who
does not. I personally believe that giving someone on the road to
disaster a better road to travel is both moral and good public policy.
What do you think?