By now I am sure everyone has heard about the president increasing our troop level overseas by 20,000, thus causing our military shortages of recruits. After all, who would want to enlist in any branch of the service during wartime? Apparently not too many; thus "the draft" is the only option left. However, I strongly disagree. There is another option out there and one that should be strongly considered -- prison inmates. I do not understand why these people are not forced or considered to service our country. Our tax money supports them in either place so why not make it a place where they could actually do some good verses just sitting in our jails. These inmates get three solid meals each day, free medical care, clothes on their backs and a roof over their heads, which is much better than what our soldiers have to endure! A majority of our state prisoners are in due to drug-related charges, but our system is so overcrowded that these individuals are only forced to serve 50 percent of the time they are given. How stupid! The individuals are getting a break from the very start, plus they are wasting my tax dollars keeping them up. Unfortuately, taxes will never disappear, but how about applying that money where it is most needed and most beneficial? These inmates consist also of young, strong men and women who do not receive rehabilitative services so why not enlist them to serve their country? Of course, I am not recommending the "hardened" criminal be given a chance to contribute back to society, but those inmates in, for example, drugs should be. Have them serve their time overseas helping those who risk their lives daily for the good of our great country. No, the draft should never come into effect again, given the situation described above. "Serving time" does not seem to scare most criminals of any level these days so how about trying a different more effective and useful sentence -- defending our country! Everyone knows that the U.S. government has lowered the criteria for enlisting in our military so no one can reasonably say these inmates would "drop the value or meaning" for our country as the government has already taken care of that feat. Who knows, some inmates might actually learn from the experience and come back a better person or maybe not, but it is worth trying. At the very least, it may make a would-be-criminal consider the choices before committing the crime.
Well, what you are suggesting is unlawful. There is no law to allow you to discriminate the prisoners. Pass the laws and then we can talk about it. Before that, think about the chance of passing such laws. If you think there is a high chance of success, start a lobby group and then you make history.
I'm all about prisoner Rehabilitation I beleive that you should offer them the option why not? Rocket River
Well, my dad has a small company and one of his worker is an ex army solider who like to do drugs. Well, he got caught by police and they shipped his ass to Iraq for six month to train new soldiers there (I hope not on how to do drugs how to fire the big artillery guns). He is back now, is this practice used often?
The "police" and the "military" are separate things. I don't think what you're describing is possible.
I've heard of a few cases of judges giving some nonviolent offenders the option of joining the military or going to jail so your suggestion might not be that far fetched. I think the biggest hurdles besides existing law is the fear of giving people who are already lacking in discipline and prone to violence weapons. Personally I don't have too much of a problem with it provided the recruits are carefully screened and it is voluntary. Howabout giving nonviolent prisoners who have shown good behavior the option of serving in military support positions instead of combat positions?
Most of this occured before they went to an all volunteer army, I believe. It is my understanding that the rules prohibit felons from joining the military but the various services are allowed to waive this requirement if they choose. I would imagine that these days they are waiving the requirement much more than they did, say 10 years ago.
Don't we already have illegal immigrants fighting? I guess a volunteer army and preemptive strikes based upon spurious intel don't mix.
I don't have exact info and am just relying on memory but I've recalled this still occurs. My understanding is that these aren't felons per se but people in their late teens or early 20's convicted of misdemeanors who are prepared to plead guilty. The judge under his sentencing discretion waives the sentence if they agree to join the military so technically they aren't going to the military as a substitute since the sentence is waived. Again this is just from my own memory so I may be mistaken if this is no longer used.
that sounds right to me. its not like they were letting rapists or child molesters join the army instead of going to jail. it was what might be called "at-risk" youngsters - kids who just needed a good kick in the pants to get their act together. "the military will straighten you out boy!" as far as prison conscripts, i really cant think of a worse idea - that is what the soviets did. it leads to really horrible soldiers who can do really horrible things (see berlin circa april/may 1945). and it puts good soldiers at risk. unfortunately, the bush administration has lowered the standards (intelligence and criminal record) and people who formerly could not get in due to their criminal past can now be taken. http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/777C508C-1002-4865-B05A-682F24C50BA0/ The number of waivers granted to Army recruits with criminal backgrounds has grown about 65 percent in the last three years, increasing to 8,129 in 2006 from 4,918 in 2003, Department of Defense records show. During that time, the Army has employed a variety of tactics to expand its diminishing pool of recruits. It has offered larger enlistment cash bonuses, allowed more high school dropouts and applicants with low scores on its aptitude test to join, and loosened weight and age restrictions. It has also increased the number of so-called “moral waivers” to recruits with criminal pasts, even as the total number of recruits dropped slightly. The sharpest increase was in waivers for serious misdemeanors, which make up the bulk of all the Army’s moral waivers. These include aggravated assault, burglary, robbery and vehicular homicide. “The data is crystal clear; our armed forces are under incredible strain, and the only way that they can fill their recruiting quotas is by lowering their standards,” said Representative Martin T. Meehan, Democrat of Massachusetts and chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight. He has requested more detailed data from the Defense Department on the use of waivers. Since more than 125,000 service members with criminal histories have joined the military in the last three years, Mr. Belkin said, “you have a sizeable population that has been incarcerated and is not used to the same cultural norms as everybody else.”
I am not sure how that all works all I know is one guy got send to Iraq for six month for doing drugs.
