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Boston Globe
April 30, 2008 Those who needed waivers to enlist more likely to reup
By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- Soldiers who need special waivers to get into the Army because of bad behavior go AWOL more often and face more courts-martial. But they also get promoted faster and reenlist at a higher rate, according to an internal military study obtained by the Associated Press.
The Army study concluded late last year that taking a chance on a well-screened applicant with a criminal, poor driving, or drug record usually pays off. And both the Army and the Marines have been bringing in more recruits with blemished records. Still, senior leaders have called for additional studies to help determine the impact of the waivers on the Army.
"We believe that so far the return outweighs the risk," said Army Colonel Kent M. Miller, who headed the team that conducted the study.
The information has not been released to the public, but the AP obtained a copy of the study.
The statistics show that recruits with criminal records or other drug and alcohol issues have more discipline problems. Those recruits also are a bit more likely to drop out of the Army because of alcohol.
On the brighter side, those with waivers earn more medals for valor and tend to stay in the Army longer.
In a key finding, the study said nearly one in five, or 19.5 percent, of the soldiers who needed waivers to join the Army failed to complete the initial term of enlistment, from two to six years. That percentage is just a bit higher than the 17 percent rate for those who did not need a waiver.
About 1 percent of those with waivers appeared before courts-martial, compared with about 0.7 percent of those without waivers.
Also, infantry soldiers with waivers were promoted to sergeant in an average of about 35 months, compared with 39 months for those without waivers.
The Army study compared the performance of soldiers who came in with conduct waivers against those who did not during the years 2003-2006.
In that time, 276,231 recruits enlisted in the Army with no prior military service. Of those, 6.5 percent, or nearly 18,000, had waivers.
In a comparison of both groups the study found that soldiers who had received waivers for bad behavior: Had a higher desertion rate (4.26 percent vs. 3.23 percent).
Had a higher misconduct rate (5.95 percent vs. 3.55 percent).
Had a higher rate of appearances before courts-martial (1 percent vs. 0.71 percent).
Had a higher dropout rate for alcohol rehabilitation (0.27 percent vs. 0.12 percent).
But they also: Were more likely to reenlist (28.48 percent vs. 26.76 percent).
Got promoted faster to sergeant (after 34.7 months vs. 39 months).
Had a lower rate of dismissal for personality disorders (0.93 percent vs. 1.12 percent).
Had a lower rate of dismissal for unsatisfactory performance (0.26 percent vs. 0.48 percent).
Waivers have been a controversial issue for the military in recent months, with the news that the Army and Marine Corps have increased their use of the exemptions to bring in more recruits with criminal records.
The Army and the Marine Corps are under pressure to attract recruits as they struggle to increase their size to meet the combat needs.
Lower-level officers have raised concerns with their leaders that the waiver-trend might increase disciplinary problems within their units.
April 30, 2008 Those who needed waivers to enlist more likely to reup
By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- Soldiers who need special waivers to get into the Army because of bad behavior go AWOL more often and face more courts-martial. But they also get promoted faster and reenlist at a higher rate, according to an internal military study obtained by the Associated Press.
The Army study concluded late last year that taking a chance on a well-screened applicant with a criminal, poor driving, or drug record usually pays off. And both the Army and the Marines have been bringing in more recruits with blemished records. Still, senior leaders have called for additional studies to help determine the impact of the waivers on the Army.
"We believe that so far the return outweighs the risk," said Army Colonel Kent M. Miller, who headed the team that conducted the study.
The information has not been released to the public, but the AP obtained a copy of the study.
The statistics show that recruits with criminal records or other drug and alcohol issues have more discipline problems. Those recruits also are a bit more likely to drop out of the Army because of alcohol.
On the brighter side, those with waivers earn more medals for valor and tend to stay in the Army longer.
In a key finding, the study said nearly one in five, or 19.5 percent, of the soldiers who needed waivers to join the Army failed to complete the initial term of enlistment, from two to six years. That percentage is just a bit higher than the 17 percent rate for those who did not need a waiver.
About 1 percent of those with waivers appeared before courts-martial, compared with about 0.7 percent of those without waivers.
Also, infantry soldiers with waivers were promoted to sergeant in an average of about 35 months, compared with 39 months for those without waivers.
The Army study compared the performance of soldiers who came in with conduct waivers against those who did not during the years 2003-2006.
In that time, 276,231 recruits enlisted in the Army with no prior military service. Of those, 6.5 percent, or nearly 18,000, had waivers.
In a comparison of both groups the study found that soldiers who had received waivers for bad behavior: Had a higher desertion rate (4.26 percent vs. 3.23 percent).
Had a higher misconduct rate (5.95 percent vs. 3.55 percent).
Had a higher rate of appearances before courts-martial (1 percent vs. 0.71 percent).
Had a higher dropout rate for alcohol rehabilitation (0.27 percent vs. 0.12 percent).
But they also: Were more likely to reenlist (28.48 percent vs. 26.76 percent).
Got promoted faster to sergeant (after 34.7 months vs. 39 months).
Had a lower rate of dismissal for personality disorders (0.93 percent vs. 1.12 percent).
Had a lower rate of dismissal for unsatisfactory performance (0.26 percent vs. 0.48 percent).
Waivers have been a controversial issue for the military in recent months, with the news that the Army and Marine Corps have increased their use of the exemptions to bring in more recruits with criminal records.
The Army and the Marine Corps are under pressure to attract recruits as they struggle to increase their size to meet the combat needs.
Lower-level officers have raised concerns with their leaders that the waiver-trend might increase disciplinary problems within their units.