Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Washington Times
May 19, 2008
Pg. 18
Media coverage recently has focused on military-recruiting enlistment waivers, most recently in Lawrence Korb's Friday Commentary column, "Reagan and the draft." In carefully accepting "waivered" recruits, the U.S. Army provides quality men and women who made a mistake earlier in life with the opportunity to serve the nation and realize their potential. The number of these waivers remains relatively low: The Army's leadership is committed to a quality force and thoroughly screens each volunteer.
When we identify true potential, we apply a rigorous waiver process to examine the whole person. We are seeing remarkable trends in the performance of soldiers with conduct waivers. Waivered soldiers re-enlist at a higher rate, advance to sergeant faster and have a higher ratio of valor awards — with only a marginally higher misconduct rate.
While the quality of civilians is important, having disciplined and well-trained soldiers is what really counts: good citizens and strong soldiers who are the best in the world at what they do. Our Army remains committed to providing the best force to the nation in a dangerous period of persistent conflict. We are the best-manned, best-trained, best-led and best-equipped army in the history of the nation.
BRIG. GEN. JEFFREY E. PHILLIPS, Army public affairs, The Pentagon, Washington
May 19, 2008
Pg. 18
Media coverage recently has focused on military-recruiting enlistment waivers, most recently in Lawrence Korb's Friday Commentary column, "Reagan and the draft." In carefully accepting "waivered" recruits, the U.S. Army provides quality men and women who made a mistake earlier in life with the opportunity to serve the nation and realize their potential. The number of these waivers remains relatively low: The Army's leadership is committed to a quality force and thoroughly screens each volunteer.
When we identify true potential, we apply a rigorous waiver process to examine the whole person. We are seeing remarkable trends in the performance of soldiers with conduct waivers. Waivered soldiers re-enlist at a higher rate, advance to sergeant faster and have a higher ratio of valor awards — with only a marginally higher misconduct rate.
While the quality of civilians is important, having disciplined and well-trained soldiers is what really counts: good citizens and strong soldiers who are the best in the world at what they do. Our Army remains committed to providing the best force to the nation in a dangerous period of persistent conflict. We are the best-manned, best-trained, best-led and best-equipped army in the history of the nation.
BRIG. GEN. JEFFREY E. PHILLIPS, Army public affairs, The Pentagon, Washington