Waxman Requests Pentagon Docs On Recruitment

On Monday, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) asked the Pentagon to turn over materials related to the recent increase in the number of personnel conduct waivers. These allow citizens with previous felony convictions to still enlist in the Armed Forces.

Waxman sent a letter to Under Secretary of Defense David Chu asking for any documents related to the increase in waivers. Additionally, he asked for any data or studies on the impact the inlistment of these individuals has had on the military.

Chu had previously provided the committee with statistics regarding personnel waivers granted in 2006 and 2007 for enlistees who had been convicted of felonies.

“The data you provided the Committee shows that there was a rapid rise in 2007 in the number of waivers the Army and Marine Corps granted to recruits convicted of serious felonies, such as aggravated assault and burglary,” said Waxman in the letter.

“Some recruits were even granted waivers for felony convictions involving sexual assault and terrorist threats. I am writing to seek more information about these trends and their implications for military readiness.”
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