Army stops accepting felons and recent drug users

Just about this time last year, we bemoaned the increase in "conduct waivers" issued by the Army to enlist recruits with criminal records. A year later, we cheer the news, as reported in today's WaPo, that last month the Army stopped enlisting potential recruits with felony convictions and recent drug use. Ann Scott Tyson, Army More Selective as Economy Lags, Wash. Post, Apr. 19, 2009, at A6. The article also reports that this year, the Army is on track to meet its goal of 90% of recruits with high school diplomas -- a goal the Army hasn't met since 2004.

The article indicates that while the Army issued 511 waivers to enlist convicted felons in 2007, "adult major misconduct" waivers are no longer available.