The US Army and Marine Corps recruited significantly more
people with criminal records last year than in 2006, amid
pressure to meet combat needs.
Statistics released by a congressional committee show 861
people were granted waivers to enlist, up from 457 in 2007.
The crimes included assault, sex crimes, manslaughter and
burglary.
The Army says waivers are only granted after careful review
and are in response to the challenges of recruiting in a changing
society.
(Article continues below)
The number of people granted waivers are just a small fraction
of the more than 180,000 people who entered active duty in
the armed forces during the fiscal year that ended in September
2007.
But the perceived lowering of standards is causing concern
in some quarters.
"The significant increase in the recruitment of persons
with criminal records is a result of the strain put on the
military by the Iraq war," said Democratic Representative
Henry Waxman.
Mr Waxman chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform
Committee that released the figures drawn up by the US Department
of Defense.
These show that:
