The news has recently resurfaced that the United States Army is handing out more and more waivers to those with "moral" issues or criminal records in order to meet its recruiting goals. While they are taking these recruits in have you ever wondered what they are doing to the soldiers that they already have?
If you are a slug of a human being that has never done anything positive with your life and have misdermeanor or felony convictions for drug related offenses you can receive a waiver and come into the Army. If on the other hand you are an Army soldier that has served your country honorably, deployed to a combat zone, received awards for bravery, redeployed back "home", and do the stupid act of taking a hit on a joint to relieve your combat-related stress (which you are probably not being treated for), Army Regulations require, as in mandates, that you be processed for separation from the service.
I do not condone drug abuse, however nor do I condone the mistreatment of soldiers by their own government. It is hypocrisy. How is it that the unproven convicted criminal off the street gets to come into the Army while the proven vet gets kicked out of the Army for less serious conduct? Let's not forget what that vet will lose too, fore he will not get an Honorable Discharge. He will lose his GI Bill. He will lose rights when it comes to retirement. The soldier will lose his income. He will become homeless.
Do you think that American soldiers are held to a higher standard? What is the 18/19 year old soldier given in return for volunteering to risk life and limb for his/her country? A not so swift discharge and boot to rear out the door as the soldier's replacement is welcomed off the street with "WAIVER" stamped across his criminal conviction?