Who Can Serve?

According to a newly released report from Mission Readiness, 75% of young people in the United States are ineligible to serve in the military. Many are under-educated (1 in 4 lack a high school diploma), have a criminal record that precludes their service (1 in 10 have a previous felony or serious misdemeanor conviction), or are physically unfit (27% are overweight). This report has generated a lot of press and concerns about these issues might affect national security. One response is a proposal from Congress that focuses on early intervention to provide early education opportunities.