US Army and Navy stretched the rules to misrepresent the academic qualifications of recruits, the inspector general says

"The report, released earlier this month, is based on a yearlong review of the services' Future Soldier and Future Sailor preparatory courses, which are new "pre-boot camps" created in recent years. The programs have helped the Army and Navy enlist more recruits amid a national recruiting crisis by taking applicants with low entrance exam scores or fitness shortfalls and aiming to prepare them for service - addressing the deficiencies - in a matter of weeks or months."

"The Defense Department Inspector General found that the Army and Navy miscalculated the number of low-scoring recruits they enlisted by counting test scores earned after applicants completed the preparatory courses, rather than the scores they received before entering those programs. That approach allowed both services to exceed federal limits on low-scoring recruits without notifying the Secretary of Defense, as required by the rule. The secretary has the authority to raise those limits, but must also inform Congress."

Army and Navy preparatory programs enroll applicants with low entrance exam scores or fitness shortfalls and aim to remediate deficiencies within weeks or months. The Defense Department Inspector General found that both services counted test scores earned after applicants completed the preparatory courses rather than scores received before entering those programs. Counting post-course scores led to misrepresented academic qualifications and allowed the services to exceed federal limits on low-scoring enlistees without notifying the Secretary of Defense. The secretary can raise those limits but must inform Congress. The Pentagon disputes the finding, arguing end-of-course scores should determine qualification.

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