Army Recruiters Entice 18 Year-Old Autistic Boy



In the news from Portland is the story of the Army Recruiters who signed up an 18 year-old boy with moderate to severe autism, promising him training as a "cavalry scout." From The Oregonian:

School and medical records show that Jared, whose recent verbal IQ tested very low, spent years in special education classes. It was only when he was a high school senior that his mother pushed for him to take regular classes because she wanted him to get a normal rather than a modified diploma when he graduates this spring.

Jared scored 43 out of 99 on the Army's basic entrance exam — 31 is the lowest grade the Army allows for enlistment, military officials said.

The Guinthers said their son doesn't understand the dangers or the details of what he's has done. When they asked Jared how long he would be in the Army, he said he didn't know. His enlistment papers show it's just over four years.

Turns out that the parents had to go to the newspaper to get the Army to pay attention to their objections.

What do you want to bet that the recruiter gave Jared a little help with the entrance exam?

Posted: Mon - May 8, 2006 at 08:00 AM        

©