1,200 US Army recruiters under investigation for suspected fraud
6 February 2014
More than 1,200 US Army recruiters are under investigation into large-scale fraud tied to an army recruitment programme, two army generals and a senator have revealed at a US Senate hearing.
Thu, 6 Feb 2014More than 1,200 US Army recruiters are under investigation into large-scale fraud tied to an army recruitment programme, two army generals and a senator have revealed at a US Senate hearing.
According to Stars and Stripes, the daily newspaper for US forces and civilians overseas, at least 700 recruiters and 200 military officers are under investigation, and several former recruiters and soldiers have been indicted on federal charges.
Under a referral scheme, army recruiters, recruiting assistants and other army personnel were claiming to have recruited people who were already going to enlist or had already enlisted.
Investigators found that $29m (£17.7m) in taxpayer money has been lost, but that could increase to almost $100m.
Launched in 2005, the programme was created to provide financial incentives to National Guard members not on active duty, retirees and other civilians to act as informal recruiters by encouraging family, friends and other acquaintances to join the National Guard.
Recruiting assistants would refer potential enlistees to an army recruiter, and if the person signed up, the recruiter would receive a reward of between $2k to $7.5k.
The programme appeared to be a success, with almost 40% of Army Guard recruits enlisted through the programme.
According to Stars and Stripes, the daily newspaper for US forces and civilians overseas, at least 700 recruiters and 200 military officers are under investigation, and several former recruiters and soldiers have been indicted on federal charges.
Under a referral scheme, army recruiters, recruiting assistants and other army personnel were claiming to have recruited people who were already going to enlist or had already enlisted.
Investigators found that $29m (£17.7m) in taxpayer money has been lost, but that could increase to almost $100m.
Launched in 2005, the programme was created to provide financial incentives to National Guard members not on active duty, retirees and other civilians to act as informal recruiters by encouraging family, friends and other acquaintances to join the National Guard.
Recruiting assistants would refer potential enlistees to an army recruiter, and if the person signed up, the recruiter would receive a reward of between $2k to $7.5k.
The programme appeared to be a success, with almost 40% of Army Guard recruits enlisted through the programme.
