Investigates

Fallout From Army Investigation

How far will the U.S. Army go to bring young men and women into their ranks? A full Army investigation is under way and two soldiers have been suspended from recruiting after CBS4 alerted the Army to some local recruiting tactics. An Arvada West High School senior wanted to find out if the Army would enlist a young man who did not meet their standards, so he made up a story about having little education and a drug problem. The following is Part II of CBS4 Investigator Rick Sallinger's report. To read Part I, click here.

ARVADA, Colo. (CBS4) -- On the orders of their colonel, Army investigators went to the home of high school student David McSwane to collect his evidence.

The man in charge of recruiting in the Denver area, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Brodeur said "The first thing I have to do is aggressively investigate any improprieties, and there are apparently glaring improprieties."

The colonel asked McSwane to turn over tapes that he recorded on the phone and a videotape showing a recruiter driving him to purchase a substance to help him pass a drug test. McSwane had made up a story to see how far recruiters would go to enlist him.

On a taped conversation, McSwane said "I have a drug problem." The recruiter said, "OK." "My diploma and transcript isn't real," McSwane said. The recruiter said, "OK."

The recorded phone conversations includes recruiters instructing McSwane how to create a phony diploma.

"I hope they look into recruiting tactics and see that this is something that is going on," McSwane said. "People are in the Army that have gotten in this way."

CBS4 asked the colonel if the tactics could be due to pressure to meet quotas for new soldiers.

"Sir, listen, it doesn't matter what the quotas are, it doesn't matter if your quota is one or 10 for this month," Brodeur said. "It is unacceptable."

Brodeur called the Army an "All-Star Army" that doesn't need soldiers with drug problems or those who don't meet academic standards.

"The people of the United States of America and the state of Colorado deserve better," Brodeur said. "They don't need recruiters that are like this, if this is in fact true."

The Army's investigation into the recruiting tactics will be completed next month.

CBS4 Video:

Meeting Mission: Recruiter Says He Was Fired For Quota Failure

Military Command Responds To Investigation

Watch Rick Sallinger's Investigates Report, Part I

Watch Rick Sallinger's Investigates Report, Part II

Full Interview With Lt. Col. Jeffrey Brodeur (8 Minutes)

Additional Resources:

The U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion Denver office released the following press release on April 29 in relation to this case:

Yesterday the Denver Army Recruiting Battalion took action against two Army recruiters for alleged impropriety. One recruiter is suspended from recruiting until completion of the investigation. The other recruiter, who was in transition to a new duty location, is being called back to the area for the investigation and is also not recruiting.

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Brodeur, Denver Army Recruiting Battalion commander, said: "We began conducting an investigation immediately upon finding out about the allegations made toward these recruiters and are required to complete the investigation within 30 days.

"Recruiter misconduct is not acceptable and it violates honor, duty and trust.

"The Army takes a very serious approach to proper enlistment procedure and integrity. All allegations are investigated. We do not tolerate unprofessional behavior and our stringent guidelines for policing the recruiting force is evidence of that commitment."

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