GUEST 17 May 05-02:14 PM: my understanding is that those recruits who didn't meet standards were caught elsewhere up the line and sent home. Few, if any, actually made it past basic training.   The issue of people serving/returning and what their (reaction is) to fighting with back up coming from men that would not have been allowed in the army a couple of years ago is not an issue. Recruitment is down, but retention is up; more here.