Marines recruit way more felons than the Army does (proportionately)

The news has been out for a few days that the Army and Marines are granting an increasing number of waivers to felons who want to join. The Army granted 511 waivers in 2007, up from 249 in the previous year. The Marine Corps, however, granted 350 waivers last year, up from 208 the year before. (Numbers from NY Times, but everyone has the same.)

So at first glance, the Army grants more felony waivers to recruits than the Marine Corps does, and the Army's increase from 2006 to 2007 was greater than the Marine Corps's increase. The Army is always No. 1.

BUT WAIT.

The Army has about five times as many members as the Marines - more than 1 million soldiers to about 175,000 Marines. So the Army should have five times as many felony waivers as the Marines.

Instead, the Army has only about 1.5 times as many felony waivers! Come on, Army! Catch up.