Historical precedents exist for using ex-prisoners in the military, notably the French Foreign Legion and more recently when the Department of Defense lowered its entrance standards during the Vietnam war to include some persons convicted in civil court. Recent population projections predicting a steady decline in males between ages 17 and 21 are discussed, as are other factors which affect military recruiting. The following policy changes which could alleviate manpower problems are briefly explored: a standby draft, changes in laws affecting women in the military, possible use of skilled parolees, and pay raises comparable to civilian salaries. Discrimination against ex-offenders is discussed, and the criteria for enlisting parolees in the military are identified as severity of crime, age, recidivism, and skill qualifications. A discussion of training proposals considers three alternatives: assigning and training parolees at the United States Retraining Brigade (Army Correction Program) in Ft. Riley, Kansas; processing parolees as regular recruits in basic training; and work release programs. Also mentioned as a potential source of manpower are individuals who were discharged from the military for less than honorable conditions. The cost benefits of using parolees are then analyzed and compared with reinstating the draft for men, drafting women, continuing voluntary recruitment, increasing military pay, and extending the current 6 year obligation of enlistees. Advantages of allowing parolees to serve include reduced welfare costs, increased tax revenues, and reduced correctional expenses. Questionnaires completed by 137 inmates between the ages of 17 and 34 of Soledad State Prison's Correctional Training Facility in 1980 indicated that 96 percent were willing to join the military service. This study recommends that a pilot progam be established to assess the feasibility of using selected parolees in the military and that the criminal records of all parolees who successfuly served be erased as an incentive. The appendixes contain a profile of the inmates surveyed, regulations governing enlistment eligibility, a list of registered apprenticeship programs in the Federal prison system, statistical data used in the cost analysis, and questionnaires. Approximately 50 references are provided.