How the US military lowered its standards to fill Vietnam War ranks
In short: During the 1960s, the United States military implemented Project 100,000 to address troop shortages. This controversial initiative relaxed physical and intellectual requirements, drafting individuals who previously would have been ineligible for service into brutal combat roles.
Project 100,000 was a controversial experiment conducted during the 1960s to swell the ranks of the US military. By lowering standards for intelligence and physical fitness, the authorities allowed individuals who were previously deemed unsuitable for service to be conscripted.
This policy effectively turned students who struggled academically into soldiers, sending them to the front lines of the Vietnam War. The initiative is remembered as one of the most cruel and contentious aspects of the conflict, prioritizing the need for more troops over traditional enlistment criteria.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Low I.Q. People Forced to Become Soldiers (Vietnam War)
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