Yeah, yeah, I know—this sort of thing has gone on since forever. But weren’t we supposed to have a set of higher standards these days? A shiny, high-tech, high-quality military? Some things never change:

A Bangor Area High School senior who admitted his role in a BB-gun shooting spree that blew out about 200 windows and caused nearly $74,000 in damage won’t have to go to prison — but only if he joins the Army and stays in.

[snip]His attorney, Ralph J. Bellafatto of Bethlehem Township, told Beltrami that Cowley probably would be deployed to Iraq within a year. Bellafatto said that, as part of the plea agreement, Cowley paid $5,000 on Friday and had to turn over net proceeds of a $6,000 ”signing bonus” he’ll get for joining the service.

In addition, 75 percent of his military pay will be deducted until the restitution is complete. If Cowley dies before the restitution is made, Bellafatto said, any remaining amount would be taken from his military life insurance.

… By suspending the prison sentence, Beltrami helped to clear the way to help Cowley meet the Army’s required ”felony waiver.”

Gotta admit the kid’s shooting skills do not appear to be in doubt. Judgment, on the other hand? Let’s hope he serves his time—er, I mean “term”— doing something as far back-of-the-lines as possible, shuffling papers or the like.

And nowhere near Haditha.