History Main / LoweredRecruitingStandards

* The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffen-SS Waffen SS]] during WorldWarII. Initially membership was open to "Aryans" only in accordance with the racial policies of the [[NaziGermany Nazi state]], but the rules were partially relaxed in 1940, and AdolfHitler authorized the formation of units composed largely or solely of foreign volunteers and conscripts as the war went on. By the end of the war, non-Germans made up more than 50 percent of the Waffen SS.

[[AC:RealLife]]
* There have been feminists who demand that the standards to becoming a firefighter be lowered so that more women can join, prompting massive protests from women who measured up to the original standards.
* In a similar vein, the "against" camp in the debate on whether or not to allow women into the combat branches of the US Military uses this trope as one of their primary arguments.
* The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffen-SS Waffen SS]] during WorldWarII. Initially membership was open to "Aryans" only in accordance with the racial policies of the [[NaziGermany Nazi state]], but the rules were partially relaxed in 1940, and AdolfHitler authorized the formation of units composed largely or solely of foreign volunteers and conscripts as the war went on. By the end of the war, non-Germans made up more than 50 percent of the Waffen SS.
* Conscription has this effect on armies. The army is forced to accept many barely fit recruits who don't want to be in it either.
* Jokingly mentioned by DaveBarry in regards to universities being so desperate for students they now accept people they wouldn't have allowed to work in the boiler room.

* The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffen-SS Waffen SS]] durg WorldWarII. Initially membership was open to "Aryans" only in accordance with the racial policies of the [[NaziGermany Nazi state]], but the rules were partially relaxed in 1940, and AdolfHitler authorized the formation of units composed largely or solely of foreign volunteers and conscripts as the war went on. By the end of the war, non-Germans made up more than 50 percent of the Waffen SS.

[[AC:RealLife]]

* The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffen-SS Waffen SS]] durg WorldWarII. Initially membership was open to "Aryans" only in accordance with the racial policies of the [[NaziGermany Nazi state]], but the rules were partially relaxed in 1940, and AdolfHitler authorized the formation of units composed largely or solely of foreign volunteers and conscripts as the war went on. By the end of the war, non-Germans made up more than 50 percent of the Waffen SS.

* In the Sith Warrior storyline of ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', your initial quest giver comments that this policy was instated within the Sith Academy. In an inversion, your character is one of the elite who is there legitimately, while TheRival is one whose presence owes itself to the Lowered Standards.

* In ''[[TheBourneSeries The Bourne Legacy]]'', a character reveals that his IQ score was raised 12 points by a recruiter so the recruiter could make his quota.

* HarryPotter is accepted in the advanced Potions class because the new teacher has lower standards than Snape's.

* In TheHelmsmanSaga, before the First Galactic War, only nobles were accepted into the Helmsman Academy. The protagonist is from the first batch of commoners to be allowed in due to the combat losses.

* [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy Peter Griffin]] is named president of a cigarette company for the same reason.

* Peter Griffin is named president of a cigarette company for the same reason.

* [[TheDresdenFiles Harry Dresden]] is [[spoiler: recruited into the [[StateSec Wardens]] and made regional commander for the central United States due to their shorthandedness during the vampire war]].

* HarryDresden is [[spoiler: recruited into the [[StateSec Wardens]] and made regional commander for the central United States due to their shorthandedness during the vampire war]].

* Happens in ''UnderTheDome'' by StephenKing. After the town is cut-off from the outside world via SomeKindOfForceField, the town's leaders make the decision to deputize some young adults in order to beef up the police force. These young adults? The town selectman's [[WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong sociopathic son and his delinquent friends]].

* In the ''SouthPark'' episode "Best Friends Forever" Kenny dies and ascends to Heaven in order to command Heaven's army against the forces of Hell. He is told by the angels that they used to only let Mormons into Heaven, but they started to let others in order to increase their army's size.

* Jokkingly mentioned by DaveBarry in regards to universities being so desperate for students they now accept people they wouldn't have allowed to work in the boiler room.

* Theorized why in ''Videogame/{{Prototype 2}}'' Blackwatch are now a bunch of raving psychos instead of evil but at least containing a [[ZombieApocalypse zombie apocalypse]]. Not helped by the fact that everything they do is full of dog kicking [[ForTheEvulz for the evulz]].

* Theorized why in {{Prototype 2}} Blackwatch are now a bunch of raving psychos instead of evil but at least containing a {{zombie apocalypse}}. Not helped by the fact that everything they do is full of dog kicking {{for the evulz}}.

[[AC:{{Anime}} & {{Manga}}]]
* In ''Manga/TheWorldGodOnlyKnows'' lack of numbers is the reason that a third class devil like Elsie gets trained and sent to Earth to capture loose spirits; a job reserved for the Best of the Best.

[[AC:{{Manga}} & {{Anime}}]]

* Conscription has this effect on armies. The army is forced to accept many barely fit recruits who don't really want to be in it.

* On ''TheSimpsons'', NASA decides to let an average person be an astronaut to better its image, which is how Homer ends up on the space shuttle.