And many of the expressions of interest have come from men too old to serve, according to spokesmen for the national headquarters of all four recruiting commands.

"The problem is that they need volume," said Col. David Slotwinski, a former chief of staff for the Army's recruiting command, who retired in 2004.

Mr. Smith, the Army spokesman at the recruiting command, denied that the current system was unethical or misleading.

As Douglas Smith, the public information officer for the Army's recruiting command, said, "We understand that people make mistakes in their lives and they can overcome those mistakes."

The suspension, called a "values stand-down," was mandatory for every member of the recruiting command.

General Rochelle said the recruiting command has had two stand-downs since October.

It is also sent monthly to the recruiting command, said Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke, a Pentagon spokeswoman, and could be shared with local recruiters.

Joseph C. Porter and John A. Poindexter's Confederate recruiting commands would immediately benefit from the order as Southern sympathizer flocked to their banners.

Colonel Vangjel continued, "The CG is the next guy to talk to you about this," referring to the commanding general of the recruiting command, Maj. Gen. Michael D. Rochelle.

"I'm not panicking, but the numbers are disturbing," Maj. Gen. Jack C. Wheeler, the head of the Army's recruiting command, said recently.