After dropping out of high school, National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden enlisted in the U.S. Army with hopes of joining the service's special forces. He was discharged, however, after just five months.
Army spokesman George Wright confirmed to The Guardian:
“His records indicate he enlisted in the Army Reserve as a Special Forces Recruit (18X) on 7 May 2004 but was discharged 28 September 2004. He did not complete any training or receive any awards."
Snowden has apparently attributed the brevity of his stint in the Army to the fact "he broke both his legs in a training accident," according to the Guardian.
The U.S. Army has not confirmed this.
Snowden has made international headlines for leaking information about the National Security Agency's surveillance program. Snowden was an employee of government contractor Booz Allen Hamilton. For more on Snowden, check out this interview aired by CBS News:
