WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of soldiers and others are under criminal investigation in what the military describes as a widespread scheme to take fraudulent payments and kickbacks from a National Guard recruiting program. The fraud cost the U.S. at least $29 million and possibly tens of millions dollars more, officials said Tuesday.

Two army generals revealed to a Senate panel on Tuesday new details of an ongoing investigation into a recruiting program put in place in 2005 to boost flagging enlistment during a crucial period of the Iraq War.

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