When They Come Home Will Gangs Be Worse
Gangs Spreading In The Military
CBS Story
Evidence of gang culture and gang activity in the military is increasing so much an FBI report calls it “a threat to law enforcement and national security.” The signs are chilling: Marines in gang attire on Paris Island; paratroopers flashing gang hand signs at a nightclub near Ft. Bragg; infantrymen showing-off gang tattoos at Ft. Hood.
“It’s obvious that many of these people do not give up their gang affiliations,” said Hunter Glass, a retired police detective in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the home of Ft. Bragg and the 82nd Airborne. He monitors gang activity at the base and across the military.
“If we weren’t in the middle of fighting a war, yes, I think the military would have a lot more control over this issue,” Glass said. “But with a war going on, I think it’s very difficult to do.”
Gang activity clues are appearing in Iraq and Afghanistan, too. Gang graffiti is sprayed on blast walls – even on Humvees. Kilroy – the doodle made famous by U.S. soldiers in World War II – is here, but so is the star emblem of the Gangster Disciples.
Gangs Using Military For Training, Experts Say
“When individuals go into the military, they are taught how to use weapons, defensive tactics, and the use of a lot of sophisticated techniques,” said LaRae Quy, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “They take that back on the streets with them. This is a legitimate concern for law enforcement.”
The rise in gang activity coincides with the increase in recruits with records. Since 2003, 125,000 recruits with criminal histories have been granted what are known as “moral waivers” for felonies including robbery and assault.
Sub-cultures abound within larger societies. The military, prisons, cities, neighborhoods spawn small groups who survive with the tools available to them. Gangs are the natural tribal inclinations for humans who feel threatened and angry at the wealth and respect outside their reach. Yes, the military will rehabilitate a great number of gang members, but those who have really bad experiences will take their training back to their gangs. They will continue to prey upon the same citizens, but this time with military, leadership, battlefield experience and blood on their hands. Gangs are our domestic terrorists, and our recruiting wavers allow us to train them better ways to kill.
Update: I just had to borrow this cartoon from BrainsandEggs, it fits my point!
July 29th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Wow. Wow wow wow. I’m speechless.
thanks for this post.
July 29th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Thanks Hazel, I knew this was going on, but did not realize how much. The consequences of returning soldiers are overlooked or ignored, pick one. All I know, is that when everyone returns from the manufacture horror in the middle east, PTSD will be a household word and a criminal defense excuse for years to come. Angry youths turned into an angry killing machines with nightmares and short fuses are returning to take it out on their families and neighborhoods.
July 29th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
They’ve been recruiting a lot of gang members in the military lately and it can’t be good.
July 29th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
The US military itself, is that largest and most violent youth gang in history. The average age of the combat soldier is 19. war has always been an event for the young…
This is just another reason we need move our country away from the permanent war mentality!
The scientifically impossible I do right away
The spiritually miraculous takes a bit longer
July 29th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
I agree with both of you - gullible youth are the best soldiers. They don’t ask the right questions. They’ll believe anything that sounds exciting …
July 30th, 2007 at 4:24 am
Gangs in the military and then, the nation’s police forces recruit from the military.
Nice.
So, in 3 years, maybe in 5 years, gang membership or at very least gang-behavior, will begin showing up in cops.
Only in <i>Murika,</i> kids.