Nearly every U.S. street gang has infiltrated the military

The FBI acknowledges that this is a major issue:

TheFBI says it has uncovered members of the Bloods, Crips, Hells Angels,Black Disciples, Mara Salvatrucha and nearly every other U.S. streetgang serving in uniform on military bases stateside and overseas.

At Fort Lewis in Washington state, for instance, nearly 130 gang andextremist group members have been identified since 2005, with manybelieved responsible for criminal misconduct on base. At Fort Hood inTexas, the Army has identified 23 gang-bangers since 2003, includingone soldier, who was a Gangster Disciple leader, convicted of twoaggravated robberies.

In its Jan. 21 report, the FBI said the gang members “constitute only afraction of military personnel,” but are increasing in the ranks andposing both a crime and national security threat.

Last May, the Chicago Sun-Times wrote an even more detailed story about how gang signs were showing up in Iraq:

Graffiti for the Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings, Vice Lords, andothers is showing up in "armored vehicles, concrete barricades andbathroom walls" in Iraq, the paper says.

(Editor's Note: In no way am I suggesting that most U.S. soldiers, nor even a large number of soldiers, are in gangs.  I have two friends now serving in Iraq, and would never try to rhetorically tear down the great institution that they serve.)

Comments

[Tony]

It's a shame that once again member joins the service, they don't give up their old ways. I suppose in most cases "once a member, always a member"

I lived in Clarksville, TN for a year (very close to FT. Campbell) I remember speaking with a soldier that told me about gang activity on base, he said it was mainly the children of the soldiers (at that time)

Tony

[Tony]

It's a shame that once again member joins the service, they don't give up their old ways. I suppose in most cases "once a member, always a member"

I lived in Clarksville, TN for a year (very close to FT. Campbell) I remember speaking with a soldier that told me about gang activity on base, he said it was mainly the children of the soldiers (at that time)

Tony

[Administrator: Todd]

Really? I had no idea until I did some research on this last night that gangs were a problem in the military. It's especially worse now that many of the gang members are moving up in the ranks.

[michel]

What's the deal with every time someone points out a flaw in the military, they have to add a disclaimer?

I'm not an American, and I know I'm out of synch with a lot of your stuff, such as how you show your patriotism. In the case of the military, you guys, politicians or not, feel they need to explicitly say that you "support your troops", as it by default that weren't true. Hell, I don't think I've ever heard anyone say "I don't support the troops".

So why can't people assume that if you're criticizing one facet of the military, that that doesn't mean you hate everything and everyone involved? In fact, if that were the case, wouldn't such a person more likely write an article called "The military and everyone in it are scum"?

Yeah, this is nothing but a rant, but sometimes I think Americans can be too alarmist and fearful, like if not using the lingo makes you a pinko commie nazi terrorist.

"9/11 changed you, America. You used to be cool."

[Tony]

Todd,

I didn't realize it was a problem outside of FT. Campbell until I saw this post, or even think about it for that matter.

[Administrator: Todd]

Michel, it's a bad habbit that I have and many other Americans have. We have grown so accustomed to having our patriotism challenged, and it is difficult not to include things like, "..but I still support the troops" after everything we say.

Also, I think part of it was out of respect -- just in case my friends that are in Iraq stop by and visit this blog. Really though, when you are putting your life on the line in the military (sometimes for financial reasons), you want to believe that people back home support you no matter what. I know that might sound cheesy to some, but it's true. They want positive reinforcement back home.

[LadyM]

What I would like to know is what is being done to these soldiers once the fact that they are gang members is discovered. Isn't it dangerous to have gang members in the service? I know how dangererous they are on the streets.

[Administrator: Todd]

Yes, LadyM, but the problem is many of these gang members have been in the service since the first gulf war, therefore they are moving up in rank. It is difficult to deal with someone when they become a superior.