Gangs Have Infiltrated Military. How Great a Threat?

[crusader rabbit]

 I heard some chatter from the talking heads on this subject, and tended to dismiss it out of hand.  But, I found that the report from the FBI seems legit.  Is this another in the continuing threats to our liberty and freedom?

Gang members have been signing up with the United States Armed Forces, posing a "significant criminal threat" to law enforcement, according to a report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

"Gang infiltration of the military continues to pose a significant criminal threat, as members of at least 53 gangs have been identified on both domestic and international military installations," the report says, resulting in American gang graffiti in Iraq, among other things.

The rest of the article is here:  http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/fbi-reports-gang-infiltration-us-military

Our faithful Oath Keepers in the military need to be aware of this if they are not already.  This causes me nearly as much concern as the Odamna presidency.  Sheesh...

What say you?

Crusader Rabbit

[Pathfinder]

I heard some chatter from the talking heads on this subject, and tended to dismiss it out of hand.  But, I found that the report from the FBI seems legit.  Is this another in the continuing threats to our liberty and freedom?

The rest of the article is here:  http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/fbi-reports-gang-infiltration-us-military

Our faithful Oath Keepers in the military need to be aware of this if they are not already.  This causes me nearly as much concern as the Odamna presidency.  Sheesh...

What say you?

Crusader Rabbit

It's bad. On the one hand, if it's true, it will provide the BGs with better organization, tactical skills and maybe a pipeline of military goodies.

Secondly, regardless of true or false, the .gov will use this to clamp down on freedoms and liberties - and rights - even more.

[Timothy]

Though I can't provide a source at the moment, I believe this has been an ongoing problem.

[tombogan03884]

Though I can't provide a source at the moment, I believe this has been an ongoing problem.

I remember reading something similar in the late 80's.
It's nothing new and it sometimes straightens out the gang members.

[1911 Junkie]

It doesn't help when you have judges telling gang bangers to join the military or go to jail.

[Sponsor]

[Timothy]

It doesn't help when you have judges telling gang bangers to join the military or go to jail.

True but at least in the military, the kid has a fighting chance of getting straightened out.  In prison hs chances are basically zero!

Now, if gang bangers are joining the military to become proficient in military operations, go home after their hitch and teach the other bangers the tactical stuff, then we have a problem.

[jnevis]

This has been a problem for decades.  There have been episodes of "Gangland" and one or more of the "Somebody Investigates..." programs on it.  The Army at one time stated they had at least 1% of the total force affiliated with a gang IIRC.  Think about that for a moment. Not a big number but still is approx 14,000 gang bangers in uniform with the current strength.  A lot of the problem stems from there being no policy concerning gang membership.  You can't be an active member of a gang, but there is no consistant definition of what "Active" means.  So Johny Crip joins and recruits but doesn't do any "work" for the gang and he's OK.  If he pops for dealing, it's only dealing not gang related activity.  

At Lemoore we had started the connections to get a seat on the Gang Task Force.  We wouldn't be able to make arrests or do anything off base but did want the intel to see what was happening on base.  I left before it really got started.
Yes, they are using military training to become better banger.  There have been well planned ambushes on LEOs and other gangs, led by former military members.  Some of them are decorated veterans that have two or more combat deployments down range.
The other problem is the ones that join to find access to heavier equipment.  I'd put money on some of the heavy weapons found in Mexico came from Mexican and US inventory through MS-13, Norteno, Sureno, or other Hispanic gangs.

[Magoo541]

Just look to Mexico and the Zetas to see what military training does for a gang.  In my experience most of the "gang members" I ran into in the army were posers, maybe they hung out with some gangs one time after band camp but that was about it.  I did know a few soldiers that joined to get away from inner city life, including gangs, and would have had no problem, still wouldn't, going into combat with any of them.

[tombogan03884]

In the mid 1800's "Volunteer Fire Companies" in cities were composed of gang members, like NY's "Dead Rabbits".
At the out break of the Civil war they enlisted as entire units.
Look into the histories of Units like Thomas Meagher's "Irish Brigade", or the NY "Fire Zuaves".
For that matter you might take a close look at some of the Legions recruited to fight in Romes many wars.
It's always happened, enforce the laws it's no big deal.
As for "heavy weapons" from MS 13, you'd do much better to look to their roots in the Salvadoran Army death squads.
As for "well planned ambushes" , I will point out that any one with an imagination can do that, it doesn't take a freaking Napoleon.
What is a mugging besides an ambush ?

[jnevis]

As for "heavy weapons" from MS 13, you'd do much better to look to their roots in the Salvadoran Army death squads.
As for "well planned ambushes" , I will point out that any one with an imagination can do that, it doesn't take a freaking Napoleon.
What is a mugging besides an ambush ?

Not disagreeing with you, but there are plenty of reports of weapons coming up missing from unit armories across the Services.  Stuff like M-60, M-240, and M-16s find there way somewhere.  I'm sure most of the stuff in Mexico is probably Mexican or Central American but some are likely from here too.
A January 2007 article in the Chicago Sun-Times reported that gang members in the military are also involved in the theft and sale of military weapons, ammunition, and equipment, including body armor.

The FBI’s 2007 report on gang membership in the military stated that the military's recruit screening process is ineffective, and allows gang members/extremists to enter the military. The report listed at least eight instances in the previous three years in which gang members had obtained military weapons for their own use
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_presence_in_the_United_States_military

The ambush I'm referiring specifically to was described in the Gangland (Season 1 episode 11 "Basic Trainig").  A Marine, recently returned from Iraq, killed two officers and injured one from Central CA.  It was VERY obvious from the security video that it wasn't the run-of-the-mill banger;  effective use of cover, sliced the corners, well placed shots, offenisve cover fire while retreating.  Most banger's spray and pray, this guy was aiming at the officers, not many "wasted" shots.  He also didn't exactly back off when the officers were able to return fire.