Gangs in the military pose problem for civilian police, Killeen TX detective says

[Bluebear]

Judge Phillps noted in her DADT decision that while the U.S. allows those convicted of crimes in the military it excludes those who are open (or outed) as gays and lesbians. Appears that it goes a lot further than that:

FORT WORTH -- It's not particularly palatable to think about, but there are gang members in the military, serving overseas and gaining valuable weapons and tactical training. Not only does Killeen gang detective John Bowman know that firsthand, but he also said it shouldn't be that surprising.

"The military is a slice of life from the nation as a whole," Bowman said during a meeting of gang officers and experts gathered in Fort Worth this week for a Safe City Commission-sponsored conference.

Bowman, an Army veteran and 20-year police officer in the city adjoining Fort Hood in Central Texas, said the presence of gangs in the armed forces is not just a problem for people like him. He said it affects many of the nation's cities and counties, while the troops are in service and certainly when they get out.

"Don't let the fact that you don't have a base near you blind you to the problem," he said. "The gang members at Fort Hood get their dope from Fort Worth, Dallas and Houston. The Gangster Disciples at Fort Hood are directly linked to the Gangster Disciples in Houston."...

Bowman acknowledges that gang members constitute a fraction of the military's active, National Guard and reserve troops, but even 1 percent would be more than 10,000, he said. It's hard, if not impossible, to know exactly how many there are because gang members don't broadcast that information, nor, Bowman said, does the Army have an incentive to accurately report gang activity in its ranks.

In 2007, a report from the National Gang Intelligence Center for the FBI concluded that it was an "increasing" problem and "poses a threat to law enforcement officials and national security." That report provided anecdotal evidence that gangs have committed serious crimes -- robbery, burglary, drug and gun running, extortion and identity theft -- at Fort Hood; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Bliss; Fort Carson, Colo.; and other Army installations, most often against other soldiers.


Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/09/09/2456950/gangs-in-the-military-pose-problem.html#ixzz0zAJwauBS

[Tempest]

1. Link to 2007 FBI report

http://www.scribd.com/doc/4097019/FBI-report-on-gangs-in-the-military


This was predicted back when the Pentagon started allowing felons and other criminals into the military.

[terrya]

2. Silly me, I would think that having gang members would affect military readiness

And unit cohesion and all of that.

Haven't read of the Pentagon sending out surveys about having gang members in the United States military. Maybe I missed that story.

[Bluebear]

6. Nobody surveyed the troop's spouses about this.

Go figure.

[JonLP24]

7. To be fair

when people enlist they conceal the fact they are in gangs and may not have the identifying tattoos or the recruiter may not recognize what a certain tattoo means or other signs.

I was at Ft. Lewis from 2006-2008 minus a 1-year deployment and didn't notice any gangs really but I remember reading an article that identified over 130+ gang and extremist groups on the base of Ft. Lewis. I remember thinking wow because I didn't notice anything like that.

I'm sure there are commanders, recruiters, etc. that may be unwilling to report the fact someone is a gang member but I'm not sure it happens. I was the first to get in trouble when my company got a new commander and he chaptered me out for using cannabis while soldiers under previous commanders were allowed to stay in after testing positive for harder drugs so I'm sure it varies in how the Army treats this.

[terrya]

8. Fair enough

I'm sorry. But I'm angry, pissed, tired of the hypocrisy here. Apparently, gang members are tolerated in our military. And yet, we have to have this long, drawn out, uncertain process of studies, studies and more studies, plus surveys, plus delay, delay, delay, of maybe allowing gay men and lesbians, who want very much to serve their country, openly. As 25 countries do right now. And we just had a ruling yesterday saying the current law/policy denying those gay and lesbian servicemembers the right to serve openly is unconstitutional. And...well...Congress has to act.

[JonLP24]

9. Oh I understand

You can get waivers to join the military if you have a criminal history (Not sure what the limits are to that) and I totally understand how that would infuriate gay and lesbian people who are perfectly law biding who would like to join but they can't and those people can.

I really, really hope that gay and lesbian people will be allowed to serve soon. I share your frustrations! :hi:

[terrya]

10. Thanks!

And you know...when repeal happens....there will be such embarrassment over how little fuss resulted after. :-)

:hi:

[madrchsod]

3. i noticed that the article did`t mention the Aryan Nations members..

[-..__...]

4. Well, not by name anyways...

From the linked article...

Others, including white supremacists, often join the military for weapons and tactics training, he said.

[madrchsod]

11. thanks..i missed that

[Fumesucker]

5. If dope were legalized they'd be getting it from the PX or the Commissary..

Just like their beer, liquor and tobacco.