Paper on gangs in military forces uploaded as backup to original -- tie in to PPT of same name.

1. Gangs in the Military: Forces conspire to make U.S. gangs a worldwide threat http://www.lawofficer.com/news-and-articles/articles/online/2010/gangs...
LawOfficer.com
Articles | Online Feature
SHARE
RSS
PRINT
EMAIL
Gangs in the Military
Forces conspire to make
U.S. gangs a worldwide
threat
Matthew O’Deane, PhD &
Carter Smith, Army CID
(Ret.)
(Photo iStock)
2010 Apr 27
Although gang members constitute only a fraction of military
personnel worldwide, they are a significant problem for the
military and communities surrounding military bases. Since the
early 1990s, the Armed Forces have taken steps to try to gain
control the gang problem. The Secretary of the Army’s Task
Force on Extremist Activities conducted an investigation in 1996
and found extremist and gang activity in the Army was causing
significant security concerns for many soldiers (U.S. Department
of Defense, 1996).
Gang members join the military for different reasons. For some,
it’s a way out of the gang lifestyle and it is a way for the gang
member to turn their life around. It may even save their lives.
1 of 9 4/27/2010 4:37 PM

2. Gangs in the Military: Forces conspire to make U.S. gangs a worldwide threat http://www.lawofficer.com/news-and-articles/articles/online/2010/gangs...
Those people are typically not the problem. It’s the gang
members that join the military and continue their gang activity
that cause the problems. This option, of course, isn’t available to
the more hardcore gang members, who have disqualifying
criminal records or excessive tattoos.
Unfortunately, gang-related activity in the US military is
increasing. Members of most street gangs have been identified
on military installations worldwide. Although most prevalent in
the Army, the Army Reserves and the National Guard, gang
activity is found throughout all branches of the military. The
extent of gang presence in the armed services is difficult to
determine since many enlisted gang members conceal their gang
affiliation. Military authorities may not recognize gang affiliation
or may be inclined not to report their discoveries, even if the
gang member does not effectively conceal their alliance (NGIC,
2007). The military enlistment of gang members could increase
the worldwide migration and expansion of gangs.
Gang membership in the military can negatively affect military
discipline, increase criminal activity of military members, and
compromise the security of the installation (NGIC, 2007). Gang
incidents on or near U.S. military bases nationwide include
drive-by shootings, assaults, robberies, drug distribution,
weapons violations, domestic disturbances, vandalism, extortion
and money laundering (NGIC). Gang leaders have used
active-duty service members and family members to distribute
drugs.
Military-trained gang members also present a threat to law
enforcement officers. Both current and former gang-affiliated
soldiers can train other gang members to use combat techniques
against law enforcement officers, who are typically not trained to
engage gang members with military expertise. The
increasingly-used gang crime tactic of home-invasion is very
similar in the initial phases to the process employed by the
military to clear houses in search of insurgents and to the
2 of 9 4/27/2010 4:37 PM

3. Gangs in the Military: Forces conspire to make U.S. gangs a worldwide threat http://www.lawofficer.com/news-and-articles/articles/online/2010/gangs...
actions of police officers when executing a search warrant.
The Loyalty Problem
Loyalty becomes an issue in many organizations, but nowhere is
it more critical than in the public service sector. The military and
police departments across the U.S. have been infiltrated by
gangs who seek access to weapons or sensitive information
regarding investigations (Witkowski, 2004). The threat caused to
these organizations need not come from the traditional worker.
Those in the military who are trained to fight in battle are not the
only positions in which the loyalty of a gang member would be an
issue. Those who control the finances and personnel
assignments, as well as those who oversee logistics shipments
can exploit their positions for the gang's benefit. Those in and
affiliated with policing and corrections may have access to
criminal records, prisoner assignments, and transportation. The
indoctrination phase of these institutions can’t with that used by
the gang. Those holding dual positions must be watched.
Some military installations brief new arrivals and their family
members on the dangers of gangs. Periodically, military
installations will conduct tattoo inspections or publish local
addresses situated near military installations of known gang
hangouts that are considered off-limits to military personnel
(Witkowski, 2004). Despite these briefings, many military
leaders publicly deny the existence of gang members in their
organizations. At minimum, they deny their presence in the
organization is a problem.
The Screening Problem
Although all enlistees are screened for criminal history and other
tendencies of unlawful behavior, many gang members have
bypassed these prohibitions and enlisted in the military by failing
to report past criminal convictions or by using fraudulent
documents. Some gang members conceal past convictions or are
told by recruiters they can enlist as long as they do not have any
felony arrests or convictions. Some applicants enter the criminal
3 of 9 4/27/2010 4:37 PM

4. Gangs in the Military: Forces conspire to make U.S. gangs a worldwide threat http://www.lawofficer.com/news-and-articles/articles/online/2010/gangs...
justice system as juveniles and their criminal records are sealed
and unavailable to recruiters performing criminal background
checks. Military recruiters may not be properly trained to
recognize gang affiliation. This may be an increasingly
troublesome issue if gang members discontinue the use of
tattoos, particularly if the applicant has no criminal record.
Military personnel must reject participation in organizations that
espouse supremacist causes; attempt to create illegal
discrimination based on race, creed, color, sex, religion or
national origin; advocate the use of force or violence; or
otherwise engage in efforts to deprive individuals of their civil
rights. Participation in extremist organizations and activities by
Army personnel is inconsistent with the responsibilities of
military service. It is the policy of the U.S. Army (and other
branches) to provided equal opportunity and treatment for all
soldiers without regard to race, color, religion, gender, or
national origin. It is also policy that military personal have a
professional appearance and do not have any association with
criminal organizations. Policies restricting tattoos, body art and
brands on the head, face, neck or scalp may be disqualifying.
Any such issues on the body that are prejudicial to good order,
discipline and morale or are of a nature to bring discredit upon
the branch of service are prohibited. For example, tattoos that
are excessive, obscene, sexually explicit or advocate or
symbolize gang affiliation, violence, supremacist or extremist
groups or drug use are prohibited.
Not Just Soldiers
There are also reports that dependent children of service
members are involved with gangs and bring gang problems onto
secure military facilities further complicating the situation for
military police. Gang members commonly try to recruit the older
children of military personnel. These children are potential
candidates for gang membership because of the transient nature
of their families, which often makes them feel isolated,
vulnerable, and in need of companionship (NGIC, 2007).
4 of 9 4/27/2010 4:37 PM

5. Gangs in the Military: Forces conspire to make U.S. gangs a worldwide threat http://www.lawofficer.com/news-and-articles/articles/online/2010/gangs...
Dependents of military members may be involved in
gang-involved drug distribution and assaults both on and off of
military bases.
Military law enforcement personnel use a number of proactive
measures to identify gang members. They establish liaisons with
local law enforcement agencies, conduct mandatory tattoo
checks at reception centers, and perform health and welfare
inspections (CID, 2006). Military police gather intelligence in
routine traffic stops, in casework and through confidential
sources. Military leaders can be a good source of information
when identifying gang members.
The Denial Problem
The impact of gang members in the military might be compared
to the rate of gang crime in a city of over 1 million inhabitants
because the number of military members, though frequently
fluctuating, approximates that number. The comparison would
be a mistake, as a city doesn’t employ its inhabitants, and the
military does ( Business.gov , 2009). The rate of military
gang-related crime could more accurately be compared to the
rate of gang-related crime in a large company, Wal-Mart or
McDonalds, as examples. In both those companies, employees
are distributed throughout many locations and are expected to
favorably represent the company in their communities.
Denial is not a recommended response, but it occurs. Denial of a
gang presence occurs at all levels of government and
communities. When leaders of large, urban police departments
refuse to acknowledge a gang presence in their cities, this may
not mean gangs are absent. There may simply be a politically
motivated denial because they don’t like reporting a gang
problem without a solution (Huff & McBride, 1993). Politics is one
of the factors that make it increasingly difficult for police officers
to eliminate gangs from their community (Jankowski, 1991).
Many times, gang migration and other growth indicators of
gangs can actually be aided by official denial (NAGIA, 2005).
5 of 9 4/27/2010 4:37 PM

6. Gangs in the Military: Forces conspire to make U.S. gangs a worldwide threat http://www.lawofficer.com/news-and-articles/articles/online/2010/gangs...
Examples of Denial
The following comments can be used to engage in denial of a
community gang problem. In the absence of verification, they
can be used as indicators of denial.
These are people who have "overcome mistakes."
There is no test for ″overcoming mistakes.″ Both traditional
extremists and street gangs tell their people how to ″get
past″ the questions that police ask them.
They thought that the symbol looked cool (graffiti and
tattoos). In the gang world, false representing membership
in a gang by displaying symbols of a gang you are not a
member of may result in grievous bodily harm or death. If a
non-gang member tattooed or painted a symbol he/she (and
the tattoo artist) would be sought out by members of the
gang that symbol represented as a perpetrator. One of the
reasons for this predictable response is what is known as
false flagging. False flagging is “throwing a sign” or shouting
out a gang slogan to induce or trick a rival gang member into
representing his affiliation.
The problem is not rampant. As noted previously, waiting
until a problem is “rampant” gives the gangs an unnecessary
head start. In 1998, the FBI rate membership in the military
the number three reason for migratory gangs (after formal-
corporate employment and informal-laborer employment)
Gang presence may not be a problem for the military, but
how much has it contributed to migration (worldwide) since
1998?
Members of nearly every major street gang, including the
Bloods, Crips, Black Disciples, Gangster Disciples, Hells Angels,
Latin Kings, The 18th Street Gang, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13),
Mexican Mafia, Nortenos, Surenos, Vice Lords, and various white
supremacist groups, have been documented on military
installations both domestically and internationally.
In addition, many enlisted gang members conceal their gang
6 of 9 4/27/2010 4:37 PM

7. Gangs in the Military: Forces conspire to make U.S. gangs a worldwide threat http://www.lawofficer.com/news-and-articles/articles/online/2010/gangs...
affiliation and military authorities may not recognize gang
affiliation or may be inclined not to report such incidences. The
military enlistment of gang members could ultimately lead to the
worldwide expansion of U.S.-based gangs. Estimates are difficult
to obtain because many gang-related incidences are reported as
conduct matters and aren’t within the investigative purview of
criminal investigative services. However, the Army’s recent
adoption of the National Crime Information Center definition of
“gangs” and “gang membership” may contribute to an increase
in reporting of gang-related incidents. Accurate data reflecting
gang-related incidences occurring on military installations is also
limited because the military isn’t required to report criminal
offense statistics occurring on military bases to the FBI.
Consequently, military data reflecting criminal incidents are not
incorporated into the Uniform Crime Reports (UCRs).
Conclusion
Upon discharge, gang members may employ their military
training against law enforcement officials and rival gang
members. Such military training could ultimately result in more
organized, sophisticated, and deadly gangs, as well as an
increase in deadly assaults on law enforcement officers.
Matthew O’Deane is an investigator for the San Diego County
District Attorney’s Office and a former police officer, detective
and sergeant of the National City (Calif.) Police Department. He
holds a PhD in public policy from Walden University and is an
adjunct professor for Kaplan and National Universities.
Carter F. Smith is retired U.S. Army CID Special Agent and a
founding board member of the Tennessee Gang Investigators
Association. He is a doctoral candidate at Northcentral University
in Prescott, Ariz., and an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
at Middle Tennessee State University.
References
7 of 9 4/27/2010 4:37 PM

8. Gangs in the Military: Forces conspire to make U.S. gangs a worldwide threat http://www.lawofficer.com/news-and-articles/articles/online/2010/gangs...
Butler, R. & Garcia, V. (2006, April). The parole supervision of
security threat groups: A collaborative response. Corrections
Today , 68(2), 60-63.
Burke, M. A. (1974) Dealing with Civilian Crime on Military
Installations. Published by SN
Business.gov (2009). Pre-Employment Background Checks.
Retrieved July 3, 2009, from http://www.business.gov/business-
law/employment/hiring/pre-employment.html.
Huff, C. R. and McBride, W. D. (1993). Gangs and the Police. In
A. P. Goldstein & C. R. Huff (Ed.). The gang intervention
handbook. Champaign, IL: Research Press, p. 401-416.
Jankowski, M. S. (1991). Islands in the street: Gangs and
American urban society. Los Angeles: University of California
Press.
United States Army Materiel Command, United States, Army
Materiel Command (1968) Military Police: Crime Prevention
Activities: Crime Prevention Activities.
David L. Petrashek (1979) Culture Conflict and Military Crime.
Published by University of Wisconsin--Madison.
National Alliance of Gang Investigator Associations. (2005).
National gang threat assessment. Retrieved from
http://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/threatassessments.cfm.
National Gang Intelligence Center [NGIC]. (2007). Intelligence
assessment: Gang-related activity in the US armed forces
increasing. Crystal City, VA: National Gang Intelligence Center.
Strategies to deal with youth gangs. (2000, November).
Organized Crime Digest , 21(21), 6.
U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command [CID]. (2006).
8 of 9 4/27/2010 4:37 PM

9. Gangs in the Military: Forces conspire to make U.S. gangs a worldwide threat http://www.lawofficer.com/news-and-articles/articles/online/2010/gangs...
Summary report gang activity threat assessment: A review of
gang activity affecting the Army. Retrieved from
http://militarytimes.com/ static/projects/pages
/2006_CID_Report.pdf.
U.S. Department of Defense. (1996, March 21). Army task force
report on extremist activity. Retrieved January 19, 2009 from
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases
/release.aspx?releaseid=793
Witkowski, M. J. (2004). The Gang's All Here. Security
Management . Arlington: May 2004, 48,(5) 95.
User Comments
9 of 9 4/27/2010 4:37 PM