U.S. Gangs -- A Threat to U.S. Military?

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by exlurker

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/...n3107316.shtml

The CBS story says, among other things, that an "FBI report calls it [gang culture and gang activity in the military] 'a threat to law enforcement and national security.' "

This is ridiculous.

[PiKA2001]

I thought gang activity was mostly prevalent among the unemployed, lonely, needing a sense of belonging type? Didn't people living in gang infested hoods enlist so that they could get away from the gang culture back home? These soldiers do have full time jobs, usually have a strong trust/friendships with their peers and pride in the fact of serving in the best military in the world. What gives? Oh, just another byproduct of a generation of glamorizing gang violence in music and tv.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

This is ridiculous.

This has been an on going story for awhile now.
Several papers have done stories on this matter/issue over the past year or two.

[alum]

This is nothing new but it is getting worse. When the H was just a butterbar (2LT) many moons ago, he was required to bring his platoon to the medics to get inspected from head to toe for gang-related tattoos. I remember hearing about "former" gangmembers enlisting in the Army specifically going for the urban warfare specialties, and then bringing their new skills back home to teach their old buddies.