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U.S Gangster Marines

According to a recently released FBI report, Gang-related activity in the US military is increasing and poses a threat to law enforcement officials and national security.

The report, Gang Activity in the U.S. Armed Forces Increasing, dated January 12, states that members of nearly every major street gang have been identified on both domestic and international military installations. 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. Although most prevalent in the Army, the Army Reserves, and the National Guard, gang activity is pervasive throughout all branches of the military and across most ranks, but is most common among the junior enlisted ranks, according to the report. The extent of gang presence in the armed services is often difficult to determine since many enlisted gang members conceal their gang affiliation and military authorities may not recognize gang affiliation or may be inclined not to report such incidences.

The FBI reports that accurate data reflecting gang-related instances occurring on military installations is limited, since the military is not required to report criminal offense statistics occurring on post to the FBI. Consequently, military data reflecting criminal instances are not incorporated into the Uniform Crime Report (UCR).

The FBI believes that gang members may enlist in the military to escape their current environment or gang lifestyle. Some gang members may also enlist to receive weapons, combat, and convoy support training; to obtain access to weapons and explosives; or as an alternative to incarceration. Upon discharge, they 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.

In May 2005 an Army recruit and suspected Crip member was assigned to the US Army Finance Battalion where he engaged in drug distribution. He was eventually discharged from the Army for misconduct.
According to open source reporting and multiple law enforcement reporting, soldiers—including gang members—are currently being taught urban warfare for combat in Iraq, including how to encounter hostile gunfire.
The Defense Criminal Investigative Service reported in 2006 that gang members, particularly MS-13 members, are increasing their presence on or near US military installations.
Even though the policy violates Military recruiting regulations, US criminal courts have allowed gang members to enter the service as an alternative to incarceration. Several instances wherein gang members have been recruited into the armed services while facing criminal charges or on probation or parole have been documented. In many instances, a gang member facing criminal charges may be provided the option to join the military or serve a jail sentence. Furthermore, some army recruiters have been known to conceal recruits’ gang affiliation to help boost their enlistment numbers.

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  1. It is ridiculous to say that it is “shocking” that there are gang members and gang activity in the U.S. military. The military knows exactly who their recruiters are targeting: inner city, lower income kids without many other options. They are plucking them right out of situations where this is a normal thing. I’m not shocked at all.

  2. I laughed when they said “…and even some Hells Angels!!”, while the HA has it’s roots in the US-military to start with. Any army is a slice of society. Rotated soldiers start gangs and gangbangers join the army.
    And if an ‘overwhelming amount of soldiers are law-abiding’, why is there a military justice system and military prisons?
    Soldiers are people, not automatons, and as such they’re not above all things that make people human. I don’t think that this docu did any groundbreaking discovery here, but they merely reported on the fact that demographics reflect in service and office, which, in and on itself, is nothing new.

  3. I found this subject matter interesting, because it was all news to me.
    Heaven help usThe repetition was annoying, but way better than watching some damn commercials.
    I quit tv a long time ago,

  4. You are correct in that there is a lot of repetition. What causes that is airing it on US commercial tv. Every time there is a commercial break, which can last 10 minutes on some channels, less on others, they have to repeat where they left off so you can remember what they were talking about.

    When a 60 minute show lasts about 42 minutes, you can understand why I don’t watch commercial tv anymore. I hardly turn it on at all anymore except for some live sports events. I’m not talking about just broadcast tv – pay tv (cable or satellite) is the same in most cases. The History Channel is a pay tv channel and commercials are a part of it.

  5. is it just me or did they repeat the same things over and over?

    • To be honest i think most American documentary channels do this. Thats why i personally prefer british made docs from the BBC or Channel 4.

      • Honestly, our (American) channels – Nat Geo, HBO and even basic television docs do NOT do this… The only docs that continuously repeat the same information over and over are on “The History Channel” (notice the “H” on the lower right hand corner of the screen, “Gangland” is the most egregious offender and this title appears to be from the same director(s). I do, however, agree that Louis Theroux is second to none when it comes to documentary film making.

      • yes but it is amazing that they spread a few things over such a long time