How should the military deal with those who are in the military for gang purposes?

CPL Howard Conover — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 11:49:19 -0500

There was a news report that gang, black, white, etc. members were joining the military in order to get training in tactics on assaults on various civilians.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 12:46 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 12:46:41 -0500

... how can you know? If you already know ... report him. I think there is already regulation against any gangs affiliation.

Response by MAJ Rene De La Rosa made Dec 17 at 2015 12:47 PM

MAJ Rene De La Rosa — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 12:47:16 -0500

Put said person(s) out of the military ASAP. No room for the idiocy, nonsensical, annoying drama that comes with this. Obviously, the military must be doing something right if the gangs are coming to us to get trained in tactics.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 1:46 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 13:46:03 -0500

While I was a Military Police officer this was something we had talked about. There really is no way to tell is there? They have "gang" tattoos? Someone had to approve them to join. We don't know if they were in a gang on just thought it was "cool". While it is happening how are we going to prove it? The leaders are slick about it. They send kids that have no markings or background of being in the gang. You would need hard evidence that they are in a gang to be able to do something about it. If you didn't need hard evidence then you would be able to walk up to any random person and say they were in a gang.

Do I think its right that they are joining for that purpose? Hell no! The real question is HOW do we prove someone is in a gang so that we can take the proper action to get that person out of the Military...By the time we figure it out wouldn't it already be too late? Wouldn't they already have the training that they came for(Basic Training and possibly AIT)????

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Dec 17 at 2015 2:17 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 14:17:00 -0500

I think the military should continue to do exactly what it's been doing for these past years about "gang members" who join the military just to receive tactics and assault training...

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 2:24 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 14:24:42 -0500

The Army (and I am sure the other services in their own published regulations) has very clear policy on the subject of gang and extremist group membership in AR 600-20. If found out and substantiated, they'll be put out on their ear.

Response by CPO Andy Carrillo, MS made Dec 17 at 2015 2:47 PM

CPO Andy Carrillo, MS — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 14:47:05 -0500

Nah, thems just stories...MAJ Hasan was never in any gang...

Response by SFC Maury Gonzalez made Dec 17 at 2015 6:48 PM

SFC Maury Gonzalez — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 18:48:20 -0500

Ft Bliss, ft Hood and ft Carson have been crawling with gang bangers since the late 80's, early 90's

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Dec 17 at 2015 10:36 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 22:36:49 -0500

CPL Howard Conover I stumbled onto a internet video made by some gang members made when they were in Iraq.

They were flashing gang signs and had photographed a tank running over an Iraqi POV as they laughed.

The title was ? "mad dogs of the 160 Inf", a CA National Guard Inf. Bn. A few emails soon caused that to be removed from the net.