FBI reports gang 'infiltration' of U.S. military
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by Joel Gehrke Commentary Staff Writer
campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com
Hell's Angels graffiti written on the back of a military vehicle in Iraq. / FBI
Gang members have been signing up with the United States Armed Forces, posing a "significant criminal threat" to law enforcement, according to a report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
"Gang infiltration of the military continues to pose a significant criminal threat, as members of at least 53 gangs have been identified on both domestic and international military installations," the report says, resulting in American gang graffiti in Iraq, among other things.
Every branch of the military contains some gang members, the FBI reported, but most gang members join the Army, the Army Reserves, and the U.S. National Guard. And gang member enlistment doesn't require a sinister intention. "Many street gang members join the military to escape the gang lifestyle," says the FBI, while others join at the behest of a court "as an alternative to incarceration."
But the military sometimes proves a bad environment for gang members, who "often revert back to their gang associations once they encounter other gang members in the military."
Numerous U.S. gangs, according to the report, "advise members without criminal records to join the military for necessary weapons and combat training." Military deployments, in the event, end up placing gang members alongside other members of the armed forces on active duty.
Gang membership in the U.S. military has resulted in "incidents of weapons theft and trafficking," the FBI warns, which "may have a negative impact on public safety or pose a threat to law enforcement officials."
You can see a list of gangs affiliated with branches of the military below. For reference, OMG stands for "Outlaw Motorcycle Gang."
Gang Name
Type
Military Branch(s)
18th Street Gang
Street
Army, Marines, Navy
Aryan Brotherhood
Prison
Army, Marines, Navy
Asian Boyz
Street
Army
Asian Crips
Street
Army
Avenues Gang
Street
Marines
Bandidos
OMG
Army, Marines
Barrio Azteca
Prison
Marines
Black Disciples
Street
Army, Marines, Navy
Black Guerilla Family*
Prison
Army
Bloods
Street
Army, Army Reserves, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy
Brotherhood
OMG
Marines
Crips
Street
Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy
Devils Disciples
OMG
Unknown
East Side Longos
Street
Army, Special Forces
Florencia 13
Street
Army, Marines
Fresno Bulldogs
Street
National Guard, Marines
Gangster Disciples
Street
Army, Marines, Navy, National Guard
Georgia Boys (Folk Nation)
Street
Army
Haitian Mob
Street
Army
Hells Angels
OMG
All branches
Iron Horsemen
OMG
Army
Juggalos/ICP
Street
Army, Air Force
Korean Dragon Family
Street
Marines
Latin Kings
Street
Army, Army Reserves, Marines, Navy
Legion of Doom
OMG
Air Force
Life is War
Street
Army
Los Zetas
Street
Army
Maniac Latin Disciples
Street
Marines
Mexican Posse 13
Street
Army
Military Misfits
OMG
Marines, Navy
Molochs
OMG
Marines
Mongols
OMG
Marines, Navy
Moorish Nation
Separatist
Army
MS-13
Street
Army, Marines, Navy
Norteños
Street
Army, Marines, National Guard, Navy
Outlaws
OMG
All branches
Peckerwoods
Street
Marines, Navy, National Guard, Reserves
Red Devils
OMG
Army/ Coast Guard
Simon City Royals
Street
Navy
Sons of Hell
OMG
Marines
Sons of Samoa
Street
Army
Southside Locos
Street
Army
Sureños
Street
Army, Marines, Navy
Tango Blast
Prison
Army*
Texas Syndicate
Prison
Army, Marines
Tiny Rascal Gangsters
Street
Army
United Blood Nation
Street
Army
Vagos
OMG
Army, Marines, Navy
Vatos Locos
Street
Army
Vice Lords
Street
Army
Wah Ching Gang
Street
Army
Warlocks
OMG
Air Force, Marines |
