Gangs in the Military

usna09mom
Sun, 20 Aug 2006 20:20:26 +0000

Both Spidermom and Avelardo make good points. I’ve also heard the sensationalistic news (fox snooze, which raises another set of questions about the validity of the report: statistics, dates, other ‘legitimate’ news sources reporting similar information–Geraldo doesn’t meet that standard–DOD reports on gangsters in the military: haven’t read any. Also, most gangsters have lengthy arrest records. How can they pass recruitment backround checks? Folks, consider the source. Fox, please. It’s akin to getting foreign policy updates from Entertainment Tonight.)

Like Avelardo, I live in Southern California and some of the gangsters in the fox report are just too close for comfort: Orange County, L.A. County, Long Beach, California’s Central Valley. I used to teach in ‘murder central’ and our principal was always concerned that gangsters in the neighborhood would start shooting at our students and staff during practice fire drills on our athletic field (lovely thought). At least one faculty meeting each year focused on neighborhood crime stats with input from a police detective on gang detail. Tatoo tears and prison tats enlivened parent conferences.

Most would agree that gangsters are pathetic, worthless, cowardly bullies. But, look at it this way. For the few gangsters who actually enlist, make it through basic training, and complete a tour of duty, their homies will either be six feet under or serving lengthy prison sentences by the time they get back to their ‘turf.’ Gang members have a short shelf live.

I really don’t believe gangsters in the U.S. military is a widespread problem.

Avelardo, I think Spidermom (former naval officer from the enlisted ranks, teacher, and her son will be at USNA next year) has a pretty realistic grasp of the situation. Maybe she’s even had the pleasure of working with gang members.