Gang-Related Activity in the US Armed Forces Increasing
2007 Report National Gang Intelligence Center

According to an August 2006 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, military recruiter violations increased 50 percent from 2004 to 2005. The report concluded that military recruiters under pressure to meet recruiting goals have engaged in criminal violations such as overly aggressive recruiting tactics and document falsification. The Army, Navy, and Air Force measure recruiter performance by the number of recruits who enlist rather than the number who actually complete basic training,9 which may encourage recruiter violations.

US criminal courts have allowed gang members to enter the service as an alternative to incarceration. Several incidences 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.10


2004-2007- the FBI and El Paso Police Department have identified over 40 military-affiliated Folk Nation gang members stationed at the Fort Bliss Army Installation in Texas who have been involved in drug distribution, robberies, assaults, weapons offenses, and a homicide, both on and off the installation.

2003-2007- Fort Hood, Texas, Army Installation officials have identified nearly 40 gang members on base since 2003. Military-affiliated Gangster Disciple members at Fort Hood have been responsible for robberies, assaults, theft, and burglaries on and off base.

2003-2007 Nearly 130 gang and extremist group members have been identified on the Fort Lewis, Washington, Army Installation since 2005. These gang members are believed to be responsible for many of the criminal misconduct incidences reported on base.

2005 a pledging gang member was killed during a gang initiation at Kasierslauten Army Installation in Germany, according to FBI reporting.



* Army CID has documented a number of gang-related incidents on Fort Bragg Army Installation in North Carolina and on the Fort Campbell Army Installation in Kentucky over the past several years.
* Accurate data reflecting gang-related incidences 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 incidents are not incorporated into the Uniform Crime Report (UCR).

Gang Motivations for Joining the Military
Many gang members join the military to escape their current environment or troubled gang lifestyle. Other gang members may enlist in the military as an alternative to incarceration; to receive combat training; to obtain access to weapons and supplies; to learn basic first aid and medic skills that can later benefit their gang; or to take advantage of opportunities to commit crimes. Upon discharge from the service, gang members may transfer their military combat training and weapons knowledge to their gang, where they may receive an inflated status for their tactical expertise.

2006 an incarcerated US Army soldier and active gang member identified 60 to 70 gang-affiliated military personnel in his unit allegedly involved in the theft and sale of military equipment and weapons. The solider reported that many of the military personnel in charge of ammunition and grenade distribution are sergeants who are active gang members. The soldier also reported that military commanders were aware of the actions of these gang-affiliated personnel.

Military weapons and supplies are stolen by both gang-affiliated and by non-gang-affiliated military personnel who sell the weapons to gang members or criminals on US city streets.33 Law enforcement officials nationwide have encountered active service members selling or attempting to sell stolen military weapons, supplies, and drugs to civilian gang members and criminals. US Senate testimony dating back to1993 has revealed that military weaponry has been sold at public gun shows, some in their original government packaging.