Gangs and the Military: Gangsters, Bikers, and Terrorists with Military Training

by Carter F. Smith

Overview

Over the past several decades, there has been a continuous and growing focus on street gangs, outlaw motorcycle gangs, and domestic extremist groups. Many of these groups have members with military training, and some actively recruit from current and former military veterans and retirees. That military experience adds to the dangerousness of veteran gang members, as well as those groups they associate with.

Communities everywhere are experiencing the damaging impact of gang criminal behavior. By observing gang activity from the Revolutionary War to today Smith examines the presence of military-trained, often veteran, gang members in the communities. He looks at the turning points in gang investigations in the military, and also looks at the laws and policies designed to specifically counter the criminal activity the threats of gang activity pose on a community.

Grounded in current knowledge and research, Gangs and the Military successfully addresses the growing presence of criminal gang members in the United States. As well as reflects on how the authorities that counter and combat them are doing so on a national and global level.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538129241
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/20/2019
Edition description:	Updated Edition
Pages:	292
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.66(d)

About the Author

Carter F. Smith, PhD, is a Lecturer in the Department of Criminal Justice at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. Carter is a retired Army Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Command Special Agent, and was the inaugural team chief for the Army’s first and most consistently operating Gang & Extremist investigations team. Carter has provided training on Gangs and their impact on the community to police and community leaders throughout the country. His academic publications include such topics as the dangers of spontaneous gang formation, military-trained gang members, gangs and their use of technology, and gang members in colleges and universalities. He was a co-author or author of Private Security Today, Gangs, and Introduction to Gangs. He has been interviewed about gangs by several national as well as regional and local television, print, internet and radio news sources, and has appeared twice in the History Channel’s Gangland series. He was a founding, and still serving, board member of the Tennessee Gang Investigators Association, a member organization of the National Alliance of Gang Investigators Associations. In 1995, he was a recipient of the U.S. Army CID Command Special Agent of the Year award, and is a three-time recipient of the Frederic Milton Thrasher Award of the National Gang Crime Research Center.

Table of Contents

Foreword ix

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xv

Acronyms xvii

1 The History of Gangsand the Military Connection 1

Early Gangs 3

Modern Day Criminal Groups 18

Military-Trained Gang Members (MTGMs) 27

Gang Theory 28

Gangsters, Bikers, and Domestic Terrorists in the Community 30

Gangsters, Bikers, and Domestic Terrorists in the Workforce 33

Conclusion 35

2 The Emergence of Gangs in the Military 37

The Post-Civil War and World War I Era (1865-1940) 40

The World War II and Korean War Era (1941-1960) 42

The Vietnam War Era (1961-1975) 43

Post-Vietnam War Era (1976-1989) 46

The Persian Gulf War and Somalia Era (1990-1994) 47

The Mid-1990s: Extremist Activity Enhances Gang Investigation 51

MTGMs in Neighboring Countries 57

An Official Response to Gangs in the Military 58

The Follow-Up 62

A Change in Terminology: Security Threat Group 64

It's Not Just Us! 67

September 11, 2001: No More Gang Investigations, the Focus Is on Terrorism 68

Gang and Extremist Investigations Are Back in Focus! 73

Conclusion 76

3 Contemporary Issues with Military Gangs 79

More on Military Gang and Extremist Activity 80

From Gangs in the Military to Military-Trained Gang Members 88

Street Gangs and the Military 92

The Navy Survey 97

Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs) and the Military 102

Domestic Terrorist Extremists (DTEs) and the Military 108

The 2015 National Gang Intelligence Center Report 114

Tge 2017 National Gang Intelligence Center Report 116

The Word from the Street 117

Conclusion 121

4 Prohibitions and Prevention Measures 123

Defining Gangs 125

Prohibiting Military Street Gangs, OMGs, and DTEs 129

Constitutional Protection 130

Extremism or Terrorism 132

Domestic Terrorists 134

Extremist Gangs 135

Military Gang Law 137

State Law 140

Federal Law 142

Non-criminal Solutions 145

Denial 148

What Works 151

Conclusion 154

5 Gangs with Members in the Military 157

Counterinsurgency and Cultural Awareness 158

Street Gang Members, OMGs, and DTEs in the Military 161

How Many Gang Members Are There in the Military? 167

The Effect on Military Units 168

The Effect on Civilian Communities 170

How Do MTGMs Enlist? 171

Why Are They a Problem? 173

Data from Official Reports 174

MTGMs in Street Gangs, OMGs, and DTEs 176

The FY 2015 GDEATA 181

The FY 2016 GDEATA 182

The FY 2017 GDEATA 183

Conclusion 184

6 Military-Trained Gang Membersin Civilian Communities 185

Transition to Military-Trained Gang Members in the Community 186

How Many Military-Trained Gang Members Are There in the United States? 187

What Do the Gang Cops and Corrections Officials Say? 191

MTGMs in the Midwest 196

MTGMs in the South 196

MTGMs in the Northwest 198

MTGMs in the Southwest 198

MTGMs in Jails and Prisons 206

Concluding Thoughts 210

Afterword: When Gangs and the U.S. Military Collide: Two Cases, One Installation 219

Notes 225

Index 261

About the Author 273

Editorial Reviews

Carter Smith has delved into the world of gangs and the military in such a way as to send the reader on a crash course about the subject. Not only does he address the societal impact of gangs in America and where they came from, he goes behind the military curtain to talk about gang members who become soldiers, sailors and airmen, and how their training may impact crime conditions on the streets of our nation when they leave the military. He provides real world examples of how gangs in the military, as well as military gang members, have influenced a culture held in high esteem by the public, but blemished by the gang crime problem regardless. This is a well-researched and written book that would benefit for all.

Robert H. Stasch

Carter Smith has provided an excellent examination of issues so often missed, and more often misunderstood. He provides the reader with a fantastic historical perspective which offers a wonderful lead into an analysis of the issues of military training and service for gang members. These are extremely important cautionary notes that the reader should take the time to examine in detail, before considering the consequences of having military-trained gang members moving back to civilian communities. In this book, Carter Smith looks at some of the key questions arising from gang studies in the 21st century.

Andrew J. Bain

Carter spotted the problem of gang members with military training years ago – here is the evidence! The book is well researched, very comprehensive and well proven. I think it will be a useful contribution. Well done!

Simon Harding

Carter Smith begins at the “beginning” and breaks down gang history in a brief and concise manner. He brings new light to the topic by covering material and groups that have not been “done to death”. The inclusion of real-life conversations and experiences successfully build the credibility of the text and demonstrate lessons to be learned for investigators. What is important when covering the topic of gangs is the ability to take the history and behavior and apply it in a way that will be relevant to the reader. That is what makes this book different then all the other gang books out there, and why this is really good stuff!

Tony Kail

Gangs and the Military is an up close and comprehensive look at a unique issue that has been plaguing law enforcement officials as well as the nation’s armed services, the subject of gangs in the military. This is a complex and constantly evolving dilemma and the book’s author, Carter Smith, gives the reader a front row seat as he takes the cover off of the situation and details the various components of what has become a threat to national security. Supported by a wide array of research and information from military and law enforcement experts alike, Gangs and the Military is a primer and must read for anyone concerned with the gang problem in America and its critical intrusion into our nation’s military. Kudos to Carter for all of the work he put into this book.

Tony Moreno

For anyone interested in understanding the insidious nature of criminal gang and extremist infiltration of the armed forces in America, this book is a must-read. The author not only provides a comprehensive and thorough examination of the history of gangs in the U.S., but also set forth clearly articulated evidence of the infiltration of the gangster mentality and its associated criminal influence within our nation's military branches.

Christopher Grant

I predict that Carter F. Smith's book, Gangs and the Military: Gangsters, Bikers, and Terrorists with Military Training, will become the "Bible" in the genre of understanding gang culture in America. Throughout he breaks down the theory, types, and definition of gangs, bikers and terrorists and how they impact the impact the community and workforce. What I found especially fascinating was his historical analysis of gangs through the nation's war years (Revolutionary- First Gulf War, 1990-94); it was illuminating to see that gang culture, in some form, has plagued government authorities since the post-Revolutionary War era in much the same manner that they plague investigators and communities today. As a former street investigator I can attest to the value of researching and reporting on a new and controversial topic in the gang investigative hemisphere. In crisp, precise language Smith shows how the various levels of military command failed to heed the obvious warning signs of a gang presence on military installations, and how this failure followed a trend which allowed for the spread of gangs throughout the military and, as Dr. Smith so aptly points out, led to the threat of military trained gang members unleashed on unsuspecting American cities once their enlistment was over. In conclusion I feel this work, has greatly expanded the literary knowledge of gang investigators with this seminal work. It is a gem!

Ron Stallworth

Smith, a special agent for the Army Criminal Investigations Division, examines the roles played by member of street gangs, outlaw motorcycle gangs, and domestic extremists with military training and both on and off active duty and the crimes they committed in this detailed study. The biggest obstacle investigators face, Smith observes, is denial of this reality by military and police officials despite numerous sightings of gang tattoos and graffiti on military bases. Although gang members convicted of crimes should not technically be recruited by the military, they can often enter by hiding their histories or by securing special waivers. The real dangers, says Smith, are the soldiers’ divided loyalties and the training they’ve experienced in discipline, violence, and weaponry, skills that are equally useful in criminal gang actions when they return to their home territories. There are lot of statistics and crime listings to wade through, but Smith presents a convincing case for identifying these gang members and developing communication between military and civilian police to manage their return to civilian life.

Booklist

Carter has created a book that is exceptional for those in law enforcement, military, or in the civilian community. His extensive knowledge in the field of gangs shines through in his literature and teachings. The information contained in this book covers a wide variety of topics, including a historical introduction into early gangs, to showing how various wars have impacted and changed the gang culture, through updated information on modern day street gangs. This book also lists the escalating concern caused by military trained gang members, and the increasing threats of Domestic Terrorists in our communities. This well written book is a definite must read!

Dave Harris

Gangs and security threat groups are a hidden presence in the military. Often gangsters and extremists flee their neighborhood for military discipline and a better life. In other cases the gangsters bring their criminal lifestyle to the military and gain skills for furthering their gangs. This is a battle for primary loyalties. When the gang loyalty prevails, gangsters bring crime to military bases and military skills to the gang. Gangs and the Military gives a hard look at the issues influencing gang proliferation.

John P. Sullivan

This is a very interesting and eye opening book! Most people will be surprised at how recently admissions of gangs in the military has been and how long it took to get policies in place. Our society has a problem with people in charge admitting to gang issues and without those admissions and the actions that accompany them, the problem gets much worse. The interesting part of gang investigations is that there are always new things to learn. I've always known that gangs had members in the military or had former military members in their ranks but I did not realize how long it has been going on. I always teach that gangs are not a new phenomenon and this book helps highlight that. I personally know Carter Smith and Hunter Glass (highlighted in the book), and both are outstanding in their fields. This problem is not going away and hopefully this book will help awaken some who still hide their heads in the sand and hope gangs just go away.

Jim Quick

Smith, a special agent for the Army Criminal Investigations Division, examines the roles played by member of street gangs, outlaw motorcycle gangs, and domestic extremists with military training and both on and off active duty and the crimes they committed in this detailed study. The biggest obstacle investigators face, Smith observes, is denial of this reality by military and police officials despite numerous sightings of gang tattoos and graffiti on military bases. Although gang members convicted of crimes should not technically be recruited by the military, they can often enter by hiding their histories or by securing special waivers. The real dangers, says Smith, are the soldiers’ divided loyalties and the training they’ve experienced in discipline, violence, and weaponry, skills that are equally useful in criminal gang actions when they return to their home territories. There are lot of statistics and crime listings to wade through, but Smith presents a convincing case for identifying these gang members and developing communication between military and civilian police to manage their return to civilian life.

Booklist

Carter Smith has provided an excellent examination of issues so often missed, and more often misunderstood. He provides the reader with a fantastic historical perspective which offers a wonderful lead into an analysis of the issues of military training and service for gang members. These are extremely important cautionary notes that the reader should take the time to examine in detail, before considering the consequences of having military-trained gang members moving back to civilian communities. In this book, Carter Smith looks at some of the key questions arising from gang studies in the 21st century.

Andy Bain