Blog post 2: Street Solders

-U.S gangs are now infiltrating the U.S military for weapons and combat training for use against police and rival gangs.

           One of the most controversial as well as newest forms of occupational stress for law enforcement is the emergence of military trained gang members. The United States military is one of the most elite and strategic forms of defense in the world currently. The finest weapons coupled with unparalleled combat training is the reason why our military continues to be the dominate force among the top militia. However, our national security and our communities are facing a new threat. U.S. street gangs are now infiltrating the U.S military. Gang leaders now want their members to enlist for military duty to obtain urban combat tactics (Baez, 2005). This could pose a major concern for law enforcement agencies dealing with gangs on a daily basis (Chicago Tribune, 2006). Local law enforcement agencies of all size are now faced with the emergence of newly developed stresses associated with military trained street gangs (Eyler, 2009).

            One of the biggest contributors to this escalating issue facing law enforcement is the recruitment process. Gang membership does not automatically disqualify individuals from enlisting into the military (Chicago Tribune, 2006). Moreover, when recruiters conduct police record checks, they are likely to miss crucial information and warning signs due to miscommunication (Eyler, 2009). The majority of recruiters lack the proper skills to recognize gang association and unknowingly recruit gang members, especially if individual has no criminal record or any visible tattoos (NGIC, 2007). However, reports have also shown that military recruiters under immense pressure to meet recruitment goals have engaged in criminal violations such as overly aggressive recruiting techniques, and falsification of legal documents (NGIC, 2007). In addition to the shortcomings of the recruitment process, there is also major lack of preventative and disciplinary measures available commander wishing to protect their units from unwanted gang activity (Eyler, 2009).

           To further escalate this growing issue facing law enforcement, Andrew Blankstein connotes that, "US criminal courts have allowed gang members to enter the service as an alternative to incarceration (Behreandt, 2010).” As a result of alternative incarceration for gang members in conjunction with poor recruitment practices, the situation regarding military trained gang members has only further exasperated the stresses concerning local law enforcement. Many gang members simply join the military to escape their dangerous neighborhoods and deadly gang lifestyles. However, other gang member enlist in the military as an alternative to incarceration in order to receive combat and weapons training; to learn essential medic skills for their gang and to exploit further opportunities to commit crimes against society (NGIC, 2007).

Once these individuals are discharged back onto the streets, these militarized gangsters can present an even larger and more dangerous threat to both civilians and law-enforcement (Behreandt, 2010). For instance, both current and former gang-affiliated soldiers transfer their military training and knowledge back to their communities and utilize them against law enforcement officers, who are typically not trained to deal with gangsters with military expertise (NGIC, 2007). Officers serving our community are trained to use force in order to control situation and keep the community safe, not do battle. For instance,  the Ceres Police Shooting, where Lance Corporal Marine and Norteño gang member, Andres Raya 19, shot and killed an officer while using marine combat tactics (May, 2005). These officers were simply out matched tactically and not trained to deal with a situation of such magnitude. The reality is that most officers will go an entire career without ever having to draw their firearm. However, these small town police officers were ambushed in military fashion which subsequently led to an officer being gunned down and another wounded.

Improving military recruitment efforts as well as the communicational aspects during the recruitment process is a critical aspect for ensuring this threat to both the military and law enforcement officials is eliminated. Military trained street gangs could potentially result in more sophisticated, organized and deadlier gangs, as well as increase the possibility for deadly assaults on police officers (NGIC, 2007).Due in part of this proponent, law enforcement officers should be trained for potential military ballistic encounters. The primary focus of law enforcement is to serve and protect the community; therefore, a wider range of training styles will ensure incidents like the Ceres Policing Shooting will not become a common occurrence.  Taking a more innovative approach to police training will allow officers a better chance to develop the proper skills to not only survive, but win any lethal encounter (Marrs, 2011). 

References

Blankstein, Andrew. "Marines sold military assault weapons to L.A. gang members, authorities   

     allege." Los Angeles Times 9 Nov. 2010: 2. Print.

Don Ivie, & Brett Garland. (2011). Stress and burnout in policing: does military experience  

     matter? Policing, 34(1), 49-66.  Retrieved March 15, 2011, from Criminal Justice Periodicals.

     (Document ID: 2296494491).

May, Meredith, and Matthew B. Stannard. "CERES No clear motive in Marine's killing of police 

     officer, San Fransisco Chronicle 12 Jan. 2005, sec. B1: 2. Print.

Marrs, J.. (2011, January). Progressive firearms training. Law Enforcement Technology, 38(1),

     16-21. Retrieved March 11, 2011, from Criminal Justice Periodicals. (Document ID: 2234090841)

Eyler, Gustav. "Gangs in the Military." The Yale Law Journal118.696 (2009): 44. Print.

National Gang Intelligence Center. (2007) Gang-Related Activity in the US Armed Forces         

     Increasing. Retrieved from March 10, 2011