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 |
* Only gang graffiti was identified
