Gangs and the Military

Reviews / Votes

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 * 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, Retired LAPD detective, author of Lessons from a Gang Cop (gangcop.com) and Cops in America: Dealing with the Ferguson Effect 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, Boise Police Department Gang Unit; Vice President, Northwest Gang Investigators Association 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, former law enforcement officer; author of several books including A Cop's Guide to Occult Investigations 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, Gang Specialist, Law Enforcement Training Consultants, Ltd. 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, National Native American Gang Specialist 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, president, Tennessee Gang Investigators Association 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, D. Prof. University Lecturer at Middlesex University; author of The Street Casino: Survival in Violent Street Gangs 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, Sgt., Ret., Former Gang Intelligence Coordinator, Utah Department of Public Safety 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, PhD, Director of Criminal Justice Studies, University of Mount Union, Ohio, Co-author of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs: A Theoretical Perspective (2015), and co-editor of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs: International Perspectives (2017) 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, PhD, member, Scientific Advisory Board, Global Observatory on Transnational Criminal Networks; senior fellow, Small Wars Journal-El Centro