'We Have Very Little Gang Activity On Fort Lewis'

[spindrifter]

August 28, 2006

By Keith Eldridge

<snip>

Officials at Fort Lewis are downplaying recent published reports that gang activity is on the rise in the military. To the contrary, they say that gangs and extremist groups have no chance of getting a stronghold in the military.

<snip>

"Participation in gang or extremist activities is counter to the military culture and counter good order and discipline," says Col. Dan Williams of Fort Lewis. "And it is not tolerated in the military nor is it tolerated specifically here at Fort Lewis."

Army leaders insist there is just too much close supervision, constant drug testing and 24/7 training for street gangs or extremist groups to gain a stronghold here.

<snip>

Fort Lewis says of the 126 identified gang members, only five of them committed a crime; the most serious of which was two soldiers with gang ties fighting each other. All 126 have either left the gangs or left the military.

<snip>

http://www.komotv.com/stories/45176.htm

[LisaM]

1. Left the gangs OR left the military?

In other words, they are still in gangs, only now they have military training?

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Good point. n/t

[DURHAM D]

3. So my nephew - a West Point grad - had to spend some time

training guys just out of basic at a facility in the southern us. The gang activity was so bad that two guards were posted at his house 24/7 to protect him and his family. This was in the mid-90s. Can not imagine that it has gotten any better.

The military has been recruiting gang members for many years - they respect the structure.

[rustydog]

4. What are the chances the ft. Lewis-based troops

who robbed the Seattle bank were neo-Nazi or skin heads?

[SoCalDem]

5. Volunteer military attracts people who like to fight..where's the surprise

Instead of having to buy guns on the sly, they get commando training for free and free guns..and if they are lucky they get sent somewhere where they can kill people at will .. aaand they get paid to do it

sounds like a gang member's "dream job"