We talk an awful lot about Iraq, with both myself and Ms. Missive having been there ourselves, it’s something we’re likely never to leave behind, but looming large on the horizon for myself at least is the oft unspoken of fight in Afghanistan.  Across the entire state of Illinois guard units are deploying to various parts of Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF as opposed to the OIF of Operation Iraqi Freedom), another piece in the war on terror puzzle, and the new big target since the whole surge thing seems to have paid off in at minimum silencing sceptics on the state of things in Iraq. 

Knowing that Afghanistan is likely in my future (I am myself, still an active member of the Illinois National Guard), a little looking into the state of things there only made sense.  After a link sent to me by Ms. Missive, I almost wish I hadn’t.

More American and coalition troops died in Afghanistan last month than during any other month since the American-led invasion began in 2001, the latest evidence of a strengthening Taliban insurgency that has menaced NATO forces and reclaimed control over some southern and eastern parts of the country.

The violence in Afghanistan has surged at the same time as the number of attacks and American deaths in Iraq have fallen. Among the American-led forces in the two countries, 46 service members were killed in Afghanistan, compared with 31 in Iraq, the second straight month in which combat deaths in Afghanistan exceeded those in Iraq.

Reports say that the operations in Afghanistan are under-manned, under-equipped, and basically suffering all the problems early fighting in Iraq suffered.  Hence the new push into Afghanistan while things in Iraq are (for now) calmer than they had been. 

How does the military resolve the loss of troops with the need for more troops?  NATO, while a presence in Afghanistan, is not exactly pouring new troops over the borders, so we must make up the difference.  However, the way we’re doing it is questionable at best…

As reported on here in the past, the number of wavers for criminal offenders to join the military has increased greatly since the war on terror began, and statistics now show that 30% of all recruits require wavers to enter the armed forces. 

Now I’m all for rehabilitation and attempting to turn one’s life around after mistakes made in the past.  We all join the armed forces for our own reasons.  But it’s not just unlikely, but borderline impossible that all offenders are looking to make full turn-arounds… in fact, it’s coming to light that there is an increase in gang membership in the military versus past years.

According to an FBI published report, “gang-related activity in the U.S. military is increasing and poses a threat to law-enforcement officials and national security.”

The report, released in February 2007, noted that members of nearly every major street gang — including MS-13, Bloods, Crips, 18th Street, Hells Angels and various white supremacist groups — have been identified on both domestic and international military bases.

There are no official statistics on gang membership in the military, but some experts have estimated that 1 to 2 percent of the U.S. military are gang members, FBI gang investigator Jennifer Simon said in a published article. It is believed that only .02 percent of the U.S. population are gang members.

“Gang membership in the U.S. Armed Forces is disproportional to the U.S. population,” she added.

Some experts have calculated that out of every 100 people who enter the military, two have some sort of gang affiliation.

One reason why more gang members are getting into the military is recruiting practices.

“As this war continues, recruiters have to drop their standards,” said retired Los Angeles County Sheriff Sgt. Richard Valdemar, who is a gang expert and trains various law-enforcement agencies across the country about gangs and gangs in the military.

In the Army, allowable offenses include making threats and kidnapping, according to Army Regulation 601-210.

According to a fact sheet released by the U.S. Armed Forces, since 2003 there have been at least 104 gang investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Command Department.

Anyone can understand the need for troops, and the difficulties in drawing new recruits in this time of unpopular war, but allowing convicted kidnappers to enlist?  Honestly? 

Of course, members of the military also join gangs after their initial deployments are finished, or in some cases while still deployed.  With the lack of group cohesion and camaraderie in the civilian world that one finds in the military, it’s easy to see how some would go out in search of that familial bond wherever it could be found.  Not to mention the difficulties one faces when returning to civilian life, whether it’s the at times near-impossible task of finding a job, returning to one’s friends and family after year(s) apart only to find that everything you know has changed, or just a complete disenfranchisement with a system that has let you down after a hollow “thanks for your service”.

Whatever the reasons, the military is hurting, we’re losing troops we need, we’re accepting troops we shouldn’t, we’re stretched thin and suffering as a result.

I know I seem to have leaped from one topic to another in this post, and perhaps I have, but on closer inspection it’s all interconnected.  Hell, 99% of the articles we write here could be connected by at least one or two strands of thought.  There are problems within all of our major systems; governing, policing, military, financial, et cetera… and they’re all combining to drag our country down into depths we’ve yet only imagined.

I find myself saying this too often it seems, but I don’t have a fix.  I don’t know anyone who does.  But I can recognize the problem, and educated discussion of the problems, not under the rug sweepings, not soundbite posturing, but analyzing and attempting real reforms are what’s needed here.  Hopefully someday we’ll have leaders who are up to the task.

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