With the U.S. Army having missed its recruitment goals for the past three years, it is clear that the military must change its methods to appeal to the modern youth. Here, "change" roughly translates to "deteriorate," or perhaps "methods" equate to "madness." That's what this reporter thinks of the move to disqualify gang members from our country's armed forces.
Section 579 of the 2008 Nation Defense Authorization Act would have prohibited gang members from suiting up - effectively blackballing a section of the population that could contribute to the war effort and homeland security. President Bush vetoed the Act (not because of its gang-related content, but because of a separate section on freezing Iraqi assets in the US), but the spirit of Section 579 doubtlessly remains.
Justification for such exclusionary criteria seems well intended but baseless. The thought behind the policy is that if you put a bunch of gang members in fatigues and send them to the desert, they'll seize the many opportunities for destruction and mayhem. However, a military Intelligence Assessment released last year found that of the 10,309 recorded criminal incidents involving military personnel, a mere 16 of them were gang-related. Outside of a Jerry Bruckheimer production, the idea of isolated Crips and Bloods engaging each other in taxpayer-funded battles on the mean streets of Fallujah seems a bit delusional.
What isn't delusional is realizing the best people to engage in warfare are those who have fired weapons and been at war before. Aside from veterans, gang members carry the most experience. And as study after study shows, an individual's environment is the greatest influencer of action. The rigidity and brotherhood infused into the service branches may be just what these guys need and are looking for. So why send them packing when there's a chance to accomplish three things at once: enhance recruitment, provide job training and a future to an underprivileged youth, and take a criminal off the street? If they screw up, ship them out.
Any gang member that signed up with the Army would likely do so for the sole purpose of escaping his chaotic situation (not that Iraq is necessarily the best place for that) and making an honest living, not to cause trouble in the ranks.
Continuing the lesson in pragmatic though, if legislation like Section 579 were to be passed, just how would gang members be weeded out? A yes/no question on the application? Check their tattoos? Observe if they only button the top button of their flannel shirts? See how pimped their ride is?
The idea of "purifying" the military of negative influence is shortsighted and petty; it distracts from the real problem: the military continues to be seen as an unattractive option. If the military hopes to meet its recruitment quotas, it's going to have to get a bit more creative, open minded, and practical.