Nothing new here.
For years, gangs have actually been sending members (who had not received convictions) off to the Army and Marines to learn the trade to use back on the streets when they returned to "the hood".
Back in the late 80's or early 90's, there was trouble on Fort Carson between soldiers with ties to the Crips and those to the Bloods. Actually had soldiers transfered between Platoons and Companies to keep them separated for each other.
And hazing among military members predates even the gang influence.
And there is a war on, and effort to increase military end strength in the Army. Its a numbers game: they are not going to get rid of people that they would have during peacetime and the drawdown.
And junior NCO's don't receive much in the way of schooling/training before promotion any more... used to be to make Corporal or Sergeant, you needed at least the Primary Leadership Development Course... now it's called Warrior Leadership Course and you don't need it until up for Staff Sergeant. Many of the junior leaders are just not up to the task, and there are shortages of officers in Platoon Leader positions across much of the Army.
And you have many war vets on active duty, a percentage of which have problems readjusting one out of the combat zone. There are many different reasons why about 5,000 vets (active and retired) commit suicide every year ( more than has been lost in six years of fighting).
