Created: 11/1/2007 1:40:34 PM 
Greensboro, NC -- When you think gang member, it's probably the stereotype: poor side of town; in and out of jail; not very smart. But, it appears at times they are smart enough to fool the military.
The US military is proud of how it deals with gangs in their ranks, spending time weeding them out. But, gangs have a new way to slip into the military undetected to gain training in weapon and tactics to use on the streets, and it's all on your dime.
When you think of the military, you think of words like honor, discipline, and loyalty. For some, their allegiance isn't to our country.
"Many people have the lovely innocent about them to believe that cause someone serves in the military, they're truly patriotic," says Hunter Glass.
Glass is a veteran and retired police officer turned gang expert. He believes the loyalty isn't just for the red white and blue, but instead to the colors they wear as gang members.
"The military is a place where you can get a lot of sophisticated training. Sending people in to learn techniques that can profit the gang at a later date is just common sense," says Glass.
He doesn't want the military he served in to be abused. But, he says gangs are setting aside members, keeping them clean of tattoos and criminal records so they can use the military as a training ground.
"As a taxpayer, I'm paying for these gang members to go through military training and then come out?" asks Tanya Rivera of WFMY News 2.
Glass's simple answer, "We're seeing it, yes."
An FBI report on gangs in the military confirms it, "?gang members may also enlist to receive weapons, combat and convoy support training, and to obtain access to weapons and explosives."
The report goes on to say, "? upon discharge they may employ their military training against law enforcement officials and rival gang members"
"Police are not going to be able to use intimidation tactics anymore. Gang members are not intimidated by law enforcement," says Glass.
Glass points to an interview with a former marine and admitted gang member who is now behind bars who says, "I went to boot camp ... I came home ... was telling the guys about the training I received and we went out and decided to try that ... we went out robbing."
A Fort Bragg military spokesperson acknowledges isolated cases, but doesn't see a trend.
"I don't have any real statistics showing it doesn't happen, but also don't have any statistics to show it does happen. But, the thing I'm getting at is, it doesn't make any sense. the training these gang members would learn, the tactics and all is available on the internet and in books," says Tom McCollough.
"I can read a book or go to the Internet about how to dunk a basketball, but I can't. I can read about marksmanship with a firearm, but that doesn't mean I can actually go and do that."
Alamance County's lead gang investigator Chris Crain sides more with Glass than he does with the military. With the Triad so close to two major bases, Crain believes military trained gang members are on their way here.
"If they brought that back here, I'm sure the public and a lot of law enforcement would not be ready for what they were coming up against," says Crain.
And that's exactly what Hunter Glass is afraid of.
"Scary to you?" asks Tanya Rivera.
"Oh yeah, certainly. I'm an old soldier and I consider myself fairly dangerous, but there are guys that make me look pale in comparison. Our law enforcement is going to have to deal with more sophisticated crime, more sophisticated organizations. That will cost us much more money."
Glass warns police are not going to be able to use intimidation tactics anymore because members will already know the drill. The solution? Glass says more military scrutiny and parent involvement. He says if you want to see the gang member of today, look in the mirror and look at your child.
WFMY News 2
