Military Members and Omg's

Introduction

Much research has been conducted over the years by local, state, federal and military law enforcement agencies into military service members (SM's) being in or affiliated with outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMG's). With the popularity of motorcycles growing and soldiers being prime candidates due to the training they receive in their branch of service, OMG's are aware of that. Although most of the OMG's have been started by military veterans most of the investigations have been conducted on what is known as the Big 10. These are motorcycle gangs that profit from criminal activity. Within these OMG's are service members from every branch of the military.

In order to realize the issue at hand we must look at the history leading from the start of the motorcycle to the use of it in the military and into the history of the formation of outlaw motorcycle gangs. As well we will discuss the reason military service members become a part of these groups.

Thesis Statement

Should known military service members a part of outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMG's) be allowed to remain in the military?

To expand their membership, OMGs are reaching out to active duty, reservist and National Guard personnel, who are currently members of a bonafide support club, to bolster their numbers. Even more disturbing, they are recruiting members who possess Top Secret or Secret Clearances and are employed by the federal government or a Department of Defense (DOD) contractor. (2010 ATF Intelligence Report). What is the number of service members affiliated with OMG's? Although there hasn't been an established number of SM's in OMG's, law enforcement is aware that they are a part of or affiliated with OMG's. What needs to be learned is if service members who are part of OMG's are engaging in behavior detrimental to their respective services?

Purpose of the study

The purpose of this study is to determine the number of military service members who are part of or affiliated with an outlaw motorcycle gang and how detrimental it is to the armed services as well as the civilian sector.

Scope of the study

The scope of the study will be limited to military law enforcement, military service members and the different law enforcement agencies as well as Intelligence analysts within the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC).

A brief history of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs

In 1935 The McCook Outlaws Motorcycle Club was established out of Matilda's Bar on old Route 66 in McCook, Illinois outside Chicago. The Outlaws are a "one- per center" club whose membership is limited to men who own American-made motorcycles of a particular size and whose main rivals were the Hells Angels. In 1950 they decided to change their name from the McCook Outlaws to the Chicago Outlaws and even established a club logo. The logo of a small skull with Old English style letters replaced the original winged motorcycle. In addition to the small skull, in 1954 crossed pistons were used. (Dulaney, 2005)

In 1960 the American Motorcycle Association banned the use of the word "Outlaw" from race clothing so racing club members began wearing the letters OMC (Outlaw Motorcycle Club) on their clothing. The Outlaws became an official member of the 1 per-centers Brotherhood of clubs making it the first club 1% east of the Mississippi. On 1 January, 1965 the American Outlaw Association (AOA) was founded, using the skull and crossed-pistons as its logo naming it "Charlie". Their motto was, "God forgives, Outlaws don't". (Dulaney, 2005)

Between 1993 and 2007 outlaw motorcycle clubs were established in countries such as France, Belgium, England, Norway, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Russia, Japan, Philipines and Australia. France was the first country with an outlaw motorcycle club being established in 1993 making it the first European chapter. (Dulaney, 2005)

Today, the Outlaws remain one of the largest motorcycle clubs worldwide but are also one of the outlaw motorcycle clubs on the FBI's Top-Ten list of motorcycle gangs being watched. Some of their members such as Harry Joseph Bowman, known World Leader of the AOA and was the international president of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club has been in prison since 1999 for three murders. Country music singer David Allan Coe is a former member of the Outlaws. (Quinn, 2001)

Review of the Literature

Army regulation 190-45, Law Enforcement Reporting, revised in March 2007, defines a gang as: "A group of individuals whose acts of crime are committed against the public at large as well as other groups. A gang usually has in common one or more of the following traits: geographic area of residence; race or ethnic background. They usually have a defined hierarchy that controls the general activities of its members." (AR 190-45)

Gang activity is most prevalent in the US Army (AD), Army Reserve and in the National Guard but there is gang activity in other branches of the service. Although all ranks are involved, the greatest numbers of service members involved in gangs are the lower enlisted service members. A great number of members belonging to OMG's are former service members who now are employed by agencies that require them to have secret to top secret clearances or who have access to sensitive material. (Jontz & Mitchell, 2006)

The Navy has expressed that although there may be no indication of Navy personnel involved in gang activity and no prohibition from them joining a gang they feel because of the training received in core values and other programs plus the emphasis the Navy has for zero-tolerance regarding organizations posing a threat to civil rights of others, or whose focus is supremacist, racist, extremist causes the subject of their personnel in gangs is not an issue. However; they are not ignorant to the fact that there may be former or current members but they are keeping a low profile. (Jontz & Mitchell, 2006)

The Air Force' opinion is that although participating in gang activity is illegal and inappropriate, gangs just do not fall within the prohibition of something considered undesirable by those in authority. Their concern is that they do not want their Airmen to be involved in groups who engage in discrimination or deprivation of others civil rights.

Gang members sometimes enlist in the military to gain knowledge and experience with weapons and combat training as well as gain access to weapons and ammunition. Upon their discharge from the military they may use the skills gained against law-enforcement.