An analysis of the

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine from a sample of 800 military personnel from a Southwestern military base whether there is a significant difference regarding attitudes toward gangs by military personnel living on and off base and whether these attitudes differed based on rank, age, gender, ethnicity, location of residence, or number and age of children. As a result of the data analysis, relevant implications were identified, providing educational and military leaders with information to encourage the establishment of gang-resistant communities. The methodology for this comparative analysis is descriptive/survey in nature. A detailed literature review presented information on theories about gang delinquency, definitions of gangs, gang prevention strategies, and gangs in one Southwestern state. The results of the analysis of data indicated that there are few significant statistical differences in how military personnel living on and off base responded to survey questions. The review of literature suggested that media impact is the overarching influence on community perceptions regardless of whether the community is large or small, structured or unstructured. Recommendations for further research include a replication of this study involving other military bases in the United States, a study which would analyze the perceptions of children of military personnel living on and off base toward gangs, research which would assess the impact of the media on individuals' perceptions of gangs in different communities, procedures to define social disorganization and identify specific factors in communities that would help to categorize a community as organized or disorganized, and a study conducted in a school which would identify on and off base military dependents and non-military dependents to determine whether association with the military affects perceptions and/or gang membership.