Posted on Jul 9, 2014
If you spotted an impostor wearing uniform out in town, how would you react?
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Personally I'd approach him very tactfully and have my smart phone out recording everything. I'd ask for his name and unit that he's with. I'd go on in "admiring" him with other questions such as what units has he served with, places, dates, etc... I'd try to "exhaust" him with questions until he'd start feeling uncomfortable.
Then I'd start challenging the validity of everything he said, the ribbons and/or medals, and so on, until he'd get sick of hanging out with me.
In the end I'd tell him that this is going for congressional investigation and he better have a good lawyer.
Then I'd start challenging the validity of everything he said, the ribbons and/or medals, and so on, until he'd get sick of hanging out with me.
In the end I'd tell him that this is going for congressional investigation and he better have a good lawyer.
Uniforms
Fraud
Awards
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 13
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Step 1) verify if he's an imposter. Becomes hard unless there are GLARING uniform mistakes. Also ensure it's not Halloween or on the set of a TV or movie... ;o)
Step2) inquire why he's wearing the uniform.
Step 3) call him out on it. Wil I likely change his behavior? Probably not, but being called out in public for pretending to be something you're not may give him pause next time. At the very least, he may not show his face in that particular establishment again.
Step 4) record it (picture or vid) and send to Stolen Valor folks.
Step2) inquire why he's wearing the uniform.
Step 3) call him out on it. Wil I likely change his behavior? Probably not, but being called out in public for pretending to be something you're not may give him pause next time. At the very least, he may not show his face in that particular establishment again.
Step 4) record it (picture or vid) and send to Stolen Valor folks.
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LTC Paul Labrador
Well I would hope they would not use someone in uniform for a Jackass or Punk'd skit.....
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What I find funny about most stolen valor scenarios is that the dude doing it always goes so over the top that it's EASY to catch them. They are ALWAYS SF or SEALs or other outlandish secret squirrel affiliation who have the top combat awards (MoH, DSC). Don't these dudes know that you can count on TWO HANDS the number of MoH's given out for OIF and OEF (one hand if you don't count posthumous ones)? They don't realize the easiest way to slip by is to do a little homework and keep it real: instead of trying to pass yourself off as a 30yo SF CSM, try to pretend you're a 30yo Trans E-6 with the appropriate awards that an E-6 would have (maybe an ARCOM or 2 and a few AAMs). When you go for broke you'll always get caught.
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PO1 (Join to see)
I just watched a "stolen valor" documentary. From 2006 to 2010 apparently it was illegal to claim it. Until of course the congressional pansies got involved claiming it was a 1st amendment violation.
My proposal: you lure them somewhere out of sight, out of mind. And beat the shindig out of them. Street justice. If cops respond, half of which are vets, guess whose side they'll be on
My proposal: you lure them somewhere out of sight, out of mind. And beat the shindig out of them. Street justice. If cops respond, half of which are vets, guess whose side they'll be on
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LTC Paul Labrador
LoL...well to someone who's actually served, it's pretty obvious. The more high profile your claim, the more likley you're going to draw attention. And when you draw attention, there are going to be people who actually WERE there and actually DID that who are going to say "yeah, dude, I don't remember you...." We don't serve in a vacuum by ourselves.
But then again, the folks who are going to impersonate to get accolades are Walter Mitty types who aren't going to settle for "realistic".
But then again, the folks who are going to impersonate to get accolades are Walter Mitty types who aren't going to settle for "realistic".
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PO2 (Join to see)
If I'm not on duty I am not in uniform. I love my job, and serving my country, but I don't like to draw attention to who I am, I'm pretty sure there are many that share those feelings.
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The first thing to do is ascertain whether they are authentic or not. Looking at the uniform, of course, will tell us if they're ate up or not. Awards, tabs, spacing and order of merit are typically easy to spot. Too many for their supposed rank? Their age compared to their rank?
Second, question them about their service. You can tell when someone begins giving you some BS. Start throwing out some of our own lingo, which I know we try to get away from when we're out, but if they're a Solder, Sailor, Airman or Marine, then they'll start up with the same thing, as it comes naturally to us. A poser will looked confused, especially if we're using acronyms.
As others have suggested, take a couple of pics. If they are a fraud, notify them they're going to be reported for Stolen Valor. The only way they can really be prosecuted is if they receive some sort of compensation while acting as a poser. This includes on a resume, speaking engagements, etc. The courts ruled that just wearing a uniform is not illegal and well within their 1st Amendment rights. But to defraud falls into another category altogether.
Second, question them about their service. You can tell when someone begins giving you some BS. Start throwing out some of our own lingo, which I know we try to get away from when we're out, but if they're a Solder, Sailor, Airman or Marine, then they'll start up with the same thing, as it comes naturally to us. A poser will looked confused, especially if we're using acronyms.
As others have suggested, take a couple of pics. If they are a fraud, notify them they're going to be reported for Stolen Valor. The only way they can really be prosecuted is if they receive some sort of compensation while acting as a poser. This includes on a resume, speaking engagements, etc. The courts ruled that just wearing a uniform is not illegal and well within their 1st Amendment rights. But to defraud falls into another category altogether.
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