Is it considered stolen valor for me to occasionally wear my dad's Army raincoat with his MSG chevrons and name plate?

Lawrence Dubreuil — Mon, 25 May 2020 10:47:23 -0400

I am 63 and still have my Dad's Army raincoat with his MGST Chevrons and name plate, I wear it sometimes when it is raining, is that still "Stolen Valor" even though it does not meet the stolen valor act guidelines??

Response by CDR Walter Jones made May 25 at 2020 10:55 AM

CDR Walter Jones — Mon, 25 May 2020 10:55:26 -0400

No, my oldest daughter wears my leather flight jacket, with one of my old squadron name tags attached. She does it as a sign of respect for me. Perfectly acceptable.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made May 25 at 2020 2:22 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Mon, 25 May 2020 14:22:53 -0400

Lawrence Dubreuil It is Stolen Valor if you do it for a monetary purpose.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2020 9:25 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 May 2020 21:25:34 -0400

Even if it doesn't meet the "for profit" of the crime, the big question is "was this done to discredit or fake service?" In this light, as long as anyone asks and you tell them what you put up here, no, you're good. Probably a good jacket. I wore old BDU jackets as a kid that my dad had bought wholesale and I loved them.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2020 3:29 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 May 2020 03:29:01 -0400

No, it's not, as long as you don't claim to be a MSG.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2020 4:06 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 May 2020 04:06:00 -0400

It’s only stolen valor if you do it in order to pretend to be him

Response by SGT Donald Croswhite made May 26 at 2020 12:58 PM

SGT Donald Croswhite — Tue, 26 May 2020 12:58:10 -0400

It's only stolen-valor if you claim the rank and/or benefit from it.

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made May 26 at 2020 2:46 PM

LCDR Joshua Gillespie — Tue, 26 May 2020 14:46:02 -0400

I don't personally think so Sir... but with great respect, I would advise you to consider how even the best of intentions can result in negative outcomes.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 26 at 2020 4:40 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Tue, 26 May 2020 16:40:26 -0400

nope. It's a raincoat. Don't try to impersonate a MSGT and you'll be okay.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 27 at 2020 3:29 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 27 May 2020 15:29:56 -0400

Two perspectives to look at this from:
1) So long as you're not claiming to be a service member, you're ok (we'll ignore the financial gain aspect of Stolen valor for this discussion).
2) One can argue that by wearing the coat with insignia, you're implying to the world that you're a MSG.
Ultimately it's a lot like a SHARP complaint. It's not so much what you meant, but what the other individual "percieves".

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2020 2:24 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 May 2020 14:24:48 -0400

Legally, it’s only stolen valor if you use it for “gain” which you would otherwise not be entitled to. Morally, it’s stolen valor if you pretend it’s YOURS. If anyone were to ask, and you said, “It’s my Dad’s,” I’m okay with it. It’s the dipshits who are told, “Thank you for your service,” and quite willingly say, “Thank you”—those are the jerks. Or the guys with a complete Navy SEAL uniform, the whole nine yards, who then say, “Oh, I just wear this as a tribute, as a way to honor them.” No you don’t. You HOPED people would mistake you for the real deal. Wearing your dad’s coat and openly admitting it—there’s nothing fake about that.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made May 31 at 2020 3:42 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Sun, 31 May 2020 15:42:37 -0400

If you are just wearing a coat there isn’t anything wrong.

If you are pretending to be a MSgt for some form of profit that is a different conversation.

Response by SGT Jim Daugherty made Jun 3 at 2020 9:02 PM

SGT Jim Daugherty — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 21:02:27 -0400

Nope, your ok.

Response by 1LT Diehl Jones made Jun 19 at 2020 5:57 PM

1LT Diehl Jones — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 17:57:58 -0400

Are you honoring your father?