Is this improper use of a uniform?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 01:15:56 -0500

I was at a McDonalds and there was a younger person there dressed as a soldier, with a knapsack, and two flags on small poles on each side. He also was talking about 22 veterans committing suicide each day and also for donations. He said, he was trying to raise awareness. What is your take?

Response by SPC Gary Basom made Nov 16 at 2013 3:14 AM

SPC Gary Basom — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 03:14:17 -0500

He had no organization to authorize him to receive donations, he lied there are about an estimated 55 taking their lives each day, as long as there was no rank,unit ID or name on the uniform(stuff he could have bought from a surplus store),was it a BDU or newer type uniform? If it was a BDU uniform (woodland camo) it was phased out. The new one is the digi cam type. Other than the uniform maybe it was an attempt to probably take money from others or scamming them.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Nov 16 at 2013 1:20 PM

CMC Robert Young — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 13:20:13 -0500

My concerns are similar to those of SPC Basom. I firmly believe that we (the military) have endured and will continue to endure the unnecessary loss of some of people through suicide. It is problem we must address, but that response will come from professional organizations with the appropriate training, background and resources. Not from a kid at Mickey Ds.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2013 2:09 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 14:09:04 -0500

The young person's cause - increasing awareness about veterans suicides is laudable- the area that he was doing it in, i.e. McDonald's doesn't really pass the 'sniff test'... As we saw in the past week, a guy who ran a charity that was supposed to have been helping Navy veterans was convicted of fraudulently using the $100M USD for his own benefit...

Response by SGT Chris Birkinbine made Nov 17 at 2013 3:46 AM

SGT Chris Birkinbine — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 03:46:07 -0500

I assume we are saying that this person was currently active/reserve/guard and not a veteran? If so, then yes, I think this would technically fall under the same regulations that deal with attending any sort of rally, or openly supporting any cause while in uniform.

If not, than I don't think your question really applies. As much as I hate it sometimes, Americans have the right to utilize, display, and utterly disrespect the uniform so long as they are not fraudulently using it to gain anything of monetary value ( Assuming again that his cause is legit, and he is not just pocketing the money which would be a felony.)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2013 1:32 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 13:32:53 -0500

This is completely illegal as it directly violates the DOD's Joint Ethics Regulation. If the "soldier" is not a DOD employee, it violates the Stolen Valor act, as others have mentioned. Bottom line, he is wrong. http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/550007r.pdf

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Dec 11 at 2013 1:44 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 13:44:29 -0500

He's raising awareness alright. Just not to what he thinks he is.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Dec 12 at 2013 12:55 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 00:55:37 -0500

My beef would be if he was trying to pass himself off as a soldier for benefits (stolen valor). If he was simply wearing ACUs because he thought he looked cool, but didn't try to claim military affiliation, then I would think he's a bit lame, and a poseur, but harmless otherwise.