Posted on Mar 16, 2014
Confronting stolen valor situations in person. How would you handle these kinds of situations?
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Seeing this post is shocking to many as the veteran said; he had battle buddies who he served with die who were Rangers. As a Soldier, whether Junior ranking, NCO, or Officer, how would you handle a situation like this? Speaking with some guys in my unit, many say they would have went off on this fake. Others say they would have called the police for this situation. Have you recently came across any fakes or knew someone that did? In my opinion, I would have definitely confronted this fake professionally as it is a disgrace to many other service members who served and lost someone close to them. whats your take on this? Do you think the veteran's position was correct in this situation? Let keep it professional.
U.S. Army Veterans spot and confront a fake Soldier wearing MSG Rank and Ranger Tab. After watching the video, what would you have done different?
Servicemembers
Values
Stolen Valor
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 62
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I think he (the Ranger) did a great job of not crushing the dirtbag poser. I am not so sure many of us could have controlled our rage, especially those that have lost some of our own brothers in arms during combat operations.
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MSG (Join to see)
CSM,
I totally agree. As I mentioned before, it is a disgrace as I seen great Soldier bleed and die in this uniform and for someone to just wear it for the gains they think they'll get is ridiculous. Many Service members, probably rangers active duty, would have lost their composure in this situation. But as SSG Harvey mentioned, these people are just ignorant; MSG rank at that age, no PC, wrong combination of patches, hands in pocket, etc.It doesn't add up and leads to the only conclusion of a fake.
I totally agree. As I mentioned before, it is a disgrace as I seen great Soldier bleed and die in this uniform and for someone to just wear it for the gains they think they'll get is ridiculous. Many Service members, probably rangers active duty, would have lost their composure in this situation. But as SSG Harvey mentioned, these people are just ignorant; MSG rank at that age, no PC, wrong combination of patches, hands in pocket, etc.It doesn't add up and leads to the only conclusion of a fake.
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SGT Christopher Hoffman
CSM
I greatly agree with you with our Ranger's incredible amount of restraint. Anytime I see someone wearing a uniform that just seems the slightest bit off, I politely pull them aside and have a discussion. One or two will be receptive, another one or two are soldiers and appreciate the correction, and then there are those need to be curb-stomped, and those are the ones I must restrain myself from losing it with them and I maintain, no matter how angry and bitter I am at seeing their crap, my composure and let them know they may want to leave quietly into the night. I have zero tolerance for tomfoolery, even now.
A good leader never sleeps mentally, even after leaving the service behind. They never fully leave it behind.
I greatly agree with you with our Ranger's incredible amount of restraint. Anytime I see someone wearing a uniform that just seems the slightest bit off, I politely pull them aside and have a discussion. One or two will be receptive, another one or two are soldiers and appreciate the correction, and then there are those need to be curb-stomped, and those are the ones I must restrain myself from losing it with them and I maintain, no matter how angry and bitter I am at seeing their crap, my composure and let them know they may want to leave quietly into the night. I have zero tolerance for tomfoolery, even now.
A good leader never sleeps mentally, even after leaving the service behind. They never fully leave it behind.
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I'd do what I always do:
Me: Where did you serve?
Poser: Iraq (etc)
Me: What FOB
Poser: I don't remember... (or maybe one he's heard of)
Me: What province is that in?
Poser: I think it was...
Me: What unit?
Poser: (SF, Seals, Rangers)
Me: Oh! that's in Fort Lewis, Nebraska! I've been there. What building number?
Poser: ...
Onlookers: Wait a minute...
Problem solved.
Me: Where did you serve?
Poser: Iraq (etc)
Me: What FOB
Poser: I don't remember... (or maybe one he's heard of)
Me: What province is that in?
Poser: I think it was...
Me: What unit?
Poser: (SF, Seals, Rangers)
Me: Oh! that's in Fort Lewis, Nebraska! I've been there. What building number?
Poser: ...
Onlookers: Wait a minute...
Problem solved.
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1SG (Join to see)
BS, MSG. Iraq: Ninewah, Dahuk, Irbil, Sal'addin, Diyala.
In Afghanistan: Parwan, Khandahar, Herat, Uruzgan, Nangahar
NOT hard to remember. Each one of those crap-holes are burned into my memory.
In Afghanistan: Parwan, Khandahar, Herat, Uruzgan, Nangahar
NOT hard to remember. Each one of those crap-holes are burned into my memory.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
I was in Fallujah with the 82nd ABN DIV and honestly I can't tell you what province it is in either.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
Thank you, I never can remember the Provincial names for where I had been in 2003.
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I try, very hard, to believe that the majority of 'reasonably minded' people will see them as what they truly are. You are correct that the vast majority of them go so far over the top in their 'stories' that they end up 'outing' themselves (we've seen many of their pictures and videos on this very site). The only way I would be comfortable actually confronting them is with solid proof. I do, however, enjoy a quick game of 20 questions on occasion, just to watch them dig their hole a bit deeper, normally providing a bit of entertainment to those nearby in the process.
Short of that, I just shake my head and walk away and hope that the karma bus passes their way soon!
Short of that, I just shake my head and walk away and hope that the karma bus passes their way soon!
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MSG Wade Huffman
CMSgt (Join to see) , You are correct that in a case such as that, experience DOES matter! (decades? you're making us look old now! lol!)
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CMSgt (Join to see)
2 decades (+4 years), Top! And counting! :)
I work in SOF world. I can sniff out a phony a mile away. When we are out and about in civies, I love when they try to peacock around "the girl...". They never know what to do when I start asking THEM questions. "Oh wow! Really? So, what Q class were you in?" or "When did you go thru BUDS?" ((silence))
me: "Sorry, you are full of sh*t."
:)
I work in SOF world. I can sniff out a phony a mile away. When we are out and about in civies, I love when they try to peacock around "the girl...". They never know what to do when I start asking THEM questions. "Oh wow! Really? So, what Q class were you in?" or "When did you go thru BUDS?" ((silence))
me: "Sorry, you are full of sh*t."
:)
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CMSgt (Join to see)
HA! BOOM!! Nice one, Top! :)
One of my favorite things to say to my lovely SOF guys is, "Don't let my lipstick fool you... I will show my Jersey." Hahaa
One of my favorite things to say to my lovely SOF guys is, "Don't let my lipstick fool you... I will show my Jersey." Hahaa
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