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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Personally, I would have gone back to my truck and returned with my wall-to-wall toolkit because this douche was BEGGING
for a wall-to-wall counseling.
See FM 22-102 for further information at
the link at the end of this comment - Specifically pages 23-24.
Civilians
for a wall-to-wall counseling.
See FM 22-102 for further information at
the link at the end of this comment - Specifically pages 23-24.
Civilians
The problem with wall‑to‑wall counseling
civilians is that there are actually such things as civilian policemen, and
they will actually throw you in a civilian jail where you will be immediately
considered “fresh meat!” and [expletives deleted - modified for content by SSG Deters] It may be a good idea to bring the civilian
on post, where civilian cops have no jurisdiction. Then you are more than welcome to work them
over in any manner you like.
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MSG (Join to see)
SSG Deters,
Your approach is valid. I'm tracking what a wall-to-wall counseling is as I've seen quite a few while deployed seeing tension and frustration rise. It's a concept you have to use wisely in my opinion like you said dealing with civilians. However, when one swings, is back into a corner, or challenged is accepted, the wall-to-wall would work in it favor.
Your approach is valid. I'm tracking what a wall-to-wall counseling is as I've seen quite a few while deployed seeing tension and frustration rise. It's a concept you have to use wisely in my opinion like you said dealing with civilians. However, when one swings, is back into a corner, or challenged is accepted, the wall-to-wall would work in it favor.
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SSG Robert Burns
SSG Deters, although I admire your vigor, I'd rather you just reference the material than post it word for word when it contains the verbiage as this. Remember there's a LOT of people reading this who will not appreciate your choice of words.
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SGT (Join to see)
SSS Robert B.... That's the problem with service members nowadays! Everyone is butthurt about everything (i.e. cursing, "Wall to Wall counseling", etc.. This is why we have this new "kinder. gentler Army" BS. You never saw stuff like this back in the 40's - late 80's, early 90's! This is because they would have been skull dragged by ANY Veteran that saw them!!!! People had respect back then! These people that you refer to, need to learn the old Army motto, "Suck it up and drive on"!
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He's not doing anything illegal, so calling the police is useless unless he received some type of compensation from his faking (Stolen Valor Act).
He definitely needed to be outed. Guys like that are trying to establish some type of credibility based on the uniform, and the best way to combat it is to publicly call out people like that.
I understand his anger, I'm a Ranger and I would have been angry, too; I think some of the EOD people would have done the same as he was wearing an EOD patch. Good Soldiers died wearing those hard to earn badges.
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MSG (Join to see)
SSG Boyd,
I agree. As a Ranger I know you would NEVER remove you patch if someone walked up to you and requested that you did. Some of the greatest NCO's and Officer's I know are Rangers and they have to much pride to be called out on a false tab. Your right as he's doing nothing wrong however it sucks that these people know and understand these facts and get away with impersonating a Soldier. I'm glad this veteran was there to call this POS out.
I agree. As a Ranger I know you would NEVER remove you patch if someone walked up to you and requested that you did. Some of the greatest NCO's and Officer's I know are Rangers and they have to much pride to be called out on a false tab. Your right as he's doing nothing wrong however it sucks that these people know and understand these facts and get away with impersonating a Soldier. I'm glad this veteran was there to call this POS out.
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Sadly, unless this "individual" intended to gain tangible benefits from posing as a Soldier, he is protected under the 1st Amendment as stated by the US Supreme Court in United States v. Alvarez 567 U.S. The revised Stolen Valor Act signed into law in 2013 only criminalizes "posing" if the "poser" is attempting to gain some sort of benefit. Does this make it right? Absolutely not, however, it is legal to stand there looking like the proverbial soup sandwich and tell phony war stories. As far as how to handle the situation like the one shown in the video, it was perfectly legal for the actual veterans to call him out as their speech wasn't threatening (although I'm sure there is a jury out there that would say other wise) and they didn't make physical contact with him (though I'm sure they wanted to). The peanut gallery in the background yelling to leave him alone, well, let's face it. They obviously weren't associated with the military and are ignorant to our customs and regulations so they ASSUMED they were sticking up for a Soldier and should be commended for doing so, even if that "Soldier" was a fake. Remember, it wasn't too long ago that our veterans were getting spit on in the airport when they came home so we are making progress.
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MSG (Join to see)
SSG Thornton,
Your point is indeed valid. My position is that even if this wasn't a fake I believe the veteran was in the right. On the the spot corrections for this ridiculous uniform set up and many others would have just walked past this. It sucks that he is perfectly in his legal rights but it doesn't make it right for what these imposters are doing. In my eyes it's a disgrace to what we as Soldiers fight for and for what Soldiers before us have down for these people to to put on this uniform and impersonate a Soldier. However, like you said it is legal but Im glad he was called out for this by the veteran.
Your point is indeed valid. My position is that even if this wasn't a fake I believe the veteran was in the right. On the the spot corrections for this ridiculous uniform set up and many others would have just walked past this. It sucks that he is perfectly in his legal rights but it doesn't make it right for what these imposters are doing. In my eyes it's a disgrace to what we as Soldiers fight for and for what Soldiers before us have down for these people to to put on this uniform and impersonate a Soldier. However, like you said it is legal but Im glad he was called out for this by the veteran.
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MSG (Join to see)
SSG Thomas,
Agreed. It's one thing we as Soldier's must continue to do; On the Spot corrections!!
Agreed. It's one thing we as Soldier's must continue to do; On the Spot corrections!!
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As much as I agree with the call out, it is that individuals right to wear whatever he wants so long as he does not profit from wearing it. It's also the right of that Ranger to call him out. However if I am not mistaken he was arrested (the Ranger) for disturbing the peace or something. I was following it on Facebook, before the change in the Stolen Valor act in 2012 iirc that impostor could have been jailed.
It's sort of the same way that the Westboro Baptist Church gets away with everything they do.
I just got a kick out of the guy, he just had no idea. MSG rank at that age, no PC, wrong combination of patches, hands in pocket, etc.
Just totally ignorant.
Just totally ignorant.
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MSG (Join to see)
SSG Harvey,
You are absolutely right. That individual has the right to wear what he wants. He's is just ignorant for picking a uniform he clearly knows nothing about as you mentioned MSG rank at that age, no PC, wrong combination of patches, hands in pocket, etc. A MSG carries himself a lot better than this as we've all seen being in the Army. And even though this individual has the right to wear what he wants, as a Soldier and as a Leader, I would not be able to just walk past this. It is a disgrace and as you said he could have been jailed.
You are absolutely right. That individual has the right to wear what he wants. He's is just ignorant for picking a uniform he clearly knows nothing about as you mentioned MSG rank at that age, no PC, wrong combination of patches, hands in pocket, etc. A MSG carries himself a lot better than this as we've all seen being in the Army. And even though this individual has the right to wear what he wants, as a Soldier and as a Leader, I would not be able to just walk past this. It is a disgrace and as you said he could have been jailed.
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SFC Steven Harvey
Only if he profited off of wearing it, they changed the Stolen Valor Act. It's no longer illegal to just wear whatever you want out in public.
And I could not have let it go either, of course I would have had a bit more tact.
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SPC(P) Delcina Myers
I've been in for 8 years and my military bearing is so much better than this "MSG".
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Have you ever known anyone to be sworn in on New Years Day? Joseph Matthew Scott claims to have been sworn in on New Years Day.
He also claims to have made E-8 with 6 years TIS
And now he claims to be, as of October 2, a Deputy Sheriff / Officer in Stanislaus, California, working S.W.A.T and patrol.
He also claims to have made E-8 with 6 years TIS
And now he claims to be, as of October 2, a Deputy Sheriff / Officer in Stanislaus, California, working S.W.A.T and patrol.
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i say they give him a blanket party, and a lil Sand Box hell then throw his ass in jail
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PFC Stephens Clark
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=johnnyb34434 This Ass uses Stolen Valor every yr. Please everyone share this and post on his Youtube page, let every Soldier know, he is in The Carolina's. He needs dealt with
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
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SrA (Join to see) - Those are those who were never held enough by Mom. What is crazy is where people know they are lying but that does not deter them. They are sociopaths and inveterate liars.
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I had a buddy that couldn’t make it through Basic because of the pressure and stress. Fair enough. It’s supposed to weed out people. But he would tell people all the time of his exploits. Women would ask me for details about his service after hearing his stories. I don’t think he got a date for a couple of years because of that.
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