Confronting stolen valor situations in person. How would you handle these kinds of situations?
I certainly don't condone what they do (and frankly I find them despicable), but if you're going to be an impostor, at least do it in such a way that its actually believable. There are more than enough service members and veterans in this country who will call out a uniform violation in a heart beat. And when they wear the uniform wrong, it screams impostor.
And you're right, just like weapons obtained illegally, uniforms would be in the same boat. Excellent points as well.
He also claims to be an E-8, with only 6 years TIS.
Looking back at it though, as good as it feels to be angry about it and cling on to the "this is ours, you can't claim it" mentality, it's ultimately done for self-gratification and self-validation. Since the last incident, I make it a point to not ask about folks' veteran status if they wear campaign ribbons, OEF/OIF hats, etc. It's not my job to be the Spanish Inquisition.
SGT Smith, actually according to 18 U.S. Code 702 it is illegal to impersonate a member of the United States Armed Forces.
"Whoever, in any place within the jurisdiction of the United States or in the Canal Zone, without authority, wears the uniform or a distinctive part thereof or anything similar to a distinctive part of the uniform of any of the armed forces of the United States, Public Health Service or any auxiliary of such, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both." (source is http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/702)
Therefore, they did not have to call him out in public (though I really enjoyed watching it and applaud them for it), they could have just called the cops and had him arrested for violating a federal law. Or in my preference done both, call him out and call the cops to have him arrested.
SSG Thornton, I stand corrected. You are right. http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/258
The question then becomes "did he have the intent to gain some sort of tangible benefit?"
I agree, you dont have to go crazy confronting these imposters. But like you report him and take pictures at least. My point is you should never walk past this nonsense!
He certainly got attention he probably was not expecting. These imposters have no shame in what they are doing and walk around proud willing to dress again and go out in public.
You wonder if these guys even fathom that they will be called out for this.
I actually confronted a guy dressed in battle fatigues, two American Flags in a knap sack and a sign talking about PTSD. I first saw him from the truckers day room when I told my buddy that I was going to find out what he was doing. He was collecting money but passing himself off as a veteran.
He got defensive and I told him that I am a real veteran and do have PTSD and it pisses me off you are exploiting the military. I told him if I ever saw him there again like that, I would call the police. Also told that he had no right raising his voice to a veteran.
You were definitely in the right for this situation. Also because he was using this to gain benefits, I'm pretty sure he violated the Stolen Valor Act and could have been put in jail. It ironic when these fakes pose as veterans and then come across real veterans with real military background.
<P> </P>
<P>A mid to late-20s E-8 chillin outside without headgear and hands in pockets? About as likely as a unicorn sighting. </P>
<P>Being in an EOD/Ranger unit in the 101st? I can't say with any certainty if there is or is not such an animal. I'm doubting it.</P>
<P>The defining moment in this video for me was when the young Ranger vet closed the gap and ordered him to remove his Ranger tab...and he did. It was game over after that. </P>
<P>The civilians sticking up for him? To me that is just another reminder of the "participation ribbon" world we exist in. Their pleas to leave him alone because the Ranger vet's point had been made serve to remind us why there are less than 3% of the total population that have served or currently serve in the military. All I heard was Baaaa, baaa, baaa, baaa.</P>
Exactly my point. I've never seen an 101st Ranger EOD MSG. It sends flags. And to top it off, no headgear, and hands in the pocket? It's unreal. Now I cant say nothing about the age because I had a 1SG who was only 27 I kid you not. However, as I mentioned before, the body language of this so called Soldier was so wrong and out of place. You'd never see a Ranger remove his tab just because someone called him out. They take too much pride in that. As for the civilians; they believed they were defending a "Soldier" because of how he was dressed which pisses me off because this is all they see. It's a discredit to every man and woman that wears or ever wore this uniform. They need to stop playing Soldier and actually have the sense of pride and values to join.