DeAngelo Williams - Good Initiative, Bad Judgement

I contacted TSA through official channels about a year ago suggesting that if a person appears in military dress, and cannot produce a military ID (edited from "CAC" I really meant just some form of military ID), he/she must NOT be allowed to pass through security. If I showed up at the airport in a TSA uniform and had no TSA credentials, would I be allowed to wander around the airport dressed like that? How is that not a security concern? I got no response.

Additionally, Soldiers are generally NOT authorized to wear uniforms to the airport (edited to add: because they are not flying on orders; I had a Soldier tell me once he had "leave orders," um, not official military business there, but nice try. Yes, per LTC Paul Labrador the ASU is authorized, but only on official travel). The latest version of 670-1 makes it more clear. I really wish the airlines would stop being complicit in this. If I show you military ID (<- not edited, got it right the first time and it's what I always meant), good enough; stop insisting I be in uniform. It would also stop clowns like this guy by removing the incentives to masquerade.

OMG!!! WTF!!! My brain just exploded. Nasty little thing this man is. He is jacked up all over the place. Weird devices on the medals, wearing devices not authorized in that configuration, wrong buckle, belts jacked, cover indoors but since he is wearing a cover those gloves should be on too, and nobody travels in dress blue alphas (which he is wearing a combo of alphas and bravos) because its not authorized. Yuck!

Bad judgement?

How can we expect a non military member to see and immediately identify a case of "Stolen Valor"?

The law needs to be changed back to allow judges to incarcerate these guys. It's illegal to impersonate a police officer, but if you impersonate a military member that's called "free speech" and you are exercising your rights.

I think it is up to us to police up these scumbags. My first tip off to this guy being a fake would of been his wearing of a cover indoors. As a Marine E-9 he would of known that was a no go. As a professional courtesy I would of started out very discrete (just to verify he was a fake) and turned it into a circus just to watch him sweat and tuck tail and run. These guys are tools and deserve public shaming. They don't learn and will continue impersonating in a new venue.

This is why we can't have nice things everyone.

While I'm glad to see DeAngelo Williams try to do nice things, I'm sure he'll think twice before doing it again which is a shame. We live in a world where some idiot like this destroys the public's trust of not just the Marine Corps but in the entire military. I have no doubt that this is the first time this guy has benefited from his false claims.

Where is his DD Form 214 and Military Record?

What DeAngelo Williams did was great, and I doubt that he will think twice when trying to help out another soldier in uniform. In fact, I am proud to see many athletes and celebrities being role models and showing the younger generation different acts of kindness towards those in and out of the service. Players all over the NFL, such as Larry Fitzgerald and Aaron Rodgers are always giving shout outs to those in the Military.

So while this was certainly an impostor. I don't think this will stop the American people from doing what they think is right. Thus, I agree it is our job to police these imposters.

I have worn my ASU on the plane, no issue, but man the stares and looks, from both veterans and civilians. Due to the fact that we have allowed sub-par travel uniforms (ACU), we have taken the professionalism out of the public eye with regard to how we present ourselves to them these days. But frankly look at civilians now when they travel. Flip Flops, sneakers, shorts, cutoffs, robes, who knows what else, no one travels dressed up anymore like it was back in the day (pre 1990).

I agree with the CPT Wolfer, produce DoD identification active or blue card to the staff at the airport.

Its unfortunate that this happens as people savor the moments of recognition and enjoy the benefits of being in the uniform that they do not deserve to wear. I truly do not understand how they can live among themselves knowing they are not in the military. One would think that questions will be asked of them when a service member approaches and starts prying into you.

This guy is a clown. And probably a little off in the old noggin. lol