Fake EOD O-2: Is Stolen Valor worse if it's an officer being impersonated?

SSG, I left the service BECAUSE of RANKISM. Your comment is on target, I wish more senior NCO's and Officers thought the way you do....

He does need to held accountable for his action according to the UCMJ. I feel that he should serve time in a military prison.

I agree any stolen valor is equally offensive, but if I was to walk by someone posing as an officer and I render a salute to that individual, I would be more upset because he/she took something from me which they did not deserve. Of course by illegally wearing the uniform they are taking valor from all of us, but now it would become personal. There is a reason why they say, respect the rank, not the person... because even if the person has not earned your respect, they earned that rank which deserves your respect.

Agreed. Hahaha

Grew up hearing vets tell bs stories in the VFW. There is a big difference between someone embellishing their own story for dramatic effect than to actually put on the uniform and "STEAL" the respect that was hard fought for by those who actually served. I'm extremely proud of my service and believe it should be a punishable offense to impersonate a service member. Sgt Frank Rinchich posted that it should be the same punishment as someone impersonating a police officer and I couldn't agree more.

he's lucky i was not their i would have told every one that he is one big layer and ask the airlines rep to see if they gave him the military discount and show they be had and tell them to tell their personal to all was ask for the DOD card

SSG, I couldn't agree more. There's a huge difference. Claiming that there were seventy enemy combatants instead of forty, something along those lines, hell, those are just fish stories. Claiming you were at Fallujah when you were actually at an Econ. class is just spitting on the uniform.

Joseph,
While some of those stories you heard may come across as BS I have found that many are in fact toned down. I learned a lot from my grampa growing up. He was a Marine in the Pacific and we always asked how he got his second belly button. It took decades before we learned he was shot since he always just said he had an accident and had bad timing. Turned out he was an island hopper storming beaches. I met another vet from the Pacific in Colorado when I sold insurance. He would tell a story of how he hated walking long distances because it hurt his feet and go on about how he road marched for a hundred miles. His wife revealed he was in the Bataan death march. I served for 21 years across 2 services (saw combat in both) and have embellished a few small stories. When I toned down the significant events of my life they still came across as bigger than life things. Others may have thought them as BS but they really have no idea how much bigger they were. When I do choose to bring out my uniform and wear it for events I found the best response now when they see all the shinies is to say "yep. been a few places and did a few things".
I totally agree that a person that has never served putting on a uniform and claiming they have should be punished harshly. They should be called out at every opportunity and publicly humiliated. I respect every branch since I have deployed with all of them (even the Coasties). I weep for the future when people think they can just act like they earned something when they haven't done anything to earn it.

Well put CW04 Zimmerman, I agree nobody should be wearing our uniform as if it were a holloween costume, i feel that if we let this keep happening with no punishment to the imposters it would diminish the value of the uniform

We had a guy at the high school I went to, his brother was killed by an IED. He wore the uniform every year on the anniversary of his brother's death. Took all of the official insignia off first, though, and if anyone tried to thank him, he'd tell them it wasn't him they should thank. I think that would be, if not the appropriate way, then the path of least possible offense to do something like that.

That said, wearing it like this guy was doing? Just messed up.

I agree, making a scene can damage the service members reputation. I would rather see these folks go to jail and wear a differ uniform. At the least block them from enlisting.

As much as I would say to humiliate them in the public view you also have to think about your surroundings. Some people may agree with you and support you in doing so and others will sit there and bash you for doing so. No one who hasn't served should ever wear our uniform and I have and will question someone I think is doing so. But we all have to be tactful in how we do it. It's just another mission for us. Thats all.