Stolen Valor: How do you deal with these individuals?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 12:25:32 -0500

How do you deal with an individual when it comes to stolen valor?

Response by Sgt Jennifer Mohler made Nov 20 at 2014 12:36 PM

Sgt Jennifer Mohler — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 12:36:27 -0500

Do some digging while talking to them. Ask for a photo as if you are impressed with them, then take it to the police. Let them take it (or not) from there.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2014 2:51 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 14:51:24 -0500

SPC Private RallyPoint Member. We need a law that can be enforced on the books. That said, we also need to be very careful about how we handle these people . . . so we don't get in legal trouble ourselves . . . and we don't risk injury to ourselves or bystanders by some lunatic. Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2014 6:00 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 18:00:37 -0500

I know what I would like to do... and I know what I should do.

I would like to give the offender an attitude adjustment. What I should do, is verify, then call them out. If I am in a position to refer to law enforcement, do so. But, under no circumstances, lose my bearing or my mind and be the guy in cuffs at the end.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Dec 2 at 2014 9:18 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 21:18:04 -0500

I mean, you just can't make this up!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2014 9:29 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 21:29:28 -0500

How would I like to deal with stolen valor? With a swift and vicious throat punch. How would I actually deal with stolen valor? Much like most others apparently.

Step 1: Whip out my phone and record as much as possible while cajoling as much self incriminating information out of the individual as possible.

Step 2: Once the individual has dug themselves as deep as I can get them to shame them on the spot as publicly as possible as legally as possible.

Step 3: FLASH FLASH FLASH - Disseminate evidence as rapidly and widely as possible. Make this person as infamous as humanly possible and do everything in my power to make sure that anytime a future employer, or whoever, looks into their background they see this.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2014 10:46 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 22:46:42 -0500

One thing I've noticed about all these people is they all look harmless. Don't get me wrong. They need a good curb stomping, but I doubt any of them ever made it to school with their lunch money.

Response by SGT Ray Grooms made Mar 3 at 2015 6:51 PM

SGT Ray Grooms — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 18:51:31 -0500

I just leave them alone. They are suffering from some type of mental illness and should be given wide berth. One thing I absolutely do not do, and encourage other to do the same, is to tell them how I know they are faking. No need to give them the info they need to be more believable in the future. If they are "homeless" and begging for money, I advise anyone nearby that they are fake.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 21 at 2015 11:38 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Thu, 21 May 2015 11:38:05 -0400

If you feel comfortable doing so, approach the individual and engage him in conversation. Identify yourself and tell him what you suspect ... since he is in uniform, ask him for his ID.

Response by SGT David T. made May 21 at 2015 11:42 AM

SGT David T. — Thu, 21 May 2015 11:42:22 -0400

A jacked up uniform does not necessarily imply a case of stolen valor. You should see some of the jacked up uniforms I have run across on bases over the years. I don't usually get involved with outing them. Typically, I have better things to do with my time than try and out every pretender or embellisher I come across. That would be a full time job in itself. The other reason I don't bother with it is that we live in a very dangerous society and initiating a confrontation has the potential for it to escalate into violence. Again better things to do with my time than deal with a self defense scenario that could have been avoided in the first place. I understand not wanting to walk past a mistake, but I suppress that urge to avoid potential issues. Honestly, I didn't survive three combat deployments to risk getting shot over something that could be avoided. I prefer to let karma take its toll, because the pretenders will get theirs in the end.

Response by SPC Chad Kolod made May 21 at 2015 11:44 AM

SPC Chad Kolod — Thu, 21 May 2015 11:44:03 -0400

Before I asked for his ID I'd probably ask him some questions about his military service to gauge him. Maybe he is just a jacked up service member. Benefit of the doubt is a great tool. Than if all else fails or I truly suspect he is honey I Amy ask for his ID and see where it goes. I try to keep my temper at bay.

Response by PFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2015 11:54 AM

PFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 May 2015 11:54:32 -0400

Let me clarify what I mean by jacked up: he had 6 skill badges, ranger and special forces tabs on the right side of his uniform. Not to mention he was a specialist.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2015 12:00 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 May 2015 12:00:03 -0400

Ask him if he was smoking a very large crack pipe and if he was born stupid or had to work at it. After asking to see his CAC, of course

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2015 12:00 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 May 2015 12:00:40 -0400

1) Ask if he is in the military.

2) Ask to see his ID card.

3a) If he provides one, verify it is current, and legitimate.

3b) If he cannot provide an ID card, confront him about not having an ID card. At this point, he is more than likely guilty of Stolen Valor.

4) Correct his uniform deficiencies using military jargon that only a real military person would know, digging to see if he is guilty of Stolen Valor, and either confirm or deny your suspicions.

5) Follow him around and ensure that everyone he is trying to fool knows he is not a true Service Member, if he is.

Response by 1LT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2015 12:06 PM

1LT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 May 2015 12:06:40 -0400

What do you think I would have done Duffy???!!!!!

Response by SGT Dennis Sweet made May 21 at 2015 12:12 PM

SGT Dennis Sweet — Thu, 21 May 2015 12:12:50 -0400

Believe it or not, we discovered our VFW Post Commander was a perpetrator of Stolen Valor. I, and all our line officers, our Judge Advocate, State Commander and staff caught him in a secure location (no escape) and persuaded him to resign, then turned his written confession over to authorities.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made May 29 at 2015 11:00 AM

1SG Michael Blount — Fri, 29 May 2015 11:00:54 -0400

Don't even get me started on the subject of stolen valor via car license plates, decals or bumper stickers.

Response by SSG James Arlington made May 29 at 2015 11:15 AM

SSG James Arlington — Fri, 29 May 2015 11:15:21 -0400

Hitvthem in the wallet!

Response by CH (MAJ) William Beaver made May 29 at 2015 1:24 PM

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Fri, 29 May 2015 13:24:46 -0400

Colonel?? He's in the wrong fast food joint. Needs to find a KFC where greasy chicken feels more at home.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made May 29 at 2015 4:55 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Fri, 29 May 2015 16:55:18 -0400

Not defending anyone , but do remember most states have something separate form their national guard, called a state militia or State Military Reserve Force (also known as SMuRF's). Many of those people are former military, don' want to do NG, but still want to help out during disasters, medical issues, and training. They are normally limited to work in their own states. They hold rank, wear uniforms, but their uniform will not say U.S. Army. It will normally have the name of the state they represent. Don't get your self into a contest with some one who a uniform on who may have a tag that says California or Texas on it and a O-6 stuck on it. Often ones I have met are Doctor's, Lawyers, or prior service. They really are an O-6 in the SMuRF's, and somewhere they know a real 1 or 2 star that can help straighten you out.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made May 29 at 2015 11:00 PM

SSG Roger Ayscue — Fri, 29 May 2015 23:00:43 -0400

If they are wearing jump wings or a CIB I take them with me....then I really do try to embarrass them. Make a Fracktard look like a fracktard.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 29 at 2015 11:21 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Fri, 29 May 2015 23:21:50 -0400

How do I deal with it? I laugh at them, and I let them know that. These people amuse me. I don't get angry or try to assault them over it. I have some really good memes for stolen valor but for some reason I can't post pictures.

Response by SP5 Dennis Loberger made Aug 3 at 2019 11:16 PM

SP5 Dennis Loberger — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 23:16:11 -0400

One of the things that makes me wonder about what is wrong with the guy. If he was happy with who he is , would he need to be someone else?

Response by SSG Byron Hewett made Nov 23 at 2021 7:49 PM

SSG Byron Hewett — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 19:49:39 -0500

ask for Military ID if none available:
be polite, don't harass, gather pertinent information without bringing attention to yourself and turn it over to local authorities (i.e. physical description, name if found out, license plate.) leave it to the authorities to handle confrontations and to take care of that individual for what ever laws and or statutes that have been violated. remember we were and are the professional war fighters and need to hold our selves to a higher standard.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2022 9:20 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 21:20:27 -0400

What a yahoo. Shameful.

Response by SP5 Laurie Mixter made May 28 at 2023 11:24 AM

SP5 Laurie Mixter — Sun, 28 May 2023 11:24:40 -0400

That is toooo great!