Stolen Valor?? Needing contact info to question someone's military claim, please?

2019-05-31T18:46:12-04:00

I work with a guy who is claiming to be a Marine veteran. But he doesn't act like one! How do I go about finding out if he was ever in the military?

Response by SGT Nicholas M. made May 31 at 2019 6:49 PM

2019-05-31T18:49:05-04:00

I would say the sentence, "He doesn't act like one" is actually all the proof you need to believe that he was a Marine haha! All jokes aside, tell him he isn't one, and then ask to see his discharge papers.

Here is the link to verify.

https://scra.dmdc.osd.mil/scra/#/single-record

SCRA Application Error

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 31 at 2019 7:15 PM

2019-05-31T19:15:36-04:00

You can submit a FOIA request to the NPRC to request publicly releasable records.

https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/foia-info

He may have served, he may also have been administratively separated before his EAS/ETS, or he just may be a jerk who also served.

foia-info

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made May 31 at 2019 8:48 PM

2019-05-31T20:48:42-04:00

Other posters have mentioned official channels. Unofficial methods include asking him about key information (boot camp location, MOS, duty stations, etc.) and asking real USMC veterans if they can corroborate.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2019 10:31 PM

2019-05-31T22:31:52-04:00

Once you found out than what? A narcissist would not beat an eyelash before hurting you, so you think it worth it?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2019 10:43 PM

2019-05-31T22:43:53-04:00

Is he smart and polite with a crayon-free diet?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2019 11:50 PM

2019-05-31T23:50:14-04:00

How can you tell someone is/was a Marine? They'll tell you within the first five minutes of meeting them. He sounds legit to me.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Jun 1 at 2019 11:46 AM

2019-06-01T11:46:30-04:00

What exactly is he stealing ?

Response by CPT Mike McMunn made Jun 1 at 2019 7:46 PM

2019-06-01T19:46:26-04:00

You can always tell a Marine; you just can't them him much. :)

Waiting for incoming from all my Marine friends.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2019 11:29 AM

2019-06-05T11:29:46-04:00

How do you not act like a veteran of a specific branch? Rude and lazy isn’t a good indicator.

Response by SFC Bill Snyder made Jun 5 at 2019 12:41 PM

2019-06-05T12:41:23-04:00

Suggestion: Mind your own business unless you have proof.

Response by SPC Nathan Hays made Jun 5 at 2019 1:06 PM

2019-06-05T13:06:14-04:00

You don't have the right to question someone's service simply because they don't fit the stereotype in your head.

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made Jun 5 at 2019 1:40 PM

2019-06-05T13:40:35-04:00

Give him some crayons. If he eats them, he's a Marine. If he doesn't he may not be. :)

Response by SSG Cecil Stroud Jr. made Jun 5 at 2019 3:02 PM

2019-06-05T15:02:17-04:00

Simple ask to see his DD214. He might tell you to pound sand, kick rocks or fuck off. Any of those replies just leave him be. You could get a brutal beating. If he says it is "classified" Simply inform him DD214's do not contain classified information. Schools, Awards and Assignments are not classified. If he continues to mouth off punch him in his mouth or between the eyes.

Response by SSG James Oliver Nathan Jr made Jun 5 at 2019 3:23 PM

2019-06-05T15:23:02-04:00

Well said Sir.

Response by Cpl Aj Phillips made Jun 5 at 2019 3:57 PM

2019-06-05T15:57:32-04:00

I know airmen that don’t act like airmen, does that mean they didn’t serve? Remember that Marines come from all walks of life, we aren’t robots. Some of us also assimilate better into civilian life than others. A lot of “grey men” in the Marine Corps that can blend in anywhere.

Response by Sgt David Vikeras made Jun 5 at 2019 4:05 PM

2019-06-05T16:05:57-04:00

As a Marine veteran, how am I supposed to act? My guess he doesn't agree with you and put up with your BS? What exactly is he stealing by claiming to be a Marine? I work with veterans on a daily basis and you cannot judge a veteran because they do not look or act like you want them to or what you deem inappropriate. Try being a decent person and talking to him before going off half cocked. He may have been through tough circumstances and doesn't need your BS dragging him down.

Response by SPC Scott Domogalla made Jun 5 at 2019 4:06 PM

2019-06-05T16:06:36-04:00

If he isn’t using it For gain, it is not illegal nor against the law. As frustrating and angering as it is, idiots are among us. We cannot tar and feather them anymore, we put safeties on everything so natural selection doesn’t work, and they breed. The best thing to do, is tell him he is a liar and a fake, If was, well you are probably going to have a trigger by the tail. If not, he is a turd and not worth your time nor your anger.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2019 4:23 PM

2019-06-05T16:23:35-04:00

Just ask him specific information, and if can’t answer you correctly than you know. Friend of mine came to me a few weeks ago about her boyfriend claiming to be a Marine, but to her it didn’t add up. So, I asked her to ask him some very general and specific questions about the Marine Corps and he got all of them incorrect, it’s about let me know he never served. Then to top it all off, he said that he was hurt in Boot Camp and they let them go to his unit before they discharged him, which would never happen.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Jun 5 at 2019 6:30 PM

2019-06-05T18:30:25-04:00

Amn Cassandra Lynn Does this look like a Marine Veteran to you?
Be guaranteed that it is. Semper Fi

Response by PO3 David Davis made Jun 5 at 2019 6:49 PM

2019-06-05T18:49:07-04:00

He has a mental illness.

Response by PO3 Brendan "Smitty" Smith made Jun 5 at 2019 10:40 PM

2019-06-05T22:40:30-04:00

You have to remember that the military is a cross-section of society. People of all walks of life, attitudes and personalities. I would say, unless he's saying some really outlandish stuff, or he was using veteran status to reap some type of monetary benefits (which falls under the revised Stolen Valor Act) I wouldn't worry about it too much.

But, as others have suggested, approach him as if you are interested in his service. Ask his MOS? Ask where he went to Boot and AIT? Where did he serve? How long did he serve? What rank did he achieve? Then take your results to someone who you know is a vet. If his answers check out, you know you can drop it and do so without having falsely accused someone.

If they don't check out, then move ahead with the FOIA request as posted below. Even with proof-in-hand, I still wouldn't advise approaching them about it. You never know how someone will act when confronted. Better just to give the info to the guys at Stolen Valor and let them handle it.

Response by SPC Donn Sinclair made Jun 6 at 2019 6:49 AM

2019-06-06T06:49:14-04:00

You don't. As long as he's not making any profit off it, he can claim to be anything he wants. I don't like it either, but that's the way it is. If it's any consolation, these guys usually trip themselves up, so the problem takes care of itself.

Response by SSG Tom Montgomery made Jun 23 at 2019 11:15 PM

2019-06-23T23:15:47-04:00

Be respectful but have someone who is familiar with the military, especially USMC have a casual conversation. The will know without being obvious or disrespectful. If you find the person is a fake, take him aside, privately and discuss it.