Stolen Valor: The Military Perspective

PO3,
You are right to do what you did. I'm sorry I wasn't there to help.
I spent all my time in,1983-1989 4 active 2 inactive reserve, during peace time. I feel inadequate when folks thank me for my time. I explain to them that I am not deserving of any thanks but that I would pass it on to someone who was.
To hear about some glory seeking jerk ticks me off to no end.
Thank you for setting him straight. Thank you for your time.

Nicely done Sir. I wonder if Golden Corral made the guy pay for his food as they were kicking him out?

<p>Potential punishment should be HUGE community service requirement... OR - if the personal criteria is met, they should be conscripted into service and all cadre are to be made aware of their offense... in order for the offenders to get the taste of WHAT it&nbsp;MEANS to wear the uniform.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Or simply deport them into Afghanistan...</p>

Also, here are the current Laws on the books. Notice how nowhere in here does it say anything about punishment if they commit these offenses.<h1 class="entry-title">Laws</h1><!-- .entry-header --> <div class="entry-content"><p><strong>§771. Unauthorized wearing prohibited</strong></p><p>Except as otherwise provided by law, no person except a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, as the case may be, may wear—<br>(1) the uniform, or a distinctive part of the uniform, of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps; or<br> (2) a uniform any part of which is similar to a distinctive part of the uniform of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps.<br> (Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 34.)<br> Historical and Revision Notes<br> Revised section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large)<br> 771 10:1393 (1st par., less provisos). June 3, 1916, ch. 134, §125 (1st par., less provisos), 39 Stat. 216.<br> The words “Except as otherwise provided by law” are inserted to give effect to exceptions in other revised sections of this title and to provisions of other laws giving such organizations as the Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Public Health Service permission to wear military uniforms under certain conditions.</p><p><strong>§771a. Disposition on discharge</strong></p><p>(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), when an enlisted member of an armed force is discharged, the exterior articles of uniform in his possession that were issued to him, other than those that he may wear from the place of discharge to his home under section 772(d) of this title, shall be retained for military use.<br> (b) When an enlisted member of an armed force is discharged for bad conduct, undesirability, unsuitability, inaptitude, or otherwise than honorably—</p><p>(1) the exterior articles of uniform in his possession shall be retained for military use;<br> (2) under such regulations as the Secretary concerned prescribes, a suit of civilian clothing and an overcoat when necessary, both to cost not more than $30, may be issued to him; and<br> (3) if he would be otherwise without funds to meet his immediate needs, he may be paid an amount, fixed by the Secretary concerned, of not more than $25.</p><p>(c) When an enlisted member of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard who has been called into Federal service is released from that service, the exterior articles of uniform in his possession shall be accounted for as property issued to the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, as the case may be, of the State or territory, Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia of whose Army National Guard or Air National Guard he is a member, as prescribed in section 708 of title 32.<br> (Added Pub. L. 90–235, §8(1)(A), Jan. 2, 1968, 81 Stat. 763; amended Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title XII, §1234(a)(1), Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 2059.)<br> Amendments<br> 1988—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–456 struck out “the Canal Zone,” after “Puerto </p><p><strong>§772. When wearing by persons not on active duty authorized</strong></p><p>(a) A member of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard may wear the uniform prescribed for the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, as the case may be.<br> (b) A member of the Naval Militia may wear the uniform prescribed for the Naval Militia.<br> (c) A retired officer of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps may bear the title and wear the uniform of his retired grade.<br> (d) A person who is discharged honorably or under honorable conditions from the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps may wear his uniform while going from the place of discharge to his home, within three months after his discharge.<br> (e) A person not on active duty who served honorably in time of war in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps may bear the title, and, when authorized by regulations prescribed by the President, wear the uniform, of the highest grade held by him during that war.<br> (f) While portraying a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, an actor in a theatrical or motion-picture production may wear the uniform of that armed force if the portrayal does not tend to discredit that armed force.<br> (g) An officer or resident of a veterans’ home administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs may wear such uniform as the Secretary of the military department concerned may prescribe.<br> (h) While attending a course of military instruction conducted by the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, a civilian may wear the uniform prescribed by that armed force if the wear of such uniform is specifically authorized under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the military department concerned.<br> (i) Under such regulations as the Secretary of the Air Force may prescribe, a citizen of a foreign country who graduates from an Air Force school may wear the appropriate aviation badges of the Air Force.<br> (j) A person in any of the following categories may wear the uniform prescribed for that category:<br> (1) Members of the Boy Scouts of America.<br> (2) Members of any other organization designated by the Secretary of a military department.<br> (Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 35; Pub. L. 99–145, title XIII, §1301(a)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 735; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XVI, §1621(a)(1), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1602; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title V, §551(b), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2525.)</p></div>

Simple question: How do you feel Surplus Stores are contributing to the amount of Stolen Valor out there?

Lt. Col. Gerald H. Green III and his totally bogus uniform adventures

Green_LTC
I’m sure you remember Lt. Col. Gerald H. Green III in the picture above who was busted by folks when he was assigned as the commander of the Warrior Training Center at Fort Benning. Originally, he was busted for his Ranger Tab and his Sapper Tab. Investigators looked more closely at his uniform, according to the Army Times;

The investigation found Green hadn’t earned his Combat Action Badge or his Army Commendation Medal with valor device, wore air assault wings despite not graduating from air assault school, and “wrongfully certified his … personnel record that he had received the Expert Infantry Badge and a Presidential Unit Citation,” wrote the investigator, whose name was redacted.

I’m wondering, at this point, if he’s authorized to wear the buttons on his uniform. According to the article, Green claims that there was “a discussion of being put in for” a Combat Action Badge, so he just decided to pin it on. He dropped out of Air Assault School twice so I guess he figured that’s just like graduating from the very physical course.

The allegations against Green are being handled “through non-judicial and administrative action,” Fort Benning spokesman Gary Jones said in an email. “Charges under the UCMJ were not preferred against LTC Green. The Privacy Act precludes us from releasing the precise details of that action.”
[…]
Green remains on active duty at Benning, according to a spokesman with the National Guard Bureau. Details on his duty status were not immediately available, Jones said, and Green was away from the base the week of March 23.
Anyone else, who isn’t a field grade officer would be crying in their beer about being unemployed on Victory Drive right about now – but not this little cretin, who I’m told has flag officers protecting him. F*** this guy – that guy right there – f*** him!

Category: Shitbags

My retired Navy friend and I were just discussing this... There was certainly a time and place when one could and likely did get away with this... THIS is no longer those days.

I am in no way justifying Stolen Valor in any way, but it is one thing to be sitting in Podunk bar regaling the ladies with, "So there I was... in the thick...", but everything is so incredibly investigative and public now.

Seaman Special Snowflake got off easy in my opinion.

Sick of seeing people do this. And if he felt that "getting shot" would mean he accomplished something, he must have been confused. That just means you were unfortunate.

Oops - SOMEBODY made a mistake and now must pay. Good

I need to ask, though - how dumb is it to wear an unearned Purple Heart? That stands out like a sore thumb. However, you can't fix stupid.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/03/12/sailor-found-guilty-of-wearing-unearned-medals.html?comp= [login to see] 630&rank=1

"Cottom was sentenced Wednesday to a reduction to the lowest rank, a seaman recruit; 45 days' confinement; and half pay for two months"

I think he got off easy.