What are your thoughts on "stolen valor hunters" and their drive to find cases?

SrA Christopher Wright - My bad thought it was.

You are so locked on they have been getting closer and closer to call out real VETS. The Problem is a lot of these guys on the big SV sites are older service members meaning they have been out for some time and times have changed. The problem now is as they get away from NAM vets and get the OIF/OEF types they don't have all the correct info and understand that you did not have to be a grunt to leave the wire and take contact they don't under stand the new type of warfare.

The past 15 years and conflicts and COIN operations the services have had to form all kind of Special Joint task forces and they would get troops from all branches and back grounds that would not normally be in a combat environment. Example I am a Navy Ground Combat support guy so you would expect some combat awards or statements coming from me. I was on JTF in 2010-11 in Iraq and we had all kind of military officers and NCO's from all back grounds and MOS's. The one I am keying on is we had a AirForce 1st LT that was a rocketeer or missileer. We were out in a meeting in one of the towns heading back to VBC (victory Base Complex Baghdad Iraq) and we took and IED to our VIC and the VIC Behind us and then RPG's and small arms fire we got off X real quick but took bad damage and he took some blows to the head and some other stuff. My point being he has every right to call him self a combat VET but when he tells people his MOS they question why he was in Iraq and left the wire.

I believe they are going to get it wrong more often because of the example above people have done jobs in harms way that never would have done this before. My IA Individual Augmentee Warrior Combat skills school) school had two Sub guys in it and they were going to AFG to work with a JTF. If someone was to here one of them claim they were Submariners, but was on ground in Iraq they would call them out. They need to be careful. One more some of them tried to call that female Army Gen out for having a SF combat patch on and they were wrong she was ok to wear it. That was a media source and one of the Stolen Valor blogs.

I can't claim to know what is going through these SV hunters' minds when they engage in these confrontations, as I've never served in any military branch. And I really respect those who have signed that blank check to protect my freedom. But, it seems to me (as a civilian) that they are mainly unstable individuals that are probably overcompensating for lack-luster performance while they actually served. It doesn't take valor to get in the face of a homeless person who is trying to get more out of panhandling and demand them to take off his uniform. It doesn't take valor to slap a skinny teen across the face. (I've seen both these things happen on YouTube videos).

These over-aggressive "hunters" often break the law by assaulting the individuals they are accusing of breaking the SV law. I think almost all service men and women would probably just give folks the benefit of the doubt and respectfully go on with their day when they suspect someone is falsley claiming to have served. Unfortunately, these hunters are staining the expectation civilians have of solders and sailors to behave in a disciplined and controlled manner.

Adam Cervantes - I just saw that a place I want to visit gives a 25% discount to active and retired military "WITH PROPER MILITARY IDs!" There's the solution to prevent people from breaking the law. No ID - No discount!

SrA Christopher Wright - Thank you!