What is the most ate-up you've ever seen a service member (real or not)?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 15:50:09 -0400

I once saw a guy claiming to be an Air Force Major. Almost believable, if he were indoors. But here is where he messed up:
-Pin on MAJ rank on the collar with Ssgt stripes sewn into the sleeve
-UCP patrol cap with no rank.
-ABU tiger-stripe uniform with sand tan boots on.
-Couldn't have been older than 25 (you know any 25 year old Majors?).

What have you seen, RallyPoint?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2016 3:56 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 15:56:10 -0400

I also had a guy walk right past me at a Food Lion in North Carolina who was just ASKING to get stopped. Picture this:

-Wearing multicam (deployment) uniform
-No nametape (top, or headgear)
-BG star on headgear
-Tan PO2 (Navy) rank on his chest, where Army rank goes.
-Hair was DEFINITELY out of regs.
-Boots unbloused (not even the authorized boots anyway.
-Top was too small/trousers were too large.
-Wore a green shirt underneath his top.
And just to top it all off; walking and talking on a cell phone.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2016 4:00 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 16:00:34 -0400

I saw an "Army Colonel" in BDUs at an air show assisting with the Civil Air Patrol. This was over 10 years ago when Army still used BDUs. I noticed no glaring uniform deficiencies; I was small talking, not even suspicious at first, but as I asked questions, his answers raised red flags, especially when i asked for his email. He have me an Army.COM. I asked for his work email with an army.MIL. (At that time it was thru AKO) He said he didn't have one that's what he used. I looked him up on AKO--nothing. I also looked at a commercial website that lists many veterans. He was listed as a former Air Force E4. I shared that info. with other CAP members who also had as suspicion,

Response by TSgt David L. made Aug 16 at 2016 4:05 PM

TSgt David L. — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 16:05:15 -0400

LOL

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 16 at 2016 4:23 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 16:23:58 -0400

You'll usually see it one medical types who are anointed with rank and then not shown how to look it. When I was the Staff Civil Engineer for NRMC CAMPEN, we had a German shrink who naturalized and was brought in as a CDR then CAPT. He was one of the first experts looking into "Battle Fatigue" which later morphed into PTSD and the head of the Neuropsych Ward. So we had this dress blues inspection. He came out wearing the white shirt with jacket, but with a bow tie, white pants, white shoes, and a beret so he looked flashy Euro type. The SEL just groaned and escorted him back to the building where he happily dumped everything for his comfy lab coat.

Sometimes uniform busts are created. Our Regimental Skipper forgot his tie for a dress blues inspection out on Treasure Island. But he came out wearing one. Then I noticed the junior Ensign at the end of the line wearing a black sock stapled to his shirt. Skipper remarked how sharp he looked when he passed by. Life goes on.....

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2016 4:27 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 16:27:02 -0400

Not that I experienced but a buddy of mine did. He was reclassing to medic and in that course, there was this new boot going thru the course that was wearing the Ranger tab (Boot was a PFC). No one thought to question it (why, I don't know) until a full blooded Ranger tabbed Medic instructor saw it. As the story goes, the instructor started to ask the simple questions of what the Ranger Creed is and what his class # was. Kid didn't know the answer to either one. From what was told, that kid did not stay in the Army for too much longer after that.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2016 4:28 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 16:28:37 -0400

They seem legit to me.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2016 6:10 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 18:10:14 -0400

Had a guy in my AIT getting chaptered for asthma (go figure). Wound up seeing him on "people you may know" on Facebook about a year and a half later in uniform with SSG rank on. Thought it was funny, forwarded his profile to a few buddies from AIT.

Response by CPL Anthony Slaughter made Aug 16 at 2016 7:18 PM

CPL Anthony Slaughter — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 19:18:43 -0400

This guy is my favorite right here.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Aug 16 at 2016 7:40 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 19:40:35 -0400

Sailors commit some silly acts upon crossing the equator.

Response by CPL Borge Zierke made Aug 16 at 2016 8:56 PM

CPL Borge Zierke — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 20:56:15 -0400

I once saw my Supply SSgt passed out Naked on our barracks stairs w/ a pile of shot next to him.

Response by CPL Borge Zierke made Aug 16 at 2016 8:56 PM

CPL Borge Zierke — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 20:56:56 -0400

Shit!

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2016 10:07 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 22:07:54 -0400

Not necessarily 8-up, but pretty funny... I was asked to go grab something from the S-6 shop last year (this is when OCP just came out) and I grabbed an LT's patrol cap on accident and I was getting salutes from NCO's (I was a PFC) and was extremely confused... I will never forget that day haha

Response by CW3 Matt Hutchason made Aug 16 at 2016 10:44 PM

CW3 Matt Hutchason — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 22:44:35 -0400

Me. Talk about ate up..... I was a CW2 at the time. We were in the field at Bragg on the last day of the exercise. The Battalion had already gone back to the base, we were the last company out there. Our 1SG said "The CSM wants us to camo up for the trip back". Being the ever belligerent smart ass CW2 that I was, I did the camo thing, but under protest. I even flew back with it and left it on the rest of the day. How did it look?

Response by SPC(P) Alexandra Hinds made Aug 17 at 2016 7:00 AM

SPC(P) Alexandra Hinds — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 07:00:01 -0400

My Husband and I were driving through his old trailer park where he grew up when he saw a Boot (a Marine out of Boot Camp) walking around in his uniform without a cover, his hair was not to regulations whatsoever, his trouser were unlaced and he was wearing some type of Officer rank on his collar even though he could barely pass for 21. I had to spin the wheel around from the passenger side since he wanted to get out and literally, beat his face in. Needless to say, that was a very quiet ride home.

Response by MSgt Marshall Schiller made Aug 17 at 2016 11:31 AM

MSgt Marshall Schiller — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 11:31:57 -0400

Me, as I was getting dressed one morning and realized that when the base cleaners had updated my hash marks, they had put EVERY set on the wrong blouse sleeves (6 sets)! Went in wearing class "B" for a couple of days, and froze my azz off while they got repaired!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2016 1:42 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 13:42:39 -0400

Saw a Army Major in a DFAC in Daenner Kaserne about 10 years ago. It was when we wore BDU's with sew-on Flag patch. I noticed his flag was upside down and I told him. He looked at me like I was stupid until I pointed to it then I walked away. I watched from across the room as he cut it off with a butter knife.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2016 3:32 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 15:32:52 -0400

I went to the field and didn't bring SPC OCP Velcro rank so I for some reason I had PFC OCP rank. I turned the PFC rank upside down and colored the middle in with a sharpie. I got a couple dirty looks.

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Aug 17 at 2016 3:44 PM

MSG Dan Castaneda — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 15:44:45 -0400

I saw an SF E-8 (MSG) walking to his car from the PX while talking on his phone, no head gear, sleeves rolled up twice and one hand in his pocket. Oh wait a minute that was me. Disregard.

Response by CAPT Dave Woodard made Aug 19 at 2016 1:32 PM

CAPT Dave Woodard — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 13:32:18 -0400

Once when conducting a personnel inspection, there was an old O-5 physician in the back row with about 8 rows of ribbons (alert #1), got up close, and no National Defense (alert #2), examined the ribbons again, and there were four (4) Philippine Defense ribbons, some with stars and "v" and "hourglass". Couldn't even ask the unit CO what was up since both of use were trying very hard not to roll on the floor.

Response by SGT Charles Black made Aug 19 at 2016 4:09 PM

SGT Charles Black — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 16:09:19 -0400

I was shopping for boots at the clothing sales at Ft. Sam Houston when a group of newly sworn nurses came in under the watchful eye of a drill sergeant. They had a specific list of what to buy, but one male nurse started eyeing the award bars. He picked up a couple and put them in his cart. His buddy asked if it was OK to buy those. He said "Sure, why not?" I interruptes "Excuse me sir, but that one is a silver star and the other one is Distinguished Service Cross. You have to get shot at before you can wear those". The LT glanced at the drill sgt., who had his "don't mess with me" face on. The LT hung the bars back up.

The drill and I shared satisfied grins.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2016 4:39 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 16:39:41 -0400

Similar to SGT Private RallyPoint Member , after promotion to 1LT I used a sharpie to color in the bar on my BDUs. It would wash out, so I colored it each time. I'm not really cheap, I prefer the term frugal.

Response by SSgt Zacharias Scaringello made Aug 19 at 2016 10:13 PM

SSgt Zacharias Scaringello — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 22:13:05 -0400

Surprisingly no ass chewing for this incident.

I was a week from sewing on E-4 and decided to ready aome uniforms with new tapes and rank. Rather than pay the dollar extra to have them take off the old ones I did it myself.

So in the morning, I put on my uniform and went to the BX before work in my BDUS. I got some weird looks, which I just attributed to being a white guy with a shaving waiver. Mind you, this is Langley AFB which is by no means a small base and it was the BX around mid morning.

As I left I stopped and gave a woman some directions and after getting some weird looks from her and realized that I had been wandering around a MAJCOM headquarters base, post 9/11, in BDUS with no tapes or rank, and a beard.

I'm surprised I wasn't tackled by Security Forces.

Response by 1stSgt Troy Seals made Aug 20 at 2016 10:29 AM

1stSgt Troy Seals — Sat, 20 Aug 2016 10:29:15 -0400

At a car dealership, buying my daughter a car, guy had wooden 1st Force Recon wings hanging on his wall. I asked about them, he said, "Yeah three tours in Nam' When, I asked, 1967-68-69. Where, I said. Phu Bi, Camp Evans, Hue, Khe Sanh, Quang Tri province. Funny, I said. I worked on a team in most of those places at the same time you were there. Small brotherhood, never heard of you. "Oh, I only did CIA missions." Guy had an answer for everything, problem was, they were lies. His business catd even had the cracked skull and crossbones on it and 1st Recon Battalion. I didn't buy a car.

Response by SSgt Michael Hacker made Aug 21 at 2016 9:15 AM

SSgt Michael Hacker — Sun, 21 Aug 2016 09:15:35 -0400

Back when we had the distinction between SrA/Sgt, I knew a lot of new sergeants who colored in their star with a blue marker. Some did a better job of coloring in the lines than others...

Response by MSG Lloyd Hausam made Aug 21 at 2016 6:27 PM

MSG Lloyd Hausam — Sun, 21 Aug 2016 18:27:49 -0400

In Germany I was part of 2nd COSCOM on Nelligan Barracks. (Long Gone after the wall fell) The COSCOM CSM was being considered for for a new CSM position higher up the chain of command. Upon reviewing his 201 file he was never in a combat zone as an infantryman, yet he had been wearing a CIB for years. - - -- He disappeared. Put on terminal leave and immediately retired.

Response by SGT Robert Wagner made Aug 22 at 2016 3:35 PM

SGT Robert Wagner — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 15:35:23 -0400

a buddy apparently messed his Nomax uniform, so he showed up to our Tank and the Lt stopped and looked at him, did say a word. I looked over to see what the Lt was looking at. This guy had taken my dirty Nomax out of my laundry bag and wore it. So now there were two Wagner's on this Tank... I was pretty upset with him.
But he did look funny since I am 6'1" and he was 5'5".

Response by SPC Karen Ritter made Aug 22 at 2016 10:52 PM

SPC Karen Ritter — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 22:52:37 -0400

The other day I was walking into my local Walmart and there was an E7 SFC parked next to me.... He proceeded to take off his PT Cap and top and walked into Walmart. I then asked him what he was doing and that he was not in proper uniform. He told me to F* off and mind my own business, that I had no right to tell him he was out of uniform. Luckily I am medically retired out and 100% disabled vet and there's nothing he could do to mess that up. I told him, it doesn't matter who I am, but I got hurt in Iraq serving my country and for you to dishonor the uniform I treasure so much is a disgrace. I probably would have turned him in, but he was on R&R from Afghanistan so I had a little sympathy for him, since he claimed he just got back in country and his wife made him go to Walmart before he came home.

Response by SN Jim McCormick made Aug 22 at 2016 11:49 PM

SN Jim McCormick — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 23:49:18 -0400

Not "ate up", but definitely a "did I just see that???" More than a few years back, a pal and I were at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio (I recommend it highly!). We had been through the first and second halls, and my buddy elbows me- "check THIS gomer out". I look over, and there is a guy, in a full WW2 Luftwaffe uniform (not flight, just the standard uniform). He had left off all of the REALLY obnoxious stuff, so, no swastikas were showing. We decided to follow this guy, cuz, at that time, the only people that dressed up like Natzis, were, well, Natzis!. Finally, my pal goes over to him, and says "Hey, Galland! How's it going?". Well, the guy looked relieved. He said that, up until that point, (3pm)nobody had said boo to him about his uniform, that they just figured he was air force. Turns out he was a hard core re-enactor, and he and his cronies had made a bet that nobody would notice a slightly toned down Luftwaffe pilot walking around the Air Force Museum. I have to think that more than a few WW2 vets did notice, but didn't call him on it.........

Response by Cpl Robert Robertson made Aug 23 at 2016 12:17 PM

Cpl Robert Robertson — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 12:17:10 -0400

Saw a maggot claimed to be a marine.
pockets unbuttoned and cover pulled on like a ball cap
Case closed

Response by SGT Reed Cundiff made Aug 23 at 2016 2:30 PM

SGT Reed Cundiff — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 14:30:37 -0400

While in 101st in 1965, a PFC had a fatigue jacket he used to terrorize cherry jumpers. He had an 82nd combat patch, 2nd award of CIB, master wings, Ranger tab, Recondo, Jungle Expert, etc and then had taken a SPEC-7 chevrons and put a Sgt chevrons upside down, effectively a non-existent SPEC-10. He also had the name tag of Rock. Unfortunately for him, the CSM for HQ and support Bde who had the MOH (I think he and Millette were the only two MOHs in Division at that time) wandered through and caught this guy. The PFC was panicked and for good reasons. The CSM looked at him "Hmm, Sgt Rock, OK 82nd combat patch like me, master wings with two combat drops like me, three up and three down, Spec-10, you must be the Specialist of the Army. OK, kids what's you name?" The kid gave his name (I still remember it but shall not give it). "OK, PFC, look out the window at that Dempsey Dumpster. Run as fast as you can and toss that jacket into the Dumpster and report immediately!" The PFC was most worried for weeks. The CSM handled it perfectly.
Reed Cundiff (erstwhile ATL and TL with 173rd LRRP 1966-67)

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2016 2:36 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 14:36:00 -0400

AMEDD BOLC. You name it, and the O5 doctors who had just bought their uniforms the week before did it. It was funny watching the O3 instructors try and herd the cats.

Response by CW4 Larry Curtis made Aug 23 at 2016 3:19 PM

CW4 Larry Curtis — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 15:19:32 -0400

This may not necessarily be IAW the desired topic...but I DID find it rather humorous since I, too, play guitar. HAHAHAHA.

Response by SSG Johnnie Snow made Aug 23 at 2016 3:23 PM

SSG Johnnie Snow — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 15:23:17 -0400

I have to admit that I messed up one time before I finally got my sew on's I had accidentally put an airborne qualification badge (pin on) over the air assault one. Luckily my Platoon sgt. was nice enough to not chew me a new one and pointed it out, LOL What can I say I was exhausted as it was.

Response by PO3 Jeff Mixon made Aug 23 at 2016 3:50 PM

PO3 Jeff Mixon — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 15:50:26 -0400

My all time favorite.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Aug 23 at 2016 4:40 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 16:40:24 -0400

1986, a fellow officer during a bachelor party..

Response by SFC Steve Renner made Aug 23 at 2016 5:00 PM

SFC Steve Renner — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 17:00:28 -0400

maybe he was a sergeant major

Response by SFC Steve Renner made Aug 23 at 2016 5:15 PM

SFC Steve Renner — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 17:15:40 -0400

one time many years ago when i was a young PFC, the rank pin on my headgear broke, so i took it off as it was just hanging there......so who do i bump into but our very hardcore company commander...he naturally stops me....he looks at me and says.....does this mean i can make you either an E3 or an E1 ?......i says....uh...no sir?....he says?....no?...no?.....the FK i cant

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2016 6:04 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 18:04:06 -0400

My favorite is watchin junior sailors forget their cover and walk outside with their hand on the top of their head to go.

Response by SPC Chris Young made Aug 23 at 2016 6:22 PM

SPC Chris Young — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 18:22:40 -0400

Kind of related, I was in the 82nd in the 93, we had a spec 4 ets-ing, after he cleared he got his DD214, on it he had a ranger tab and master wings, he had never been to ranger school and wasn't a jump master, he told us he was gonna lay out for a year then re-enlist with that DD214, I just feel sorry for the guys he had to JMPI.

Response by LCpl Steve Smith made Aug 23 at 2016 6:52 PM

LCpl Steve Smith — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 18:52:17 -0400

I was on the Rock (Okinawa, Jp.) with 3/5 Hanging out in the mechanics bay at the Motor Pool in the morning when our SgtMaj. Shows up with no Chevrons on and our O.I.C. says to him good morning Privet. SgtMaj. with ashocked look on his face touches his lapels turns around and runs for his apartment lol.

Response by SGM Harvey Boone made Aug 23 at 2016 7:11 PM

SGM Harvey Boone — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 19:11:35 -0400

We can all look back and see where we screwed up in our military career and hope we learned from them some funny some not so funny but we survived or we wouldn't be talking now right. Pick up move on and Hooah!

Response by SSG Gerald King made Aug 23 at 2016 7:17 PM

SSG Gerald King — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 19:17:55 -0400

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0Sx_rWNf7s

Stolen Valor "Stolen and I Know It"

From the great team at Ranger Up. See more of their videos on their channel RangerUpVideo... Also visit their website http://RangerUp.com

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2016 7:31 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 19:31:35 -0400

Stupid run deep in wan-a-bees.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2016 7:42 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 19:42:54 -0400

Fat people in uniform. Just fat. I can't even get past the fatness to hear what they are saying. The neck thing jiggles and the buttons on the uniform are screaming. Of course it's all because of shin splints, but that's beside the point. Makes me want to punch a bag of babies.

Response by CDR Michael Goldschmidt made Aug 23 at 2016 9:18 PM

CDR Michael Goldschmidt — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 21:18:39 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member, I guess your guy was a SSgt Major!

Response by MSgt Daniel Armstrong made Aug 24 at 2016 5:13 AM

MSgt Daniel Armstrong — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 05:13:54 -0400

On the back side of the base was a mock up of a Minuteman III ICBM Launch Facility.
Annual Force on Force requirement were carried out on it, with Security Police Teams conducting recapture exercises/evaluations.
On the back side of base was also the horse stables.
On one recap exercise, this Lieutenant stopped at the stable, saddled up her horse, arrived on scene on horse back. Conducted mounted command and control, scouting, direction of troop moments and fire operations.
Funny as hell.

Response by CW2 Ernest Krutzsch made Aug 24 at 2016 5:44 AM

CW2 Ernest Krutzsch — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 05:44:21 -0400

When I was in Basic Training at Fort Polk they arrested a Private for impersonating a Captain, he would have gotten away with it except for one little detail. He was wearing Cotton, Starched Khaki's...The MP's knew that no Officer wore Cotton, they all bought TW's (This will make sense to old soldiers)

Response by SGT John Salmon made Aug 24 at 2016 7:54 AM

SGT John Salmon — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 07:54:22 -0400

Any soldier wearing spurs and a blue cowboy hat...

Response by 1SG Howard Hazelwood made Aug 24 at 2016 8:57 AM

1SG Howard Hazelwood — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 08:57:30 -0400

we had gotten back from a 30 day field problem late and turned in weapons and got back to the barracks about 0130. first call was 0600. One guy came running out in formation with the left side of his BDU's ironed and starched, the other side he forgot to do. yep, that was me!

Response by PO1 Robert Harris made Aug 24 at 2016 10:28 AM

PO1 Robert Harris — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 10:28:10 -0400

Would that make him a sergeant major? It sounds like this guy was all ate up?

Response by SGT Jim Kelly made Aug 24 at 2016 11:57 AM

SGT Jim Kelly — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 11:57:52 -0400

I was Air Force from 1971 to 1975 and re-entered the service in 1981. But this time Army and was going through basic (again) at Ft Benning. Flying out of Atlanta, Ga returning to Cleveland, Ohio I had been stopped by several MPs inquiring of the ribbons I was wearing just coming out of basic. It was no issue on my part and totally understood why. I had asked this one MP if I could hang close to him and we were having a cup of coffee when this your troop came strutting toward us. This kids had bought about every ribbon and medal he could get before leaving Ft. Benning on his way home to impress his girl and parents. He trickled with fruit salad. He even had the 82nd Air Borne patch on one shoulder and the 101st Air Borne on the other. He was wearing a Major cluster on his Leadership tab and Sergeant stripes on his sleeve When the MP approached this gung ho troop and asked what he though he was, the troop replied "A Sergeant Major" then looked at the MP as if he was an idiot. Never seen that troop or MP after that. ROFLMAO

Response by 1SG Harold Piet made Aug 24 at 2016 11:59 AM

1SG Harold Piet — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 11:59:48 -0400

While I was 1SG , one of the LT in the company limping down the hall of the orderly room with sock feet, because his feet hurt from the 12 mile road march we just completed. I jumped his carcass and then took him to the CO who was AASLT and ABN. who crawled his carcass for looking like a wuss in front of the troops.

Response by MSgt Raymond Stettner made Aug 24 at 2016 12:41 PM

MSgt Raymond Stettner — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 12:41:46 -0400

When I was stationed at USAF Hospital Mather in the late 70's there was a doctor who always seemed to write his notes and prescriptions like another doc on base. Turns out he was a professional "faker" who presented fake medical credentials to the medical recruiter and was commissioned a major! Got caught when he had to do a surgical rotation. Whoops!

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2016 12:54 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 12:54:46 -0400

I have never had the chance to run into a person playing themselves off as military. I wish I would. Just to call them out.

Response by SPC Marc Ladd made Aug 24 at 2016 1:50 PM

SPC Marc Ladd — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 13:50:46 -0400

in 2001 we had a Janitor at Wal-mart who claimed to deploying with 5th SF Group he said he was going to Fort Benning , I asked him when 5th Group moved there ? He said they have always been there , I said ok when did they leave Fort Campbell he said What ? He was confussed and started stuttering The kicker was he had a SF tab on his right arm and left arm , plus other foreign jump wings he could not Identify , I advised him to take the sh** off ,he walked out and I saw him a couple of weeks later and was working at McDonalds ...

Response by LT Dave Martin made Aug 24 at 2016 2:48 PM

LT Dave Martin — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 14:48:04 -0400

Back in 1982 I was working secondary at Customs in Philadelphia when a passenger from Air Jamaica presented himself in a set of Whites and an HM2 crow on his sleeve. His whites were unpressed, unwashed and about 3 sizes too large. As an ID he gave me a Geneva Convention card. I asked him where he was going and he said to the Philadelphia Naval Hospital (Phila Navy Yard was still open at the time and the hospital was going strong, in fact my son was born there.) I asked him what he saw when he looked out the hospital window, and he said New York. We called the Navy Yard and they took him to the brig, and I got in trouble because they gave him a really "hard" time. I should have just put him back on the plane to Jamaica. The name stenciled in his dixie cup matched the name of another passenger on the flight...he also went to the brig.

Response by SGT Michael Scruggs made Aug 24 at 2016 3:00 PM

SGT Michael Scruggs — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 15:00:04 -0400

I was promoted from E2 to E3. The next morning I set my new rank in the same pinholes. My platoon Sgt told me to fix before he saw me again. I got busy and forgot about it. That was the last time I forgot anything SFC Edwards ever told me. He had me climb the ropes until I fell from them. My uniform was always dead on after that.

Response by CW2 Ernest Krutzsch made Aug 24 at 2016 3:36 PM

CW2 Ernest Krutzsch — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 15:36:51 -0400

I was in Korea and a SFC was yelling at an Airman telling him that his black tee shirt was not within regulations and he needed to remove it and go change, I pulled him to the side and told him that Air Force was authorized Black tees, he was utterly embarrassed

Response by CW2 Ernest Krutzsch made Aug 24 at 2016 3:47 PM

CW2 Ernest Krutzsch — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 15:47:03 -0400

In AIT, I went to Leesville and had Dog Tags that had my religion as TAC AIR, The DS was conducting inspection, he saw that and asked What the hell is this? I told him you can pray to god all you want, but if you call for TAC AIR, shit happens, He laughed and told me to get rid of that shit

Response by SP5 Michael Miser made Aug 24 at 2016 5:05 PM

SP5 Michael Miser — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 17:05:00 -0400

When I was at Ft. Campbell, I would drive an hour from my hometown to work. One morning I accidentally grabbed 2 right boots when leaving. I tried my best not to draw attention to it. I lived too far away to fix it. Of course they noticed and decided that I needed to do a 12 mile road March. Hurt like hell, but I didn't tell them! Afterwards I had to waddle around the battalion screaming "I'm Fred the duck and I'm fucked up!" We laugh about it now.

Response by SFC Wayne Theilen made Aug 24 at 2016 5:11 PM

SFC Wayne Theilen — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 17:11:56 -0400

I was wearing a drivers badge once with the wrong hanging tab for grenades. And one morning I was half asleep and put on 2 recruiting badges. One on each pocket. Went to the MEPs got pulled aside. And when asked at 0530 why I had 2 badges on. I replied I was that damn good.

Response by Maj Cj Sweesy made Aug 24 at 2016 6:50 PM

Maj Cj Sweesy — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 18:50:01 -0400

I was in Coronado in 1994....saw a fella in full navy whites, LTJG rank...Seal Trident....ribbons ( including the Vietnam service with 2 oak leafs) .....when asked what Team he " Commanded" he said Team Five! Unfortunately for him my best friend was with me.......and 3 of his Teamates .... You guessed it..... They WERE on Seal Team 5....I'll just say I left in a hurry...and rumor has it he left by ambulance...in his underwear...not sure what happened to the uniform

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2016 6:50 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 18:50:02 -0400

So no shit, there I was in Korea...

We had a Class A (precursor to the ASUs of today) inspection one day. My section's E-5 came down completely flip-flopped: what went on the right was on the left, and vice versa. It was such an abomination that I could not contain my outrage.

Response by SPC Burke Easter made Aug 24 at 2016 8:18 PM

SPC Burke Easter — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 20:18:28 -0400

I once saw a guy with his hands in his pockets outside the company entrance at Brag.

Response by SFC Stef T made Aug 24 at 2016 9:31 PM

SFC Stef T — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 21:31:10 -0400

Year 1978, while driving for a Col. he handed me an envelope to give to a Battery Commander when I got off duty. I lived in the same barracks as his office. I knocked on the 1SG office and was told to come in. The man behind the desk was a SFC and I had never seen him before. As i walked in I addressed him as "Sergeant" and started to hand him the envelope. I was quickly corrected and told to address him as 1SG only. That ass chewing lasted for about 5 minutes. To this day I do not know if he was simply in the position or promotable. I said OK, handed him the envelope and said it was for the Battery Commander. A week later the Col. did the same thing to me. He handed me another envelope for the Battery Commander. I knocked on the 1SG door again and was told to come in. I again approached his desk and said I had another letter for the Battery Commander from the Col. The 1SG lookedup and took the envelope. I glanced at his rank but kept my mouth shut. He had gone and bought 1SG collar stripes and cut the bottom rocker off. A regular SFC stripe with a diamond in the middle. He didn't know who I worked for but he soon did. After dropping off the Col. I went straight to the CSM and told him what I saw. After a 30 minute ass chewing given to that 1SG by the CSM he never spoke to me again and I moved out of the barracks when I got married shortly afterwards.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2016 11:31 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 23:31:00 -0400

Coming out of a chow hall at Ellsworth AFB, I'm a young impressionable airman (small a) and I see this guy in short sleeve blues. This guy has a mini afro and Chief stripes on. He looked young for a Chief...the ones we always saw were old, grizzled Chiefs who were ready to retire, because...well, Ellsworth. So my friends and I question him...

"Chief, if you don't mind me asking, how old are you?"
"Heh, I get that a lot. I'm 35."
"And you made Chief at 35?"
"Yeah, just pinned on."

My friends and I would have started digging deeper until this Master Sergeant comes out of the chow hall, "Ready to go, Chief?" and you could hear the collective thud of our jaws hitting the ground. He was legit. Turns out this guy was single, ate, slept, breathed Air Force, and studied his PFE every day for an hour before bed. "It puts me to sleep. But after a while, you start to memorize the thing, it's crazy" he said. He joined at 17 and made rank his first time every time he tested. 17-18 years later, he pins Chief.

Response by SPC Gene Delgado made Aug 25 at 2016 2:12 AM

SPC Gene Delgado — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 02:12:33 -0400

fucking NG soldiers everywhere....

Response by SPC Gene Delgado made Aug 25 at 2016 2:15 AM

SPC Gene Delgado — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 02:15:20 -0400

Or me in my profile pic. Kunar bitch

Response by CPT Earl George made Aug 25 at 2016 5:49 AM

CPT Earl George — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 05:49:32 -0400

yes. At the height of Vietnam, it was not unusual for 1year as a 2lt,1 year as a 1lt,3 years as a CPT and then get promoted to major. I had one instructor at ROTC summer Camp who was a Major and was going to be 26 in a few weeks.

Response by SFC Bruce Pettengill made Aug 25 at 2016 12:00 PM

SFC Bruce Pettengill — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 12:00:44 -0400

Drill Sergeant Battalion, XO Maj, had a pair of jungle boots civilian made that had a camo pattern, also had his Name and US ARMY (no name tapes) embroidered directly onto his BDU's

Response by SSgt Boyd Welch made Aug 25 at 2016 12:22 PM

SSgt Boyd Welch — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 12:22:51 -0400

My motorcycle group works with homeless vets. Unfortunately there are a lot of "copycats" that use a fatigue jacket from the local surplus store to rally aid from those who don't know any better. Had a guy (approx. 35-40)who approached for a handout tell me he was a Vietnam vet. I said "well sir thank you for your service. What unit did you serve with and where?" His answer was 101st Airborne. I asked him what years? He said 85-86. I asked if that was his service jacket. He said yes. I said well let me tell you, that's an Air Force field jacket with two stripes on the sleeve with the blue shaded star. I don't think the Airborne folks would like one of their members wearing that jacket and Vietnam was long over by '85. So he says" Well am I getting the money or not?"

Response by 1stLt Ro Gra made Aug 25 at 2016 3:07 PM

1stLt Ro Gra — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 15:07:45 -0400

Clearly he was a Sgt Major.... duh

Response by SCPO Larry Poffenbarger made Aug 25 at 2016 4:37 PM

SCPO Larry Poffenbarger — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 16:37:26 -0400

Back in the 50's I had Shore Patrol duty on East Main in Norfolk. Any of you old salts who were in Norfolk back then know what East Main was. For the uninformed, it was a strip of bars, a couple of strip joints, pawn shops and uniform stores. Kind of an unwritten rule that Officer types didn't visit East Main as some young sailor who had over indulged may get out of line. My partner a I encountered a Commander with a full chest of ribbons and an attractive young lady on his arm. We politely informed him that East Main probably wasn't the best place to spend the evening and explained why. He told us that he would be leaving and we let it go at that. On our next round we ran into him again and again explained the problem of an Officer being in an area like that with a bunch of drunk young enlisted folks. He none too politely informed us that he was a Senior Officer in the U.S. Navy and he would go where he pleased. We left him, continued down the street and happened to see the Senior SP officer. He was an old WWII mustang Commander. We explained about the Commander down the street and he said he would speak to him. To make a long story short, the Commander who wouldn't take our advice had bought that uniform and all the ribbons in on of the many uniform shops in Norfolk. He had been arrested previously impersonating a Marine officer and an Army officer. We found out a couple of months later that he was again wearing a uniform but he was in a place with a lot to wrong-doers who wore the same uniform.

Response by SPC Lee Stewart made Aug 25 at 2016 4:49 PM

SPC Lee Stewart — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 16:49:03 -0400

Might be just legend, and it happened before I got there, but the tale at Field Station Augsburg was that a two-star general toured the SCIF one day and left his green Class A jacket in A1MM, land of many pranks. And they stripped it. Took off the stars, the medals, everything - and left a green jacket hanging there. I'm told many heads rolled that day (would be late 70's or early 80's) but they couldn't get rid of the perpetrators because a good Morse Interceptor is hard to find.

Response by CPL Anthony Slaughter made Aug 25 at 2016 5:49 PM

CPL Anthony Slaughter — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 17:49:31 -0400

I take it back, THIS GUY is my new favorite.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2016 6:02 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 18:02:14 -0400

I guess you haven't hear of the USAF SSgt Major... Its pretty common, almost like the Chief Master Airman

Response by SSG Jeremy Sharp made Aug 25 at 2016 11:10 PM

SSG Jeremy Sharp — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 23:10:51 -0400

My story is a little opposite from most here. I was at Ft. Knox, KY in the prior service barracks of the reception center awaiting orders to Germany. There were two others with me a guy named Don who was a reenlisting tanker and an older guy named Paul. I was there six weeks and the three of us traded duties with the Drills serving as CQ and we were the runners all of us were E-3/PFCs. Paul kept telling us that the Army was screwing up because he was supposed to be at Ft. Benning as an infantry soldier. We had dress green inspection on Friday morning. After a month, I reported for cq runner to see Paul getting smoked by the Senior Drill. i asked the duty drill what was going on he said Paul had been telling the truth about Ft Benning and there was more. The following morning we fell out for formation in class A's. Imagine our surprise when Paul appeared for formation in dress uniform as an E-6/SSG with blue infantry chord, blue discs backing his infantry collar brass, a ranger tab, and a chest full of medals including the MOH. He was gone that afternoon enroute to Ft Benning. Come to find out he failed to mention anything about his wartime service and MOH when talking to the unit CO or NCO's and it only came to light when he contacted his congressman about his desire to be an infantryman at Ft Benning.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2016 12:46 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 12:46:42 -0400

We had an E3 at my first command (Hawkeye squadron) that was a special kind of 8-up. (Locked himself in a plane once) Anyways in this story we had just come back from a det the day before and some people’s gear was in tri walls in the hanger. A few of us were sitting in the smoke deck and we see this guy wandering up the road wearing the Utility shirt but with a Dixie cap on… When he gets closer we relies its one of our guys so we yell at him to come over. Top to Bottom, he had a Dixie cap on a Utility shirt 3 sizes too small a PT shirt (White with the Navy logo on the front and back) Johnny cash pants, rope for a belt, and dress shoes. When asked WTF!!! He replied that all his uniforms were in the tri walls in the hanger and so he “Found” these uniform items in the BEQ. He had cut the name tap off the shirt and sharpie his own name on it. We asked why he didn’t just come in civvies change here and take his sea bag back to his BEQ after work…. He said he hadn’t thought of that… In the 7 Commands iv worked with I have had 2 of these types of people… I feel very lucky that its only been 2 at this point.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2016 2:09 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 14:09:05 -0400

We wore ABUs and tan boots in afghanistan before the green ones came out. Also, some people can look MUCH younger than their age. Otherwise, he seems ate up. So, if it was only the tan boots and the ABUs on someone saying they served around 8yrs or so ago you might not want to go off on them. The officer rank and enlisted rank on the same uniform reminds me of an old MASH episode.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2016 5:38 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 17:38:55 -0400

I think I saw someone who looked like this in an Air Force Uniform -

Response by CDR William Kempner made Oct 13 at 2016 1:22 PM

CDR William Kempner — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 13:22:54 -0400

I have two cases that were BEYOND THE PALE. (Both are true) In 1996 after the TWA 800 crash, -you get a lot of people popping up out of the woodwork at these things- we had an Army Col. Medical Corps type-(African American) show up and start giving orders at a CG station where they had set up the command center. They guy seemed like he knew what he was doing, even marshaling an incoming helicopter. A little unusual for an O-6, but I've seen weirder. And he was swaggering around telling people to get their "s**t together" etc. (The guy was just a bit younger than me -early 40s) Then he f****d up, and wore his dress greens in one morning, as were still being worn then. He was wearing a USAF Master Flight Surgeon wing, Master Jump wings, and campaign ribbons going back to the Korean War!(that's what stopped us-the UN Korea ribbon. He would have been a year old, if that.) We contacted the Army CID folks and they came down and interviewed him and took him out in iron bracelets. That actually got in the papers! (He was fined and disciplined but didn't get any jail time, sadly.)
The other involved a guy bullying one of our lab people in a parking garage at a hospital I worked at after USN. I followed him inside and got Security-they stopped him and he told them he was a COP! We looked at him and said "Really? Let's see your credentials." He said "I don't have to show you anything." And we said "Oh, yes you do. " Then he pulled out a NIS (now NCIS) credential!! I immediately identified myself as a retired Navy officer and asked to see the cred. He turned and ran away. We went out to the garage and got his license plate numbers and ran them. This turd was there to pick up his newborn son and wife(!!) and knowing we were waiting for him, left through the laundry room. (Too big a jerk to be embarrassed.) I had several friends at NIS/NCIS and called them. No such guy. But we had his name and address and gave them to an old friend. He got visited by Federal officers a few days later, and they took the credential (a real one) off him. (sigh) What a creep!

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2018 4:15 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Jan 2018 16:15:19 -0500

The boots depending on the year or location maybe ok. But having enlisted and officer insgina on the same uniform is generaly a bad sign.

Response by SFC Greg Bruorton made Jan 21 at 2018 3:18 PM

SFC Greg Bruorton — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 15:18:18 -0500

I don't know any 25-year-old Sergeants Major either.

Response by SGT Aaron Tollman made Sep 5 at 2020 3:08 PM

SGT Aaron Tollman — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 15:08:47 -0400

I was at the NTC and saw a California nyational Guard soldier that must have weighed 300lbs, fast not muscle. His uniform was old and faded to the point of nearly faded white, and his boots were brown, they were supposed to be black and evenly shined. Couldn't believe it! Soup sandwich would have come to mind, but i don't think he ate much soup.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2020 5:01 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 17:01:15 -0400

Battalion ball about ten years ago. 2 of my shitbag pfc' s were having problems getting their green right. Got them squared away and looking good.
Same day 1 of them got issued his new ASU. Had a month to get them together, cleaned, tailored etc.
I told him it was a formal affair and he had to wear the white shirt and bow tie. He drove the 40 miles in with his wife at 0500 for drill with his wife, she pretty much sat in the car all day waiting.
Guess what pfc highspeed did? Showed up in white shirt and bow tie. PFC, where is you jacket?
At home , Sgt.
What? Why?
You told me white shirt and bowtie.
Entry denied. Get out and see me tomorrow. Your wife is my second date for tonight. His wife and mine hit it off and we had a great time. I did allow his wife to bring him some food as he sat in the car.
Pfc #2. Said his shoes hurt his feet, so showed up in greens and brown boots. Good bye.

Response by SGT John Ball made Jul 13 at 2021 1:19 PM

SGT John Ball — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 13:19:03 -0400

That blows my mind for sure! I got a neighbor who claims...get this, a SgtCol! Yes, I have seen home in a uniform with so many medals it's a wonder he doesn't fall over. And, he doesn't have a clue how to wear a military uniform by the ate up way he wears it. I just shake my head whenever I see this SgtCol around!