STOLEN VALOR
Stolen Valor Act of 2013, makes it illegal to claim certain awards and gain a tangible benefit.
Or open document below:
What most civilians don't know, is that military uniforms have very precise regulations on how they are to be worn, including how to wear headgear (hats), unit patches etc. Beret's, and those who wear them, Airborne, Rangers and Green Berets are very... very particular about this and a fraud is easily spotted by actual wearers of that particular headgear. (Shave that fuzz off private)! The issue of pretenders is an ongoing and growing problem for those of us who actually served in the United States Military. It is absolutely disgusting to steel from those who served and worse, steel from those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
To you Actual Veterans and Veteran family members. If you suspect Stolen Valor, please contact us so we can have them investigated.
Please see below for a general overview on how to spot a pretender.
It will be obvious when you know what to look for.
As an FYI, Special Operations personnel are a very small percentage of the military, the military is a very small percentage of the US population, you can do the math and tell me how is it there are so many of them out running around in the civilian world?
Seeing a real Operator should be as rare as seeing a real cowboy in Texas.
Pardon the Military vocabulary lesson in these videos below. For you uninitiated folks, Stolen Valor really make us ANGRY! So please don't assume it is no big deal, because it absolutely is a big deal to us and it should be to you as well.
Can you spot the real deal and the pretender in the photos below?
SPOTTING A PRETENDAR
Use the below as a guide only to help expose those who steel from Veterans. Especially vile, if they are a veteran but lie about there MOS (Military Occupational Specialty). Combat experience, medals, etc.
To determine if someone is lying about military service, you can look for inconsistencies in their stories, ask specific questions about their service, or verify their records through official channels. Some red flags include overly embellished stories, conflicting details, and reluctance to provide specific information. Here's a more detailed breakdown:
1. Look for inconsistencies in their stories:
Overly dramatic or embellished stories: Be wary of individuals who have a constant stream of action-packed tales, especially those involving "secret" or highly classified missions, "Fakers always relay a story where THEY were the center of attention".
Conflicting details: If their stories change over time or contradict known facts about the military, it could be a sign of deception, "You might be able to find general combat reports. You could match that with his unit information and their deployment history".
Unwillingness to provide specific information: Genuine veterans are often willing to share details about their units, locations, and dates of service, "Most will either engage in relatively normal conversations about it.
2. Ask specific questions about their military experience:
Unit information: Ask for the specific unit (e.g., platoon, company, battalion) they served in, rather than just the overall branch, according to a user on Reddit: "What unit, and no big generic names. You want something down to the platoon".
Location and dates: Inquire about the specific locations they were stationed and the dates of their service, "Where was he stationed. Where did he deploy and when".
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) and rank: Ask about their job specialty and rank, and be aware of common ranks and their associated duties.
Basic Training (BCT/AIT/OSUT): Where did they go for basic training? What MOS specific training did they receive?.
DD-214 (Report of Separation): A DD214 is the official document that shows someone's military service and discharge information. Ask to see it, "If you do this in front of others, then you can simply state it is the form releasing you from military service and lists how long you were in the military, accomplishments, military schools, medals" etc.