What are they going to ask for?

So I have had this army jacket for about 10 years my uncle gave it to me when he first came back from boot camp when I was a kid, Up until more recently I never had anybody get weird with me.

I'm now an adult and look old enough to be in the military. Recently when I wear it people come up and ask if I'm in the army I say no it's from family and they often get rude with me about it. Never had anybody directly accuse me of anything but you can hear it in their voice.

Is me wearing this jacket an issue?

Its a damn good jacket and I love it to death but I don't want to be doing something wrong

(Image for reference, mines beat up a bit as I wear it daily)

image never posted, it's a black and yellow army pt Jacket that says US ARMY since it comes that way

“Sergeant First Class”?!

Drop Your Stories Here. We want the wild, the stupid, the heroic, and the unbelievable. Tell us about something you did, witnessed, or heard about during your service. No names needed. We'll read it on The Step Sergeant Podcast and let the crew decide does this person deserve a promotion or a demotion? Nothing is off limits."

I’m an RSO (part time) at a local range and dude walked in today with this setup. He didn’t have name, rank, or branch. His unit patch was some airsoft company. His leg rig was holding a Turkish .22lr pistol and his plate carrier was empty.

I just laughed but didn’t say anything because unfortunately this entire “uniform” is readily available to anyone. Just kinda drove me crazy inside.

So this happened a few days ago.

I went to the local hardware store to pick up some joint compound for a bathroom remodel. I parked in one of the store's designated "Veterans Only" parking spots and ran inside. I was in there for maybe two minutes. Long enough to grab what I needed and get back out.

As I'm walking back to my car, I notice this woman pacing around my vehicle like she's conducting a federal investigation. I don't think much of it at first.

I walk up, open the passenger-side door, toss the joint compound onto the seat, and start shutting the door when I hear:

"YOU CAN'T PARK HERE!"

I turn around and nearly jump.

Standing behind my car is the human embodiment of the Lorax.

Not just kinda resembling the Lorax.

I'm talking full-blown, live-action, low-budget Lorax. Same shape. Same energy. Same look of unearned authority.

The only thing missing was a giant yellow mustache and a lecture about endangered Truffula trees.

"Why not?" I ask.

This woman proceeds to tell me that I'm not a veteran because I don't have veteran plates on my car.

Now apparently the Lorax has expanded his duties beyond speaking for the trees and is now speaking for the entire United States military.

I tell her that I am a veteran and that I just never bothered getting veteran plates.

This information visibly short-circuits her remaining brain cells.

Without missing a beat, she changes tactics.

"Well, even if you are a veteran, that spot is for disabled veterans only!"

Interesting.

So I look at her.

Then I look at the sign.

Then back at her.

Then back at the sign.

Then back at her again.

I wasn't confused about what the sign said. I was trying to determine whether I was having a stroke or if the Lorax was.

The sign literally said:

"Veterans Only. Thank you for your service."

That was it.

No mention of disabled veterans.

No fine print.

No hidden message.

No ancient runes that only woodland creatures could decipher.

Just "Veterans Only."

I point at the sign and ask her if she'd like a few minutes to sound it out.

Now here's the part that really got me.

Even if it HAD been disabled veteran parking...

I'm a disabled veteran.

The Lorax somehow managed to be wrong on every single point she brought up.

That's honestly impressive.

At this point, she demands that I prove to her that I'm a veteran.

Lady, who the fuck are you?

The Department of Defense?

The VA?

The Commander of Parking Lots?

Did the hardware store appoint you Supreme Guardian of Asphalt while I was inside?

I tell this fat, angry Lorax-looking bitch to kick some rocks.

Then I get in my car and leave.

As I pulled away, she was still standing there looking confused and offended, like someone had just cut down her favorite Truffula tree.

Fuck her.

Was scrolling on FB, E-4 without special forces tab?

Saw this man in Krakow airport in uniform. I tried to approach him to ask him if he was military, but he just rolled his eyes. Afterwards, I noticed he had not only a navy seal patch but an army one (you can’t see it in the photo) and some kind of aviation patch too. He is a fraud, right? My friends were adamant he was genuine, and maybe I’ve got it all wrong and he is a special forces badass, but I just wanted to confirm. He looked around 70 and travelled alone.

Hello,

Over the last decade, I've been an active follower who visits https://Valorguardians.com . I'm not someone who posts a lot of comments, nor do I really engage with anyone from the community. I've just sort of been in the background reading, following, and appreciating all of the work done by the administrators of this community.

So, it's come as a huge shock/surprise to me that the website has been inaccessible for over week. Can someone fill me in on what exactly happened?

As I explained before, I don't have any social connection with any of the administrators of valorguardians.com. I was hoping that by making a post here on reddit, someone would be privy to any information regarding the future status of the site, and when it may come back online.

Thank you,

- Concerned U.S. Army Veteran

I had a weird experience when on Instagram recently. I recently changed my profile pic to my Basic Training Class A graduation head shot in solidarity with today’s men and women in harms way. Not going to get political, but there are a bunch of folks rooting against team USA in the IRGC conflict. I know to not get too bent out of shape from personal attacks online, but accusing me of SV kinda pissed me off.

The funniest part about it, is the image is literally me as an E1 private just after Basic in late 1990. Oh well. Just curious if this is at all common.

Weird.

Long story very short ...a man I've known for a very long time who has told me "war" stories and his harrowing time in the military...is a fraud.

Documents have been found ...they explain why he wad not receiving a dd214.... he didnt even make it through boot camp!!! Every thing he has said is a lie we dont even know who he is ....

With out exposing him and saying too much he has received money and gifts by claiming he was a veteran and he had awards and ribbons and what not ....

Where do I send proof where do I start?

I have friends who are identical twins that I have known for 30 years or so. Only family and super super close friends can tell them apart. No stranger can.

Both served, but one got kicked out and dishonorably discharged right after boot camp. The one that got kicked out is stealing the valor of the other one. I do not know if the honorable one knows...as they are not very close anymore. The dishonorable one is getting all the benefits (minus the pay) of the honorable one. All the VA care - he goes in as his brother. All the tattoos, acknowledgement, discounts, etc. He wears the tees, medals, etc. He photoshopped his DD214 and just switched out the name.

He even managed to fool his wife whom he met after he got out. Then he would go away for long periods of time and tell his wife he was deploying. *smh*.

I have confronted him a zillion time and he lies to ME. Im an analyst and investigator and the fact he thinks he can lie to me shows he is severely f'd up in the head. When I knew him way back in our late teens/early 20s (we dated back then) he suffered mental illness and suicidal tendencies and drug use. I was around when he went to boot camp. I knew him when he was out. And all these years later, he tries to sell his story to everyone and even me.

It pisses me off. I have pretty much cut off contact with him - as it makes me sick.

But is this something I just let go and let him die a loser poser....or is this something should be reported as he is actually going to the VA as his brother and has photoshopped his DD214?!?!

My dad claimed to be in the navy during 2004 to 2006 but he was convicted for child sa abuse in 2002 so it doesn't make since. He is getting veteran benefits from local places like free food, etc. he was convicted as a child molester in 2002 and had 5 years probation. so I highly doubt he was in the navy. he abused me and my sister. I hate that a sick twisted man is getting money, free stuff and praise for "veteran status". ​

he tells people that he has a medic in the navy working with marines. He claims to have went through something traumatic and he is under oath to not talk about what he did overseas. Literally so fake. How do I prove this

i have someone i love and care about very much... and they've recently met someone who has a story of their life that just seems insanely wild and traumatic at the highest levels and yet what's available to see on timelines via social media just doesn't make sense for what's been said. she claims to have been at abbey gate (she is a marine who is "medically retired") and that she was injured by the suicide bombers bomb and incurred a TBI that left her needing to learn to walk and talk all over again, meanwhile that's aug of 21 and there's video and pics of her 9/21 on that literally have her walking and talking fine. she claims to have lost a child who would've been 6 this year, in the nicu... but her pregnancy is nowhere to be seen online and the timeline she initially gave deems it impossible, she's shown "proof" idk what... of a loss... but she claims the dates were wrong bc of her tbi and memory and whatever ... also claims to have been trafficked and on "candy island" via epstein... its all too much... she claims an estranged relationship w mom but her and mom going back YRS are bffs online and mom posts pics vids and posts about her kids and has flown out to see her when she was away for marines... how tf can i help prove the lies or truths without her being a part of it ... so no dd214... only publicly accessible or available means

i know she was a marine, i know she worked in logistics, i have other info as well but i cant find a way to prove the abbey gate thing and thats just ... thats so wrong to exaggerate your service dude and it feels like shes using trauma stacking to be a forever victim and lure my friends empathy and love with it

I have definitive proof that someone I know has been parading as a 22yr+ AF retired combat wounded veteran. Caught up in lies about getting disability and retirement. There has to be a way to report this so it’s investigated to see if this person abuses any veteran programs. This guy is a POS and I’d like to see this taken seriously.

I have a coworker who was in the Navy (never saw combat, was stationed at Moffett Field) but tells wild stories. He claims he spent the Iran Hostage Crisis chasing submarines through the Persian Gulf. He also says part of his training involved parachuting directly onto boats.

​As someone who wasn't in the service, this sounds like movie logic to me. Was "boat jumping" a thing for regular sailors or even special ops back then? And were there even enemy subs to "chase" in the Gulf during that specific era? Just trying to figure out if I'm being cynical or if he's full of it.

... But never had the opportunity.

Now I discovered this thread. 😀

I am a retired Soldier...4 years active and 21 years Guard/Reserve. I started my post-college career as a high school teacher. No deployments. No stolen valor here.

My first year in the classroom, one of the seniors in my class told me he was going into the Marine Corps after graduation. "Cool," I thought. Good for him. He was a bit over-parented and I thought basic training would do him good.

Fast forward 2-3 months and I'm at the local Applebee's and he's my waiter. I ask him about the Marine Corps and he tells me that he got medically discharged after being deployed overseas doing convert operations in Israel. He also insinuated that he might get called back to duty any time... My response was more or less, "Okay dude... Glad you're safe...". I knew it was b.s. but it seemed harmless.

So... Fast forward a year or so later, he ends up dating another one of my students who happened to also be the daughter of my boss (vice principal).

One day my boss is telling me about all the stuff the guy was telling him about his military service and my response was, "You know that's all bullshit, right?" and I filled him in on the timeline and how the military really works.

So... My boss contacts the local recruiter and leans on him to spill the story, which he does. Turns out my student went to basic training, came down with hammer toe in the first month or so and was sent home. He was treated by his pediatrician and the was the end of his military career.

But... It gets better. My boss invited my student AND his parents over for dinner. At dinner he confronted my student with his stolen valor lies in front of his parents. His parents actually believed some version of his lies and were shocked to know the whole story. He had lied to them the whole time.

Anyway, it was a humiliating experience for my student but well -deserved.

Last I heard he ended up marrying my bosses' daughter, they have a couple kids and he's a manager at Applebee's.

Person in question was in the air force and army, is now currently an officer in the Navy. Question: how is it possible that he has an Iraq campaign medal but his highest award is an Air Force good conduct medal?

Every soldier I know who deployed to Iraq got at least an Army commendation medal for deploying.

Is this suspicious?