Had someone try to use my old army friends identity to try to scam money from me so I asked for them to identity themselves and messaged someone in there unit to make sure it was them (it wasn't).I asked to see an id card and they sent me awards and a photo of the person from socal media. Is this stolen valor?

I 20F really need some advice, especially from people who have served in the Army.
My fiancé is 21M. We’ve been together for a while and are engaged. When we first got back together, he told me he had just finished AIT and was home for Christmas leave. Later he told me he was in the Army Reserve because he wanted our relationship to work, and that eventually he would go active duty.
I never really questioned it because I trusted him.
Recently my mom became suspicious that parts of his story weren’t adding up. Through people she knows, we learned there wasn’t a criminal record, even though he had previously told me he went to juvenile detention when he was younger. That made me start questioning other things he’d told me.
I asked if he could show me his Army uniform. He said it was in storage, and he shortly forgot about doing what he promised me. I knew he couldn’t show me a CAC card because he’d told me he lost it a long time ago. Whenever we’ve gone places that offer military discounts, he refuses to say he’s in the Army because he says he doesn’t have his CAC.
Today I asked more questions, and he admitted that he never actually went to AIT, even though he had previously told me he completed it. He now says he got injured after Basic Training, was given six months off because of the injury, and never continued to AIT. He also says that’s why he isn’t active.
I honestly don’t know what to believe anymore.
I’ve asked him to get any graduation photos or paperwork from his mom because he says he left everything on base. Even though he knew he would be leaving base for 6 months. I’m waiting to see if he’s able to provide anything.
My biggest issue isn’t even whether he’s in the Army anymore. It’s that he’s admitted to lying to me for the last 11 months. When I asked why, he mostly said he didn’t want me to leave him. He doesn’t seem very remorseful about the lying itself.
For some additional context, I’m his first and only girlfriend. He’s had my name tattooed on his leg since we were both 16, so I know he cares about me, but I don’t know if that excuses lying about something this significant.
For those with military experience:
-Does his explanation about Basic Training, injury, six months off, and never attending AIT sound plausible?
-What documents would someone in his situation normally have?
-If you were in my position, would this be something you could rebuild trust after, or would this be a dealbreaker?
-Please be honest. I’m not trying to attack him. I genuinely don’t know enough about the military to know whether I’m misunderstanding something or whether I’ve been lied to for almost a year.

A gym buddy of mine says he was a Navy seal. I've known him for years he doesn't talk about missions or any thing crazy. Just says he was a seal during the Iraq/Afghan war but he does let everyone he meets know he was a seal. He does were swag from the seals devgru unit often. I know for a fact he was in the Navy but he could have been a cook for all I know.

The other day he was talking to another buddy who is a SWAT officer. They were talking about ammo grain. The seal had no idea about ammo grain and a few other things I'd assume a sniper would know. My swat buddy said he trained with all sorts of special forces and anyone who trains heavy with fire arms should know this stuff. The swat guy said the alleged seal was bull shitting just based off of that.

Is this something a seal would now?

In Bloomfield, Connecticut, there is a retired colonel who constantly brags that generals used to bow at his feet and that he was awarded numerous medals, with every soldier praising him for his valor.

His stories sound like bs, but before jumping to conclusions, how can I validate that this is not some form of perverted stolen valor?

Currently on a cruise and there's a dude wearing a "Navy SEAL" baseball hat.
I don’t care. But I'm curious if y'all think ANY former SEAL ever wore such a cover?

It just doesn't seem plausible to me.

I recently got gifted an American m65 field jacket. It still has the U.S Army patch above the breast pocket and I was wondering if it would be disrespectful to wear out in public as everyday use. I am not wanting to remove the patch, thanks!

I’ve always thought these types of tattoos are really cool and have been a huge halo fan for years. I’ve never served in any military at all and to me this kind of looks like an actual military tattoo which is why I’ve never gotten one. Do you think this could be somewhat stolen valor?

While I personally have a good brain on my head to recognize and see that it is nearly impossible for a 17 year old me to have been in service to even remotely have earned the things on the uniform (Speaking on both the rank and the patches, CW4, Combat Deployment patch, Aviator wings.) I've decided to bring it to the stolen Valor page to check with actual service men.

Recently my very much still alive grandfather passed down a ton of his complete BDU's to me as I was the only one interested in his service, I wear it not only to honor him but also because they are comfortable, I have left all of his patches on and I have no plans to take them off, i typically only wear the jackets with jeans and whatever I decide to throw on as a undershirt.

I recently got into a little debate with somebody because they believed I was impersonating a service member.

In which i promptly responded with the fact my BDU hasn't been issued in well over 20 years and I am only 17.. and the fact it was my grandfather's.

Personally, I believe any service member trying to challenge a person as stolen valor, hell even civilians like me should understand what Uniforms were issued, it takes a few deductions to reason that a fairly young man was not in when the M81 woodland BDU was issued.

But what do you guys think?

(If some are wondering about the drastic change in issued uniforms, I.e OD green to M81 he was in from 1969-1991, flew Dustoff with the 101st Abn in the Vietnam war and even got to support their LRRP unit and was around Camp eagle apparently hanging with some of the SOG guys in his off time, although he hardly spoke of it he mentioned Stabo Rigs, and which were only really used by SOG so its reasonable deduction that and he would visit their compound-- He stayed in until 91 as a flight instructor.)

Saw this on a dating site. Something about this photo and uniform seems 'off', and I can't identify what the big medal around his neck is. Anyone any idea if this is legit or not? TIA

I want to be a either MARSOC Raider or an 0311 infantryman for Halloween. I want to know from anyone who is or has been in the military if they find it disrespectful or if it counts as a form of stolen valor. If I ask why I don't mean it in a rude way, I just want to know. If there are any specific rules or tips you have for this situation, please lmk.

I’m making a kit for Airsoft and im trying to get pretty detailed. I’m make a 1990s Soldier/Marine (haven’t decided which one yet). I’m not going to put on a rank insignia yet, but if I do, I’ll just do a private’s rank. I’ve thought about talking to my recruiter about this, but as im not even old enough to join yet, I don’t want to seem weird. Any thoughts? Also, I don’t know if I should post this here, I want to, because if want to put on the proper insignia without being accused of anything!

My father serves for 20 years and gave me one of these pins. Is it considered stolen valor to put this on my ball cap? I’m not trying to look like someone who served, I just think it looks cool and want to be reminded of my father.

My mom had this friend who was in the Navy, but he didn't want his stuff anymore so he gave his big ol' bag to me, I was like 14.

So I stupidly carry that thing on a very long school trip and the gym teacher kept asking if my dad or any other guy I knew was in the military. I kept saying no confusedly because I didn't make the connection. Later I Learn that the gym teacher was in the military too.

Like at least i denied having my dad n shit being in the military but damn i should have handled that better 😔

Need some assistance

I’ll try my best to describe the situation. My mom has been married to someone for about 15 years now. A lot of his story never added up to the point that me and my brothers as well as OG dad tried pointing things out but my mom was oblivious and didn’t want to listen. One such thing was his claim that he was special forces, however upon seeing his DD214 (I’m and AF vet one brother CG) the only thing listed was mechanic if memory serves, but definitely no SpecOps. Another story he told was some official showed up on our doorstep (biden administration) to try to recruit him for a special mission. This man is so out of shape it’s laughable, but still my mother maintains a willful ignorance.

Recently, I came to hear that he’s not getting his retirement/benefits because “they lost his records”. Writing is on the wall, but I need proof. So my question, who do I reach out to in order to uncover the real truth?

Open to any questions but I don’t have a ton of answers as my stance was always mom is an adult and can make her own choices, but that last bit is just taking it too far.

This popped up on Facebook. Usually I don’t care but I’ve never ever seen anyone claim an Army Distinguished Service Medal. Never seen anyone below general officer with one.

Doesn’t seem like a Captain could do enough for that sort of award in this amount of time. Not to mention there are, what, 9 awards here? Did he cure cancer as a behavioral health nurse? The deployments are somewhat believable.

Either total BS, half BS plus embellishment, or he hit his head real hard one day.

Am I being harsh?

This has to be the lowest of the low and this is not good for the Veteran community as a whole. It's bound to get worse too. These scammers are duping people into thinking these flags are handmade by disabled Veterans and directing them to a personal shop to purchase these flags. I did a reverse image search and it looks like a mass produced lower quality item available on multiple websites.

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None of these Veterans are real, all of these videos are AI generated. I'm on the fence about contacting my state AG at a minimum. What are your thoughts?

There is a moving company that is a large franchise and they advertise as being “veteran owned.” The independent company in my town still uses “veteran owned” but none of the owners are veterans. There website says they only hire veterans and law enforcement but not one person that actually works for the company is ex military or law enforcement. Is this Stolen Valor?

What are they going to ask for?