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OT: Stolen Valor

RedBaloneyPony

RedBaloneyPony

Senior
Nov 14, 2020
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Long story short, I've got this guy at work who claims to have served in the marines. I myself never served but can not stand a liar, especially about military service. Asking those who served how I can find out if he did or did not. I have gathered all the info I can from the guy but every time I search, literally nothing comes up tying him to any military service. I have buttered him up with asking about rank, where he trained, ect. but when I asked about what company, division and he started to stumble and started searching hard on his phone for answers.
 
My Dad was drafted and served in the Army in '69. So maybe a bit of a more "reluctant" member of the former military group. Yet, at 74 he can tell you exactly what unit, bases, dates, etc. off the top of his head. I don't think you forget that stuff.
 
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Ask him what his MOS was. Most likely if he is real, he will tell you a number. I personally was an 0311. Any Marines know an 03 is infantry, and 0311 is a basic rifleman. Any Marine knows that much. If he fumbles and rattles off some job title, ask him what the number is for that because you had a friend that was 03. Generally speaking, Stolen Valor types will say they were some giant badass in whatever respective service they were in. Often times they will claim their records are sealed and they are not allowed to talk about that high speed stuff they did, even though they openly brag about the cool stuff they did. Other service members (especially in the service they are claiming) can usually sniff them out pretty easy.
 
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RedBaloneyPony said:
Long story short, I've got this guy at work who claims to have served in the marines. I myself never served but can not stand a liar, especially about military service. Asking those who served how I can find out if he did or did not. I have gathered all the info I can from the guy but every time I search, literally nothing comes up tying him to any military service. I have buttered him up with asking about rank, where he trained, ect. but when I asked about what company, division and he started to stumble and started searching hard on his phone for answers.
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Why do you need to know? Unless it is directly impacting others in some significant and material way I'd just let it alone.
 
resdog851 said:
Ask him what his MOS was. Most likely if he is real, he will tell you a number. I personally was an 0311. Any Marines know an 03 is infantry, and 0311 is a basic rifleman. Any Marine knows that much. If he fumbles and rattles off some job title, ask him what the number is for that because you had a friend that was 03. Generally speaking, Stolen Valor types will say they were some giant badass in whatever respective service they were in. Often times they will claim their records are sealed and they are not allowed to talk about that high speed stuff they did, even though they openly brag about the cool stuff they did. Other service members (especially in the service they are claiming) can usually sniff them out pretty easy.
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Had a neighbor who claimed to be a former seal. I thought he was full of shit. Maybe he was a mess specialist at some point in time. But seal? No way.
 
RedCap said:
Why do you need to know? Unless it is directly impacting others in some significant and material way I'd just let it alone.
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cuz military service is an admirable virtue and Liars need to be called out on it?
He's not the type of person I'd want to continue to Employ, if he's lying about something as important as that. It's not like they're lying about their weight or something...
 
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Just let him know that all of us aren't built to be sailors, soldiers, marines or airmen(women), and that we serve the ideals of this country in many ways. In other words, let him know that he can brag about his service, even if it wasn't military service, and thank him for the service he has provided.
 
Tetonia said:
cuz military service is an admirable virtue and Liars need to be called out on it?
He's not the type of person I'd want to continue to Employ, if he's lying about something as important as that. It's not like they're lying about their weight or something...
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You didn't mention he was an employee of yours before. I can see why you'd want to know.
 
Tetonia said:
cuz military service is an admirable virtue and Liars need to be called out on it?
He's not the type of person I'd want to continue to Employ, if he's lying about something as important as that. It's not like they're lying about their weight or something...
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Is he a co-worker or an employee of yours? If you own the biz, and he is an employee, I could see the beef. Otherwise, meh.
 
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litespeedhuskerfan said:
Is he a co-worker or an employee of yours? If you own the biz, and he is an employee, I could see the beef. Otherwise, meh.
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Not my employee. Was giving an example of why someone else might wanna know if the guy is full of shit.
Have parted ways with employees in the past for lesser offenses, for sure. Just sayin...
 
Tetonia said:
Not my employee. Was giving an example of why someone else might wanna know if the guy is full of shit.
Have parted ways with employees in the past for lesser offenses, for sure. Just sayin...
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I'd stop letting it bother you then
 
resdog851 said:
Ask him what his MOS was. Most likely if he is real, he will tell you a number. I personally was an 0311. Any Marines know an 03 is infantry, and 0311 is a basic rifleman. Any Marine knows that much. If he fumbles and rattles off some job title, ask him what the number is for that because you had a friend that was 03. Generally speaking, Stolen Valor types will say they were some giant badass in whatever respective service they were in. Often times they will claim their records are sealed and they are not allowed to talk about that high speed stuff they did, even though they openly brag about the cool stuff they did. Other service members (especially in the service they are claiming) can usually sniff them out pretty easy.
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Mine was 3531 Motor Vehicle Operator. We always told the 03's "if you can't truck it, f......orget it".
 
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RedBaloneyPony said:
Long story short, I've got this guy at work who claims to have served in the marines. I myself never served but can not stand a liar, especially about military service. Asking those who served how I can find out if he did or did not. I have gathered all the info I can from the guy but every time I search, literally nothing comes up tying him to any military service. I have buttered him up with asking about rank, where he trained, ect. but when I asked about what company, division and he started to stumble and started searching hard on his phone for answers.
Click to expand...
RedBaloneyPony said:
He's a fake... just from what you've said in your post. He'd know all this and would spit it out pretty quickly. Usually the "what was your MOS" question gets them. Always 4 numbers and spit out quickly
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litespeedhuskerfan said:
If I had a co-worker that I found out ratted to the boss about a fellow employee regarding something like this, I'd distance myself from the rat.
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You seem very interested in this topic, I literally asked military members, former or current on how to find out. You seem to keep giving advice on anything but what I am looking for. All I want to know is if he did or didn't.
 
I'd just do what I always do when engaged with a subject conversation that I don't care about - nod my head and smile and then wait for the opportunity to politely bounce and give 0 thought to that person again until the next interaction. But that's me.
 
resdog851 said:
Ask him what his MOS was. Most likely if he is real, he will tell you a number. I personally was an 0311. Any Marines know an 03 is infantry, and 0311 is a basic rifleman. Any Marine knows that much. If he fumbles and rattles off some job title, ask him what the number is for that because you had a friend that was 03. Generally speaking, Stolen Valor types will say they were some giant badass in whatever respective service they were in. Often times they will claim their records are sealed and they are not allowed to talk about that high speed stuff they did, even though they openly brag about the cool stuff they did. Other service members (especially in the service they are claiming) can usually sniff them out pretty easy.
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In casual conversation today, I asked what duties he performed in the marines, also what company/regiment (i dont know shit about this) he fumbled awhile then looked on his phone and sputtered MALS-11. Something about air control.
 
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CameronKrazie86 said:
I'd just do what I always do when engaged with a subject conversation that I don't care about - nod my head and smile and then wait for the opportunity to politely bounce and give 0 thought to that person again until the next interaction. But that's me.
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Same. Did this the first 2 months. Over it. Now I just want to know if hes legit.
 
RedBaloneyPony said:
You seem very interested in this topic, I literally asked military members, former or current on how to find out. You seem to keep giving advice on anything but what I am looking for. All I want to know is if he did or didn't.
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You are free to block me if you only wish to hear from those who agree with you.
 
bigboxes said:
Had a neighbor who claimed to be a former seal. I thought he was full of shit. Maybe he was a mess specialist at some point in time. But seal? No way.
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Unfortunately a lot of the worst offenders of Stolen Valor are actual soldiers/sailors who served honorably. They feel they have to embellish their record and soldier becomes Delta Force and sailor becomes SEAL. A easy tell is if they ever just come out and tell you how they shot or killed someone/group. I work with a couple real war veterans who have probably killed as many people as Chuck Norris in the movies, and I have never heard one story from them about it. We had another new guy a few years ago that claimed to be a Navy Corpsman. I knew after about ten seconds he was absolutely telling the truth. He acted way too much like a Marine. He and I had spent lot of time stationed in the same areas. I have never claimed to have gone to war though. I jokingly tell people I toured the west coast and have been to Mexico (Tiajuana) and Canada (Vancouver) in my time in the Marines. No shame in that. Who really gives a crap? I do agree though if they start lying about stupid stuff, they likely lie about much more serious stuff.
 
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RedBaloneyPony said:
Long story short, I've got this guy at work who claims to have served in the marines. I myself never served but can not stand a liar, especially about military service. Asking those who served how I can find out if he did or did not. I have gathered all the info I can from the guy but every time I search, literally nothing comes up tying him to any military service. I have buttered him up with asking about rank, where he trained, ect. but when I asked about what company, division and he started to stumble and started searching hard on his phone for answers.
Click to expand...
I served in the marines and this doesn’t bother me
 
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litespeedhuskerfan said:
You are free to block me if you only wish to hear from those who agree with you.
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Im fine with your opinion that one could just let it pass., thats a good option.

However, I have to agree it is strange that you find it so alarming that he finds this alarming. This is lying at its highest form. Its not like he asked him whether he was in the military, or that this guy is keeping it to himself. Hes obviously volunteering this information and bragging about it enough that people know or think he was in the military. Likely using it for career leverage or societal/workplace rank and perks. Really horrible move and Id wanna call him out on it if hes benefitting from it or at least know whether I could trust this coworker, because if hes lying about this I wouldn't trust him with literally anything.
 
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Ask him if he has his DD214. Any vet should know what a DD214 is, very important and required to get services from the VA.

The report of separation form issued in most recent years is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Before January 1, 1950, several similar forms were used by the military services, including the WD AGO 53, WD AGO 55, WD AGO 53-55, NAVPERS 553, NAVMC 78PD and the NAVCG 553.
 
huskerfan1414 said:
Im fine with your opinion that one could just let it pass., thats a good option.

However, I have to agree it is strange that you find it so alarming that he finds this alarming. This is lying at its highest form. Its not like he asked him whether he was in the military, or that this guy is keeping it to himself. Hes obviously volunteering this information and bragging about it enough that people know or think he was in the military. Likely using it for career leverage or societal/workplace rank and perks. Really horrible move and Id wanna call him out on it if hes benefitting from it or at least know whether I could trust this coworker, because if hes lying about this I wouldn't trust him with literally anything.
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I find ir alarming that you are confusing my responses with being alarmed. I'm not, like...at all.

I personally think it's a really silly thing to concern yourself with and I wonder if he's considered the ramifications of ratting this guy out? I live by two rules I have zero flex on...don't make waves with your neighbors... and your co workers....those relationships never heal if they go south and you have to spend to much time with both....If you rat the guy out, and anyone finds out...how are you going to be viewed by your co-workers after??... or worse yet the guy loses his job, what did you gain? The guy could have issues in his head you're unaware of (and anyone who would lie about this subject has a screw loose cause you shouldn't do it)...who knows what kind of shit storm you could be starting.
 
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RedBaloneyPony said:
Long story short, I've got this guy at work who claims to have served in the marines. I myself never served but can not stand a liar, especially about military service. Asking those who served how I can find out if he did or did not. I have gathered all the info I can from the guy but every time I search, literally nothing comes up tying him to any military service. I have buttered him up with asking about rank, where he trained, ect. but when I asked about what company, division and he started to stumble and started searching hard on his phone for answers.
Click to expand...
If he can’t give you details without fumbling through his phone, he’s full of shit.
 
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resdog851 said:
Unfortunately a lot of the worst offenders of Stolen Valor are actual soldiers/sailors who served honorably. They feel they have to embellish their record and soldier becomes Delta Force and sailor becomes SEAL. A easy tell is if they ever just come out and tell you how they shot or killed someone/group. I work with a couple real war veterans who have probably killed as many people as Chuck Norris in the movies, and I have never heard one story from them about it. We had another new guy a few years ago that claimed to be a Navy Corpsman. I knew after about ten seconds he was absolutely telling the truth. He acted way too much like a Marine. He and I had spent lot of time stationed in the same areas. I have never claimed to have gone to war though. I jokingly tell people I toured the west coast and have been to Mexico (Tiajuana) and Canada (Vancouver) in my time in the Marines. No shame in that. Who really gives a crap? I do agree though if they start lying about stupid stuff, they likely lie about much more serious stuff.
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Chris Kyle comes to mind, he lied about beating up Jesse Ventura in a bar to help his "American Sniper" book sales (Ventura sued him for defamation and won) I'm not sure what was true or wasn't in his book.
 
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TheNewNU said:
Chris Kyle comes to mind, he lied about beating up Jesse Ventura in a bar to help his "American Sniper" book sales (Ventura sued him for defamation and won) I'm not sure what was true or wasn't in his book.
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Agreed. Once you lie, who cares what you have to say after that. If you've served, it's honorable. You don't need to embellish to make up some story about how you killed 50 Japanese with your bare hands.
 
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resdog851 said:
Unfortunately a lot of the worst offenders of Stolen Valor are actual soldiers/sailors who served honorably. They feel they have to embellish their record and soldier becomes Delta Force and sailor becomes SEAL. A easy tell is if they ever just come out and tell you how they shot or killed someone/group. I work with a couple real war veterans who have probably killed as many people as Chuck Norris in the movies, and I have never heard one story from them about it. We had another new guy a few years ago that claimed to be a Navy Corpsman. I knew after about ten seconds he was absolutely telling the truth. He acted way too much like a Marine. He and I had spent lot of time stationed in the same areas. I have never claimed to have gone to war though. I jokingly tell people I toured the west coast and have been to Mexico (Tiajuana) and Canada (Vancouver) in my time in the Marines. No shame in that. Who really gives a crap? I do agree though if they start lying about stupid stuff, they likely lie about much more serious stuff.
Click to expand...
I was stationed on Kadena AB Okinawa my last 3 years. I always told people I was on a tropical vacation. That was 35 years ago and by the way my AFSC was 81150.
 
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