What do you do if you encounter a case of stolen valor? (Navy, uniform)

[Snallygaster]

People who engage in stolen valor are people who lie about service and awards associated with service- sometimes it could be someone who never served but wears the uniform and boasts about service in order to gain recognition or some type of benefits. I know a person who did this, total scumbag. What should a person do if they catch someone engaging in a clear cut act of stolen valor? call the police? This should be criminal. What if its someone who is clearly insane, and thinks they served?

[texdav]

God if I worried about all those type with various service involving the public it would drive one crazy. I have heard some in my time from military; to law enforcement to others .I just do not care and most often they are seen thru in time.I see it more like fish tales.

[TrafficCory]

Originally Posted by Snallygaster

What if its someone who is clearly insane, and thinks they served?

If they're insane and think they served they could just as possibly view you as someone to be attacked. Stay far away from people who are mentally ill, if its a family member their delusions of military service are of little concern you're main concern should be their and their families welfare.

The only time I'd be worried about stolen valor is if the person is profiting from it. Like getting civic recognition, free dinners, etc. from their lies. If its the local commando at the gun shop talking about Ranger exploits with the CIA in Pakistan then, meh who cares?

Typically its some supply clerk over exagerating his exeriences or telling other people stories.

Not high on any list of things to get too worked up over.

[TamaraSavannah]

Originally Posted by Snallygaster

People who engage in stolen valor are people who lie about service and awards associated with service- sometimes it could be someone who never served but wears the uniform and boasts about service in order to gain recognition or some type of benefits. I know a person who did this, total scumbag. What should a person do if they catch someone engaging in a clear cut act of stolen valor? call the police? This should be criminal. What if its someone who is clearly insane, and thinks they served?

What would I do? Not a darn thing. I have neither the time nor the mission to interrogate them and determine what part of their story is true and what part is not.

Having been in the situation where people think I am a liar because of how I have been in this situation or that has been in a way that they do not know is possible, I am not about to call someone else a liar until I can absolutely verify that their case is untrue. As said, shrug, I do not have the time nor purpose to engage in such activities.

Originally Posted by TrafficCory

...........Typically its some supply clerk over exagerating his exeriences or telling other people stories.........

This could produce an interesting paradox in that, considering the motivational speech that I as an officer might have given an enlisted, is he wrong in believing with his whole heart what he has heard?

I don't think I use a horse and nail speech when I was in, but say I did. We were a small state side station with the facilities and resources to train carrier navigation teams. So say I told my gate sentry, "We do gate searches to stop tools from leaving the base. If a special tool leaves the base, the engine can't be repaired. Because of that broken engine, the YP stays out of service. Because the YP isn't available, the navigation team can't do their training. Because they aren't ready, the carrier can't go where it is needed. Because the carrier is unable, national policy can't be carried out. You are part of that team that enables the country to be victorious."....................or, long story short, THERE ARE NO WORTHLESS JOBS IN THE NAVY.

Putting aside for a moment that one way or another, the carrier will carry out its mission, what do such lessons, such inspirations mean to the person in the years down the line? Was what they did, was what they heard, really just a lie? Or did they really do something in the Navy which was important......and in that case, how do they express it to someone who wasn't in so they might understand?

It's like the poor airman, story, who pumps up the tires of decommissioned bombers to fool the satellites. In of itself, perhaps a very minor job, but his work (and his shut mouth) is a vital latch pin of national security. (if you aren't familiar with the story, ask me).