Wanna-be‘s / Posers

[Devlin]

Warning RANT to follow.

Well what an interesting weekend, I met a real live killer this weekend. Hey and guess what he trains people to kill too. Had some friends up from Ottawa on the weekend and a bunch of people over for a BBQ. Get introduced to a guy who mentioned he was in the direct quote here "Canadian Armed Forces !" loud enough for every female within 1000 feet to hear him.

So naturally I ask what do you do?

Response: "I train men to kill."

Me cowering in the corner a meek little reservist in the presence of a trained killer.

Next Question: What unit are you with?

Response: The training unit in Ottawa.

Me: Does it have a name?

Response: The Training Unit.

Me: Oh yeah that one.

Needless to say the conversation did not go much further. I asked him if he knew anyone named Windwolf, perhaps a relative or close friend. The only response I got was a "not too sure have to check my files". Man this guy must be important, cause at my unit all the "files" are locked up in the orderly room.

He went on to explain about the past three years he has spent in Bosnia telling the ladies, about his escapades teaching the locals how to kill.

Hmmm from my little knowledge of history, the locals in Bosnia were pretty good at killing each other before any of us got there.

I guess they are everywhere, if it‘s any consolation I ended up burning his steak, even let the dog lick it a few times. It made dinner more bearable.

 

[PTE Gruending]

Probably some guy doing a weekend BMQ or something ;-). Wow, its people like this that give us a bad name. Its one thing to be proud of what you do, and the uniform in which we are priveledged to wear, but then there are people like this. I know lots of younger guys who are just insane this way; wearing combats to the bars, throwing in the fact that they are in the Army in every civilian conversation that they engage in...

 

[Redeye]

One of these wankers is too many - there used to be a fool in this town who wandered about in combats wearing a black beret with an RCR capbadge on it and claiming to be with some sort of underwater scuba ninja unit. He was eventually challenged by a couple of the boys from the unit and didn‘t even know what VRI stood for or what unit the badge belonged to. I wouldn‘t be surprised if he had made some sort of ridiculous claim about what the VRI cipher stood for...

The best way to deal with these fools is simply to challenge them in front of whoever they are trying to impress, and in most cases they‘ll both shut up and admit they‘re being fakes. If you‘re lucky you can walk off with the ladies, too! :gunner:

 

[Danjanou]

I agree challenging them at the bar, or wherever, in front of then group they‘re trying to impress is often an effective tactic. A couple of well placed questions and watch them slink off.

Civvy posers are one thing. Actual military guys though... I never could understand why someone couldn‘t be proud of who they are in the service without having ot make up the trained to kill ninja crap, maybe I‘m just naive.

BTW I wouldn‘t worry about them breeding. Something tells me that particular skill wasn‘t included in their "special training."

 

[sgtdixon]

I Agree with the Expose and Conquer Technique as I used it to great effect this summer here in Cold Lake at the Cadet Camp. This young man who is obvioulsy unfit comes to me and tells me he is with 78th Field Bty out of Red Deer and that he is a "Arty Recce Specialist" and that he is also a part time Infanteer with the LER. I called BS as my friend C/Sgt Ubbing was right there and he is a member of 78th Field Bty and we rather tore him apart infront of the Senior Leaders Course cadets he was trying to impress. :soldier: Dumbsh!te.

 

[pigisdead]

I have met a man who is a real life Capt Dress-up! He wears medals some identifiable some not. Affiliates himself with military organisations/police, wears a uniform that is part real, part fake. Is part of that "STONE CUTTERS thing".....wears a Cap badge of an very real regiment in the CF, even feels he can wear officers mess dress....attends all the important dates, and is otherwise a total and utter Bulls@#T!er. Yet for some reason because his BS is of such a high calibre, nobody really thinks anything of it!

Has any one had any experience with nut jobs like this before....????? Suggestions??? These pretenders need sorting out!

 

[big bad john]

It would help some if you filled out your profile a little more so that people know where you are coming from.  It is considered a polite thing to do around here.

 

[The_Falcon]

If you suspect he is a fake, inform him to cut the bs act or you will go to the police, as it is illegal to impersonate a member of the Canadian Forces.

 

[Trinity]

419. Every one who without lawful authority, the proof of which lies on him,

(a) wears a uniform of the Canadian Forces or any other naval, army or air force or a uniform that is so similar to the uniform of any of those forces that it is likely to be mistaken therefor,

(b) wears a distinctive mark relating to wounds received or service performed in war, or a military medal, ribbon, badge, chevron or any decoration or order that is awarded for war services, or any imitation thereof, or any mark or device or thing that is likely to be mistaken for any such mark, medal, ribbon, badge, chevron, decoration or order,

(c) has in his possession a certificate of discharge, certificate of release, statement of service or identity card from the Canadian Forces or any other naval, army or air force that has not been issued to and does not belong to him, or

(d) has in his possession a commission or warrant or a certificate of discharge, certificate of release, statement of service or identity card, issued to an officer or a person in or who has been in the Canadian Forces or any other naval, army or air force, that contains any alteration that is not verified by the initials of the officer who issued it, or by the initials of an officer thereto lawfully authorized,

is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

 

[The_Falcon]

Hey Trinity, I think you need to do your lines over again.  And thanks for posting that I was to lazy to post the specifics.

 

[Shamrock]

Is it Steve Guttenburg?  He's a Stonecutter and wore a police uniform.

 

[FastEddy]

I have met a man who is a real life Capt Dress-up! He wears medals some identifiable some not. Affiliates himself with military organisations/police, wears a uniform that is part real, part fake. Is part of that "STONE CUTTERS thing".....wears a Cap badge of an very real regiment in the CF, even feels he can wear officers mess dress....attends all the important dates, and is otherwise a total and utter Bulls@#T!er. Yet for some reason because his BS is of such a high calibre, nobody really thinks anything of it!

Has any one had any experience with nut jobs like this before....????? Suggestions??? These pretenders need sorting out!

Are you a active member of the Lodge which you have indicated and are the important dates you refer to at this Lodge. Also is this person a member of that Organization ?.

It seems strange, that the Officers of the Hinted at Lodge, regardless of how convincing or entertaining this person is, that they permit it or have not taken steps to, lets say correct it.

As "big bad john" mentioned, you should really fill out your Profile as a matter of courtesy.

Cheers.

 

[Too Poor II]

Do you know if anyone has called him on it, no I don’t mean call him on the phone I mean in public expose him for being a “FAKE”. This no doubt could be a very dangerous double-edged sword.

You expose the guy in front of a group of  people it could embarrass him enough to stop, but (there is always a “But”)  if he is a master of the “B.S.” art like you indicate that he might be it could come back and hit you in the face

 

[Torlyn]

Has any one had any experience with nut jobs like this before....????? Suggestions??? These pretenders need sorting out!

Let us know where you are, and who the transgressor is, and we'll deal with it.

T

 

[Zell_Dietrich]

I remember in my youth hearing from my Dad of one guy who went to the Legion with a mixed bag of medals and conflicting stories.  Keep in mind this was Alberta ... in the 70s so he was not so gently informed of his transgression.  I remembered this story two weeks ago when I saw an older gentleman downtown Toronto wearing a distinctive military cap. He was walking in a very stiff mannor like he was marching and if I saw the rank on his cap correctly he is a Master colonel. (two VV and a little birdie)

I'll admit I could be totally wrong and I simply don't know the uniform's symbols that he's proudly wearing.  But he seems happy wearing it and it is harming no one so I'm ambivalent about the whole thing.

I know there is a specific mental disorder that causes people to emulate people they admire and then believe the lie themselves ... but I just can't think of it right now. (or find it on Google)

While I was looking for the technical name of the mental disorder that I stumbled across this site. http://www.anzmi.net  It has a long list of very amusing tails and oddly enough when I read it I do hear it in a New Zealand accent!  :-D 

 

[Devlin]

He was walking in a very stiff mannor like he was marching and if I saw the rank on his cap correctly he is a Master colonel. (two VV and a little birdie)

A Master Colonel eh .....hmmm sounds like that MASH episode where Hawkeye makes Radar a Cpl. Captain and takes him into the officer's mess.

 

[GAP]

In the early eighties a bunch of Viet Nam Vets got together and formed  the Winnipeg Chapter of Canadian Viet Nam Veterans. Wasn't much of a group nor anything particularly important to most, but after a year or so we kept getting requests for admission from people we suspected never served. To make a long story shorter, we insisted that everybody, including all existing members, submit a DD214 proving their pedigree.....

Horror of horrors...our illustrious leader was a poser who rapidly faded into the netherworld....so they are out there!!  :

 

[geo]

was there ever any doubt?

talking the talk is easy.... walking the walk is another thing altogether
IMHO

 

[big bad john]

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2140348.php

September 29, 2006

Stolen Valor Act stalls

By John Hoellwarth
Staff writer


In a major legislative reprieve for posers who claim to rate combat decorations they didn’t earn, the House Judiciary Committee failed to take action on a Senate-approved bill outlawing medals fraud during the committee’s last meeting before Congress adjourns Oct. 1.

The Stolen Valor Act, introduced in the House in the summer of 2005 by Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., closes a loophole in current law that allows phony combat veterans to escape prosecution as long as they don’t physically wear the awards they brag about.


Currently, medals fakers and con artists can put awards like the Silver Star, Navy Cross and Medal of Honor on their resumes and license plates without violating the law.

Legislation introduced in the House and Senate prescribes hefty fines and up to a year in jail for posers who try to pass themselves off as war heroes.

A version of the bill introduced in the Senate by Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., was passed unanimously by that chamber Sept. 7. But the bill has been stalled in the House Judiciary Committee since then, despite having more than 100 cosponsors — including five judiciary committee members.

“As a cosponsor of the Stolen Valor Act and a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I am disappointed that the committee did not take action on this legislation prior to the committee’s adjournment,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

Rep. Bob Beauprez, R-Colo., who personally called the committee’s leaders to push the Stolen Valor Act out of committee, called the bill’s failure to reach the floor “enormously frustrating.”

Decorated war veterans also support the effort.

“I’m not a big proponent of the federal government regulating us, but I just feel this is a piece of legislation that needs to be passed because there are just so many men and women who have given their life and their limbs defending this nation,” said Peter Lemon, who received the Medal of Honor for actions in Vietnam on April 1, 1970.

Lemon said he called “a number of influential congressmen” this week in an attempt to encourage them to bring the bill to a vote.

“A lot of guys I served with ... I know what they did, what they went through. My guys, I honor them,” Lemon said. “To think that someone else would be posing as the recipient of one of their awards, when I know what they’ve been through, just disgusts me.”

Congress leaves Washington to hit the campaign trail Oct. 1, but the House Judiciary Committee will reconvene twice more, once in November and once in December, before the current congressional session ends.

Beauprez said the bill has a shot to make it out of committee at one of these meetings and onto the suspension calendar, a docket of pending bills that Congress addresses at the end of the day because they largely require only rubber-stamp approval.

“This one will almost certainly move on the suspension calendar — once it gets on,” Beauprez said.

But that can’t happen until the committee makes it happen, he said. “Where we’re at right now, we’re probably looking at next year,” he added.

But Salazar said he has not given up hope that his bill will pass by the end of December.

“Our nation is at war and Congress should have acted immediately to protect the honor of our veterans,” Salazar said. “We cannot let this become a partisan issue. I will continue to fight to protect our veterans and make sure the Stolen Valor Act is passed by the end of the year.”

If the legislation stays bottled up in committee during the lame- duck sessions in November and December, it will have to be re-introduced in the House and Senate during the next session of Congress, essentially pushing the initiative back to square one.

Both Salazar and Beauprez said the momentum built up behind the legislation this year will certainly help it along next year, if it comes to that.

“With more than 100 supporters in Congress, the Stolen Valor Act is well on its way to becoming law,” Salazar said

 

[TN2IC]

That is great to read, now what about Canada?