Most medals that people claim to have are those that generally give some type of benefit.
I mean.........does anyone really care if you've earned a Good Conduct Medal, or Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal? Not really, because those are individual awards that don't really mean anything to anyone other than the person who earned them.
Things like the Navy Achievement Medal (I have 3), are also the same. Yeah, it sounds good that you earned them, but it doesn't really mean anything to very many people other than the person that earned the award, and in the Navy, generally only counts towards advancement points on the Navy Advancement Exams.
The stuff that you'd tell people in the civilian community? Benefits. CMoH and the Purple Heart are two that people like to claim because they give tangible benefits.
But..........I've also seen stupid people here in Amarillo. Caught one guy running around with urban cammies and had a gold Budweiser (SEAL symbol that says you are one) pinned on his chest, WEARING TENNIS SHOES!!!!!
I walked up (was still active duty at the time) and asked what team he was with as I've got a couple of good friends who I served with on the East Coast who were SEALS. He stated that he really wasn't one, he just liked to wear the outfit to pick up women. I then showed him my ID card and asked him if he'd like to discuss it further outside. He left quick.
Now, for something like the idiot wearing the Budweiser, a simple ass chewing and laughing at should suffice.
For those that use a fake status to gain employment or other benefits? Hang 'em from the yardarm and keel haul them, because they DIDN'T EARN THE BENEFITS!
I mean......wouldn't you want a doctor who is practicing medicine without a degree and a license to be put in jail?
How's about a lawyer?
The same consideration should be given to the military. Don't claim it if you ain't earned it. I had to put up with a lot of stuff that on occasion I would have rather done without for my entire adult life so that I could have that title.
I earned it.
I mean.........does anyone really care if you've earned a Good Conduct Medal, or Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal? Not really, because those are individual awards that don't really mean anything to anyone other than the person who earned them.
Things like the Navy Achievement Medal (I have 3), are also the same. Yeah, it sounds good that you earned them, but it doesn't really mean anything to very many people other than the person that earned the award, and in the Navy, generally only counts towards advancement points on the Navy Advancement Exams.
The stuff that you'd tell people in the civilian community? Benefits. CMoH and the Purple Heart are two that people like to claim because they give tangible benefits.
But..........I've also seen stupid people here in Amarillo. Caught one guy running around with urban cammies and had a gold Budweiser (SEAL symbol that says you are one) pinned on his chest, WEARING TENNIS SHOES!!!!!
I walked up (was still active duty at the time) and asked what team he was with as I've got a couple of good friends who I served with on the East Coast who were SEALS. He stated that he really wasn't one, he just liked to wear the outfit to pick up women. I then showed him my ID card and asked him if he'd like to discuss it further outside. He left quick.
Now, for something like the idiot wearing the Budweiser, a simple ass chewing and laughing at should suffice.
For those that use a fake status to gain employment or other benefits? Hang 'em from the yardarm and keel haul them, because they DIDN'T EARN THE BENEFITS!
I mean......wouldn't you want a doctor who is practicing medicine without a degree and a license to be put in jail?
How's about a lawyer?
The same consideration should be given to the military. Don't claim it if you ain't earned it. I had to put up with a lot of stuff that on occasion I would have rather done without for my entire adult life so that I could have that title.
I earned it.