Civilian Who Provoked Outrage After Wearing a Military Uniform Speaks Out - Polidicks

I think this is a weird case. If it was a normal dude then wearing the uniform of a service you don't belong to is shitty. People will assume you're actually a part of it. That goes for any uniform. Just usually the job description of others doesn't involve you and your buddies being shot at. I don't think it should be worn without reason. Not like it's a sacred thing however. If it's obvious you're not fooling someone then whatever.

[QUOTE=DaysBefore;44364665]Again So If these harden veteran soldiers can't handle a little disrespect from a mentally challenged military enthusiast then maybe they weren't great soldiers[/QUOTE] Okay so how were they supposed to know the boy is mentally challenged? Yeah he seems pretty dumb but it's not like he's wearing a sign that says "HI I'M MENTALLY CHALLENGED, PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION". The ranger definitely lost his cool but the guy shouldn't be waltzing around with an army uniform with rank and tab on it.

[QUOTE=kyle877;44364711]I don't approve of how the Rangers reacted, but I still think that the guy doing that deserves to be called out. In the military we train extremely hard to earn our uniform, and then we fight and die in them. It's a symbol of what we've accomplished, and what we're willing to do to support that uniform. In my eyes anyone that just buys the uniform and wears it without having earned it is being disrespectful in one way or another. Maybe I'm just moto about it.[/QUOTE] You had to earn your uniform? I had to buy mine before training wtf the only thing given to me was weapons and armour and cap badges IMO as long as he's not actually trying to get people to believe he's in the Army then fine, if you can buy military surplus why shouldn't you be able to wear it, especially as a way as a tribute to kin in service, it's not like he's appropriating medals or lying about doing time

[QUOTE=Laputa;44364928]You had to earn your uniform? I had to buy mine before training wtf the only thing given to me was weapons and armour and cap badges IMO as long as he's not actually trying to get people to believe he's in the Army then fine, if you can buy military surplus why shouldn't you be able to wear it, especially as a way as a tribute to kin in service, it's not like he's appropriating medals or lying about doing time[/QUOTE] In the Corps we earn our uniform. [img]http://i.imgur.com/JBcrJAH.gif[/img]

[QUOTE=InvaderNouga;44363823]Dude, the U in BDU stands for 'Uniform'...that's just a dress uniform.[/QUOTE] I'm aware that bdu stands for battle dress uniform, but still its not showing off the service, its not like he was dressed in medals and such, he just bought a couple patches to put on it. people wear bdus for paintballing

[QUOTE=kyle877;44364966]In the Corps we earn our uniform. [img]http://i.imgur.com/JBcrJAH.gif[/img][/QUOTE] Did you trial by fire in your tighty whities or something

[QUOTE=Sableye;44364999]I'm aware that bdu stands for battle dress uniform, but still its not showing off the service, its not like he was dressed in medals and such, he just bought a couple patches to put on it. people wear bdus for paintballing[/QUOTE] If I saw someone wearing MARPAT cammies that said Marines on the chest, and had rank affixed to the collar, I'd probably laugh at the guy, call him a boot, and then aim exclusively for his nuts. Regardless of whether he earned it, that is.

[QUOTE=DaysBefore;44364665]Again So If these harden veteran soldiers can't handle a little disrespect from a mentally challenged military enthusiast then maybe they weren't great soldiers[/QUOTE] How were the veterans supposed to know that guy was mentally challenged? [QUOTE=Sableye;44364999]people wear bdus for paintballing[/QUOTE] That's more understandable than wearing it out in public just because you can.

instead of guessing whether or not if this guy is mentally challenged or not, they could have at least tried to act more level-headed and respectful instead of making needless threats. the way they're acting out of impulse is pretty gross.

This thread reminded me of one of my teachers I had in the past that is a great example of stolen valor. His stories seemed like bullshit the minute he told them. Now I'm gonna go put some motivated chevrons on my motivated Dress Blue blouse and buy some motivated chevrons for my motivated cammies that won't wear off as easy and show metal like all the other PFCs.

[QUOTE=KigJow;44365576]This thread reminded me of one of my teachers I had in the past that is a great example of stolen valor. His stories seemed like bullshit the minute he told them. Now I'm gonna go put some motivated chevrons on my motivated Dress Blue blouse and buy some motivated chevrons for my motivated cammies that won't wear off as easy and show metal like all the other PFCs.[/QUOTE] Don't forget to blouse your boots no lower than your knees, rah?

It's hard to be angry at him when he's obviously so stupid, whether it's medical or not. I have a feeling it's a combination of medical impairment combined with regular run-of-the-mill stupidity. At any rate, this guy wore an EOD patch...and then stuck pens in all of his sleeve pockets...dead giveaway. Here are some basic tips for impersonating a Soldier: Don't wear any rank above Specialist (E-4), don't wear any special patches and don't claim you did anything special in a combat zone aside from sitting in a FOB and eating cheeseburgers. Here are some basic tips for impersonating a Marine: Don't.

[QUOTE=IGotWorms;44366116]Here are some basic tips for impersonating a Soldier: Don't wear any rank above Specialist (E-4), don't wear any special patches and don't claim you did anything special in a combat zone aside from sitting in a FOB and eating cheeseburgers.[/QUOTE] Well there went my plans for the weekend.

[QUOTE=InvaderNouga;44364872]Okay so how were they supposed to know the boy is mentally challenged? Yeah he seems pretty dumb but it's not like he's wearing a sign that says "HI I'M MENTALLY CHALLENGED, PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION". The ranger definitely lost his cool but the guy shouldn't be waltzing around with an army uniform with rank and tab on it.[/QUOTE] it's not like it'd be anymore okay to go psycho at someone and then start sending threats to the police even if they weren't mentally handicapped [editline]27th March 2014[/editline] i bet these are the same kind of soldiers that turn around and bark about how they are the ones defending freedoms too

He should have worn a suit of Space Marine armor. Instead of angry soldiers, he would have been called a heretic by angry 40K players.

[QUOTE=Steff;44366808]He should have worn a suit of Space Marine armor. Instead of angry soldiers, he would have been called a heretic by angry 40K players.[/QUOTE] What the fuck are you doing with those service studs in your skull you faker no way have you served for 200 years

[quote]failed his Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test[/quote] HOW. Those things are a joke And the veterans should be angry. There's a Stolen Valor law, but I think that pertains to medals

[QUOTE] recruiter talked to him and befriended him and gave him certain information he needed to be able to purchase a uniform and told him he'd help him to get into the service," Joe Scott said.[/QUOTE] Why a recruiter would give him information on how to buy a uniform he doesn't even rate yet is beyond me

[QUOTE=milktree;44368065]Why a recruiter would give him information on how to buy a uniform he doesn't even rate yet is beyond me[/QUOTE] if you can just buy these uniforms whats the big deal about HE AIN'T EARNED IT

[QUOTE=Chopstick;44363150]There's quite a lot of these german army jackets worn around the UK from what I've seen. I wear mine when doing dirty work like gardening, painting, washing etc so haven't really ran into any angry veterans as of yet but honestly it's just clothing and to be fair the jacket is very spacious and warm for what it is. If you've ever bought clothing chances are you're going to want to wear it at some point instead of letting it gather dust unless you're a collector or something.[/QUOTE] Why would anyone care if you wore a surplus German army jacket in the UK? Even if you wore a MTP or DPM than maybe someone would notice and even than as long as you weren't wearing patches or tabs that you didn't earn no one would care. It kind of feels like you're just adding your two cents to be part of a conversation that you're not really contributing anything to.

[QUOTE=milktree;44368065]Why a recruiter would give him information on how to buy a uniform he doesn't even rate yet is beyond me[/QUOTE] This may come across as crass, but I'm doubtful that any of this is any more than a sob story.

[QUOTE=Lachz0r;44368084]if you can just buy these uniforms whats the big deal about HE AIN'T EARNED IT[/QUOTE] It's not so much the uniform. Although that gives a bad impression too. If you wear a uniform like that in public to like, Wal-Mart or Target than typically people assume you are a real soldier. The bigger issue is wearing patches and tabs you didn't earn in addition to wearing that uniform. You can buy any uniform you want, from any branch. I own a bunch myself but you wouldn't catch me dead in it outside of very specific places like an Airsoft field or a costume party and even than I'm not wearing any patches that would indicate I'm an actual serviceman.

so long as he's not actively impersonating one to get benefits or something i don't see the harm [editline]27th March 2014[/editline] it's kinda weird and i can see how some people would find it irritating, but it's not harmful & it's not illegal (unlike say, sending threats to police officers)

[QUOTE=kyle877;44365982]Don't forget to blouse your boots no lower than your knees, rah?[/QUOTE] Can't forget to hang my reflective belt from my left cargo pocket, either.

[QUOTE=Lachz0r;44358677]those meatheads need to grow up. who gives a shit if he's wearing an army uniform? not like he was wearing medals or whatever (and even that is a stupid thing to get angry about unless they're using it for nefarious reasons) [editline]26th March 2014[/editline] then sending threats to the cops lol. really doing the uniform proud fellas.[/QUOTE] Technically speaking, in most countries you can get busted for wearing the current uniform of the armed forces|police or other uniformed service members. Mostly because all of these people count as public servants while in uniform and wearing the uniform can count as you impersonating them. Even in cases where you are not doing it intentionally. That's mostly due to the fact, that the uniform itself is protected to an extent. If you had people running around in it, even meaning no harm, the value of it would go down. Keep in mind though that there's a difference between wearing some surplus parts (like an unadorned jacket) and wearing most of the uniform with patches and the like.