Its ok to wear Military Medals even if you didn't earn them.

[eddie]

This is wrong to me, makes a mockery of those who served and really earned them. If you want to go around wearing the Medal of Honor, even though you didn't do anything to earn it, go ahead I guess.:nope:

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-stolen-valor-act-court-20160111-story.html?14525768403773

[Schroeder]

That's so wrong. Then they can also allow to wear a full uniform with general's rank insignia even though one has never been in the armed forces. It's a farce and borders unauthorized assumption of authority.

[Kaye T. Bai]

I found it funny (or sad) that all the fakers all try to be a big high-profile war hero. I'm still waiting for the day a guy pretends to be a reservist PFC from a water purification unit.

[Platapus]

Perhaps there is a difference between wearing an object (medal/ribbon) and making a formal claim of being awarded the same.

I don't like this, but I can see where the court is coming from on this issue.

[THEBERBSTER]

Its a total insult,fraudulent usage, and should be illegal to wear a military award that has not been earned.
Peter

[GoldenRivet]

In my opinion. the only time it would be acceptable to wear any resemblance of a military uniform you never professionally "earned" would be if you were acting in a play/production/movie - or if you were re-enacting a battle - or if you were dressing a part for an air show or some other sort of period "production" for entertainment purposes

I used to know guys who would fly their war birds to air shows (like L-4 Cubs or T-6) and present the airplane in static displays or even perform demonstrations of the aircraft and these guys would wear the most authentic USAAF flight uniforms they could afford to represent the period and sort of go for the "full Monty" so to speak.

in all other facets, it is completely unacceptable. You dont dress in a military uniform and go to the bus station to hop a bus, or airport to catch a flight, or go sit somewhere to eat dinner or conduct daily errands dressed like that unless you are in the military and have a reason for wearing the uniform.

EDIT:

my assumption is that you still cannot wear the uniforms and medals etc for the purpose of receiving benefits otherwise reserved for actual military (meal discounts, vouchers, preferential seating etc)

[Stealhead]

According to the UCMJ an active duty military member can not wear an award they did not actually receive. Nor can they wear rank that they in fact do no have.

Most places like restaurants don't verify that the person making the claim really is a veteran. Like Golden Corral they the free meal for a vet(not like I would ever eat there even for free) they dont verify anything.

Now car dealer will give discounts and in some states wont charge sales tax to an active duty member that person must show military ID and provide a letter from their commander office as confirmation.

I have mixed opinions about the people who generally imitate a military member (excluding Golden Rivets list) some of the people who do it are not all there in the mind towards this kind of person I hold no ill feelings. Now a mentally sound person who is a phony that ticks me off as dose a vet who makes false claims.

[Cybermat47]

You should only wear a medal you didn't earn in a real military situation if you're wearing a relative's medals - and when you do that, you wear them on an alternate side, to nake it clear that a relative earnt them, not you.

[GoldenRivet]

You should only wear a medal you didn't earn in a real military situation if you're wearing a relative's medals - and when you do that, you wear them on an alternate side, to nake it clear that a relative earnt them, not you.

never heard of that

[Rockstar]

The big thing on wearing uniform item was that they can be worn by anyone provided there is no intent deceive.

I retired from Hooligans Navy 10 years ago and just purchased from AAFEE a U.S. Air Force uniform item Gortex digital tiger stripe jacket cheap. I wear it everywhere when it rains.

Heck, I even have a Bundeswehr size GrNr15 Flektarn Parka and liner complete with sewn on German flag. Those are about 17.00 dollars a piece from keepshooting.com. It keeps me cozy in the cold weather when hunting Bambi.

Uniform items are fine to wear, especially when you think how Uncle Sam and Auntie Merkle practically gives them away to surplus stores to sell to civilians.

[August]

The big thing on wearing uniform item was that they can be worn by anyone provided there is no intent deceive.

I retired from Hooligans Navy 10 years ago and just purchased from AAFEE a U.S. Air Force uniform item Gortex digital tiger stripe jacket cheap. I wear it everywhere when it rains.

Heck, I even have a Bundeswehr size GrNr15 Flektarn Parka and liner complete with sewn on German flag. Those are about 17.00 dollars a piece from keepshooting.com. It keeps me cozy in the cold weather when hunting Bambi.

Uniform items are fine to wear, especially when you think how Uncle Sam and Auntie Merkle practically gives them away to surplus stores to sell to civilians.

Exactly medals and insignia are different though.

[KrazyDimondRX]

You should only wear a medal you didn't earn in a real military situation if you're wearing a relative's medals - and when you do that, you wear them on an alternate side, to nake it clear that a relative earnt them, not you.


This 100%. This is the norm in my country. To show respect for our veterans specifically our relatives that has served it is totally acceptable to wear their medals on the alternate side to the military. However, don't get caught wearing "Ebay medals" on either side:down:

KDRX

[Cybermat47]

never heard of that

We can do it in the Australian Air Force Cadets, I'm not sure if the US has similar regulations.

[Rockstar]

Exactly medals and insignia are different though.

I dont think so, you can buy anything you want including medals and wear them. They are to some fashionable, some are worn in remembrence of others. Such as child wearing a medal of a family member who earned it. I believe its a matter of freedom of speech here in the U.S.

The issue is and always has been wether the wearer of said item or items were trying to deceive.

Personally I dont have a problem with anyone wearing uniform items and or medals. Unless they're posers then I say kick their arse.

[Eichhörnchen]

When I was an army cadet, we were strictly forbidden to wear any part of our uniform or kit unless we were 'on duty'... so no wearing it to weddings or other unofficial functions to impress the birds.

Also, I had a mate who thought a WW2 Denison smock would look good over his denims (fatigues)... that was until an old guy stopped him one night and tore into him, mainly because he'd left the Para's wings on the shoulders.

[limkol]

Scandal:nope:.

Medals earned in blood should only be used for the purpose they were designed for. Otherwise it cheapens the sacrifices paid by others. And that should never happen.

I can not comment on the case in the LA Times, as we are not really given much information about the marine or the circumstances. Maybe the guy was a hero and felt justified, maybe not.

People have been prepared to die for a cause. They are not always financially rewarded. They don't do it for the money, otherwise they would work in advertising or something. So awarding a serviceman/servicewoman/civilian with a medal is the least their country can do. A medal is a thank you from a nation....nothing less. It should not be used as anything else. How can someone accept thanks from a nation for something they didn't do?

[Jimbuna]

I have my fathers war medals but wouldn't dream of wearing them out of respect for him.

To each their own.

[Stealhead]

We can do it in the Australian Air Force Cadets, I'm not sure if the US has similar regulations.
You may not do this in any US military based junior training program. In fact cadet awards and ribbions are unique.

You have seen this regulation in writing? I'm surprised it would be allowed.

[August]

I dont think so, you can buy anything you want including medals and wear them. They are to some fashionable, some are worn in remembrence of others. Such as child wearing a medal of a family member who earned it. I believe its a matter of freedom of speech here in the U.S.

The issue is and always has been wether the wearer of said item or items were trying to deceive.

Personally I dont have a problem with anyone wearing uniform items and or medals. Unless they're posers then I say kick their arse.

I know what the law is, i'm just giving my opinion on it.

[Platapus]

You can read the courts decision and the rational behind it at
cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2014/10/29/11-35796.pdf

The full court opinion (48 pages) can be accessed here

https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2016/.../11-35796.pdf

If you go to www.ca9.uscourts.gov and search for Swicher there are other documents that explain the process.

The good news is that the other convictions against Swisher were not changed

[Tchocky]

There's a fairly clear First Amendment case here, I think.

Wearing medals you didn't earn should be legal.

It doesn't mean we have to like it.

[fred8615]

There's a fairly clear First Amendment case here, I think.

Wearing medals you didn't earn should be legal.

It doesn't mean we have to like it.

Where exactly does it say in the First Amendment that you have a right to lie? And if you do have a right to lie, how in the world do you ever charge or convict someone of perjury??? Or lying to the police (a crime in many places)???

[Cybermat47]

You may not do this in any US military based junior training program. In fact cadet awards and ribbions are unique.

You have seen this regulation in writing? I'm surprised it would be allowed.

Well, it's only at ANZAC day parades and the like - not any other occasions. It's done to represent any veterans in your family that can't attend or have passed away. I should have been clearer about that.

[KrazyDimondRX]

Where exactly does it say in the First Amendment that you have a right to lie?

Where does it say anyone wearing a medal they did not earn is lying. Look at Cybermat47's posts on this. People in his country and mine might wear medals to respect and honour veteran relatves. No lying involved. I don't know about aussie but if you get caught wearing an undeserved "Ebay" medal over here, boy! your going to regret it.
Two totally different scenarios.
KDRX

[Stealhead]

In the US outside of the military law(UCMJ) which applies to military members it is not illegal to wear a military medal not actually earned. There is the Stolen Valor Act which makes it illegal to make false claims of military service for personal gain. For example if a person said they where a Navy Seal during a job application when they where not.

It illegal to impersonate a military officer as well.

[ikalugin]

I think that in certain situations it is fine to wear fake or unearned military awards. For example in movie making.

[Cybermat47]

It is illegal to impersonate a military officer as well.

Wait, so impersonating enlisted men and NCOs is legal? What numbnuts came up with that?
-----------------
Honestly, I'm shocked that wearing unearned medal for personal ego-boosting is protected by the 1st Amendment. It's not freedom of speech, it's standing on the shoulders of better people (many of whom laid down their lives) for personal gain. It's exploitation.

[Stealhead]

It is a US federal code basically states any federal employee. So it covers many things. In this case for the purpose of committing a crime.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/912

So don't worry it covers posing as any military member for the purpose of committing a crime.

In this case officer means a repesenative of.

[Platapus]

Where exactly does it say in the First Amendment that you have a right to lie? And if you do have a right to lie, how in the world do you ever charge or convict someone of perjury??? Or lying to the police (a crime in many places)???


Where does it say that lying, in itself, is a criminal offense?

Lying under oath is illegal
Lying for the intent of defrauding is illegal
Lying to law enforcement officials in the course of a legal investigation is illegal

But, Lying to impress people is not illegal, despite being morally reprehensible.

From the court records

“We are aware of no authority holding that the government may, through a criminal law, prohibit speech simply because it is knowingly factually false.”




we presumptively protect all speech against government interference, leaving it to the government to demonstrate, either through a well-crafted statute or case-specific application, the historical basis for a compelling need to remove some speech from protection . . . for some reason other than the mere fact that it is a lie.










Our commitment to freedom of speech is never better tested then when applied to something we strongly object to.

[August]

But, Lying to impress people is not illegal, despite being morally reprehensible.

Impressing people is a form of personal gain isn't it?

[Stealhead]

If you arrested every person who lied the jails would be filled.

Where would you draw the line? Is it wrong when asked how ones day is going and the reply is positive when in fact the day is bad?

For example should lying for the personal gain of impressing or gaining friends be banned? It is morally questionable but people do it every day.

[Catfish]

If they wore medals, all of them should have been tried, before court:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol5Dfs7jqFI