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

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/l...14525768403773

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.

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.

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.

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

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)

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.