Not Earned, Not Worn....at least without visible disclaimers like "Father of...", or "I support..."

Stolen Valor is becoming a very big issue and a problem that affects true vets and AD personnel, especially now that Americans are no longer spitting on Vets like they did when I first went in. Is this person going to tell someone who walks up to him to thank him for his service that he never served?  Is he going to turn away the free drink that arrives anonymously at his table when the waitress says someone wanted to thank you. For the first time since WWII and Korea, Americans are truly thankful for servicemembers and vets. There are too many trying to cash in who have not earned that respect.

It DOES happen...frequently. Would many of you say the same thing about not caring if someone was wearing Tridents (SEALS), or an SF Flash, or Ranger Tabs, just because they can be purchased anywhere?

Nope... Not Earned...NOT WORN!  My $0.02

Wear whatever the fuck you want to wear. Just to try to pass yourself off as something your not.

Did the exact same thing. He would wear it whenever he went fly fishing. If anyone saw him with it he would just beam proudly about his (now-nasty-unwashed-civilian) son.

What does he say when asked about it?

Patches and the like are just a way to show support as long as you make no claims you didn't earn. They can also help tell the story of family and friends to others. I have a collection of unit patches from family who served and proud of them. They remind me of their service and sacrifice. I started collecting them when I was about 8 years old. My children and now grandchildren enjoy looking at them and listening to some of the stories of those who are no longer with us. Wear on, friend.

I have a few Navy SEALS t-shirts that I like to wear, I served in the Navy, tho I was not a SEAL. Once in a while someone will ask if I was or are a SEAL, I just tell them I was in the Navy but not a SEAL, I wear the shirt to show my support!
I see nothing wrong with anyone wearing military surplus or patches, pins etc. As long as they are not making false claims of service.

Depends on the context I guess, is he a supporter or a poser would be the determining factor.  I'm a retired Marine and my youngest son is currently serving in the Corps, so the posers get under my skin.  I love those who support their family members who serve,  my family falls into that category and wears Marine Corps swag, even my son-in-law has a Marine bumper sticker on his truck.  I just want to know who took all my utility covers.

Old Marine

Nothing phony about wearing a boonie hat having served or not. I still wear the field jacket I was issued way back in the early 80's. It's rugged and utility so why not? I also wear a boonie hat to keep the sun off my neck when I mow the lawn. Wear what you like and find useful. Enjoy life and let the detectors suck lemmons. They are so full of themselves no one cares what they think.

But how do you tell. Most won't go up to someone to ask...they just assume, and that is what the posers count on.

As I stated in an earlier post...I have no problem with stickers, buttons, T-shirts or whatever that clearly delineate that they are SUPPORTERS of whatever...but to wear ribbons, insignia, and other things that are clearly made for those who have served and earned is a different story.

I support my local police department...strongly!  But....does that mean it's OK to wear a windbreaker with POLICE on the back?  What's makes it OK to wear Identifiable Military insigia gear but clearly not for other types of organizations?

Not trying to be argumentative, but as a former Army Officer and Aviator, with a wife who is an active duty LT COL in the USAF, both of us who have served in Islamastan, we are pretty sensitive to the posers stealing valor, and we see them all the time.

Cheers

Insignia and patches, If you never served then it doesn't matter. Hopefully one would wear it with the same pride as a service member would.

Prior service people tend to only wear what they had once worn or earned. I do not think I have seem Army folks wearing Marine Corp or Navy, AF stuff. Not unless they were once attached to and/or authorized to wear it.

Gear wise it doesn't matter eitherway it is just gear.

Why the hell would anyone assume that someone in a boonie hat is a vet? How silly.

"Look at that poser piece of shit with a hi and tight haircut, he's stealing muh valors!!!!!"

If he has a canteen... I'm taking off my Mechanix gloves for the hurt

If given to them by a family member or friend, then yes, otherwise no. However, I do not feel it is worth getting into a confrontation over unless they are using it for fraudulent purposes.