Verification of Green Beret/SOCOM Qualification.

TNRat

TNRat

Joined
Sep 18, 2003
Messages
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At some point I thought I saw mention of a website in which I could determine whether someone was airborne, SF, etc. qualified in the past years.

Does anyone know of any such site or listing?

I read an article in USAToday in the past couple of months talking about phony scumbag vets, but don't remember any sites.

I can't find anything worth anything on the 'net.

If you are thinking about replying that this info is strictly classified, top secret, and your buddy can't talk about it blah, blah, blah, blah I would request that you refrain from hitting the reply button since that is of no help. :rolleyes:

I have seen quite a few DD214's in my life that say otherwise when it comes to one's MOS. Just for clarification, if you don't understand the lingo in that last sentence you will probably not be able to help me. :D

Thanks, and God Bless all who have served and lived to share the truth.

T
 
Terry Newton said:
If you are thinking about replying that this info is strictly classified, top secret, and your buddy can't talk about it blah, blah, blah, blah
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Were that true, then your buddy shouldn't be braggin 'bout it.
 
Gollnick said:
Were that true, then your buddy shouldn't be braggin 'bout it.
Click to expand...

As far as the mission itself or info that is quite possibly correct.

The MOS info is what I am looking for.

Thanks.

T
 
Both links point to the Form 180 that can be submitted to the National Archives in St. Louis under the Freedom of Information Act.

Both are a great help. Thanks a bunch. :D
 
Do they notify the person of interest that someone has made an inquiry about them? I'd like to pull my dad's but wouldn't if it would mean him finding out about it. He's a Vietnam vet, and I think it would be too upsetting for him.

Edited to add: I'm not checking to see if my dad's a phoney. (God forbid) I know he served. I just want to know more about his enlistment.
 
I have not yet determined which way that goes.

There is contact info for the St. Louis office all over these links. I would call and ask them directly.

Since we are dealing with the Freedom of Info Act I am not certain the concerned parties ARE notified. I would be inclined to think they are not.

While not exactly the same, when checking one's background through NCIC or TCIC the party being checked on is not notified, or at least was not at the time I was involved in that industry.
 
Thanks Ken.

I haven't read through everything on the site yet. But from what I read, it looks like they would need to get his signature for authorization. And just when I got myself to the point where it didn't matter anymore. I figure that he must want it behind him for a reason. I'm sure that I should be mature enough to respect his decision. Perhaps, I should continue down that path...:( :confused:
 
There is a way of obtaining information from the National Archives, without the vet's consent or being the next-of-kin, but you will need a great deal of the vet's personal information (i.e., vet's complete name, service number, social security number, branch of service, date of birth, place of birth, and dates of service).

If you don't have the information and or the request is suspect (does not conform to FOIA), your request will be denied ! And just because you have the necessary information ~ you may not receive what you expect.

Also keep in mind that information requests take a great deal of time, due to the National Archives receiving thousands of requests per day. To give you an idea, it can take three weeks to three months (and longer) for a vet to receive a single copy of their DD Form 214.

If you've haven't experienced a FOIA request (especially dealing with military records). . . .GOOD LUCK ! Several years ago, I made a documentation request, on moi, and it was turned down and was told that I would have to make a stab at obtaining said documentation via a FOIA request. 18 months later, and after numerous rejections (through the review/appleate process), I received a 125 page package that was worthless. :D I would estimate that 95 percent of the document was blacked out.

They take the Privacy Act VERY seriously !


Provisions of the Privacy Act

The basic provisions of the Privacy Act, as it applies to military and civilian records at NPRC (MPR), are to provide safeguards for an individual against an invasion of personal privacy by:

* permitting the subject to find out what records pertaining to him/her are maintained;

* permitting the subject to prevent records that pertain to him/her from being used or made available for purposes other than the purpose for which they were created; and

* permitting the subject to gain access to the records, or to have photocopies made of all or any portion thereof, and to correct or amend such records.

The Privacy Act places great emphasis on the privacy of the individual named in the record, and carries provisions for civil action against Federal agencies for violations of an individual's rights under the Act.
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ETA: Don't let the "next-of-kin" termnology fool you. It deals with the "next-of-kin" of a deceased vet. Specifically, the "unremarried widow or widower, son or daughter, father or mother, brother or sister of the deceased veteran." And then there are "authorized third party requesters." :D No matter you're status, all requests MUST BE EXTREMELY SPECIFIC !
 
Terry, how's the search going? Good advice from everybody.

Yeah, guys claiming phony military awards or credentials is a huge annoyance to other veterans (to put it very mildly). I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone last night who has been so po'd that he has actively gone after some of these guys.

One general rule is that the guys who did the most brag about it the least, but sounds like you know that.

I am instantly dubious to the point of being dismissive if a guy claims some kind of "top-secret" or "super-classified" elite military career or combat status. It's a very small fraternity, and they don't brag, and they always have a history in other SF or SOCOM type units. These guys aren't chosen out of thin air. Phonies also clam up or get mad and run away when questioned by knowledgeable vets, in my experience.

"Stolen Valor" by Burkett and Whitley (written about 1999 or so) talks about this problem extensively and is well-researched, but now just a little dated.

One route that sometimes works is to challenge the guy to be specific about one of the units he was with. The Vietnam era unit I started with maintains a web site. We've put together a roster of guys who actually served and love to debunk the claims of phonies. There are lots of 'em, unfortunately. An email to the administrator of the site, or to the bulletin board will get replies.
 
The most common indicators of a fake "special operations" vet:

1.) Constant bragging.

2.) Low intelligence / apparent mental illness.

3.) Constantly endorses the use of extreme violence / makes threats of violence versus others.

4.) Wears military BDUs / combat boots frequently.

5.) Unemployed, or employed at a degrading job most teenagers would turn down.

6.) Has no apparent family or friends -- or none that care about him.

7.) Paranoid and hostile -- uses "PTSD" as an excuse to act out inappropriately.

8.) Usually drunk.

9.) In poor physical condition (scrawny or obese).

10.) Lives with his Mommie, at the YMCA, or at a half-way house for sex offenders.


I've had a number of friends who were with various elite military units. They almost never talk about it. Furthermore, many soldiers assigned to elite units never see combat.

In my experience, nearly everyone who brags about such things is a mentally-ill degenerate with low self-esteem who probably wants a free drink. These freaks need whuppins.
 
I take it you know someone like that?
Click to expand...

I have and obviously you have, too.

I have a tough, modest Uncle in Idaho, still alive, who is a WWII Marine veteran of Okinawa. He never told war stories, but he did say, years ago:

"You wanna know where all of the big talkers was when the fightin' was a'goin' on? --- Well, they was busy duckin'.
 
in combat. I was in the Army right after Vietnam and almost all of the Senior NCO's I was around were there. None of them ever talked about it. The only thing I ever killed in the Army was about 1000 gallons of German beer.;) Wannabees make me puke. They dishonor the real operators and fighters.

Steve
 
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