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Don't care about what he is doing and saying if it's just posing. But if he "I am superior than you because i'm MARINE" well... he deserves hard beating

 Ahtman wrote:
I stepped on a ship once therefor I am now a Captain. Call me Captain Ahtman. Avast Ye.

Arrrr pass me me rum or you'll feel me cold steel arrrryyrrrrrrrr...

Well, Ironically he is in fact a veteran. If you serve a day in the Military you have officially become a veteran and are entitled to all the things that come with that, for instance if his knee is legitimately hurt he can go to the VA and set up an appointment to get checked out and eventually get to the Claims part and he could possibly earn disability for the rest of his life.

I retired from the USMC a few years ago and I can tell you from my perspective, and I think most if not all of my brother and sisters would agree, your brother in law is NOT a US Marine.

At Boot Camp you are a recruit, you don't even get to use your own name until after the Crucible. Once you finish that last training evolution you stand in a formation with your entire Recruit Company and covered in Blood, Sweat, Rain, Mud and all sort of other things you are handed individually a Eagle Globe and Anchor and are told that you are now a US Marine.

Since your brother in law washed out basically in the 1st week of training (Week 1 is indoc and administrative BS) he is nothing more then a failed recruit. I would suggest you take him to any place frequented by actual Marines on Veterans Day or the following day (November 10th) which is the USMC Birthday and watch as he tries his BS and get put in his place.

As far as you serving in the Air Force as Security forces, thank you for your service. Between you and the "Elite" Pararescue you provided hours of entertainment. Almost as much fun as stealing Army Rifles they kept leaving unguarded

Lol...2 weeks in, did he even get his first set of shots? Did he receive a general discharge or entry level discharge?

 Chute82 wrote:
Lol...2 weeks in, did he even get his first set of shots? Did he receive a general discharge or entry level discharge?

At 2 weeks for a medical problem he most likely got an administrative separation, but he was on med hold for 2 months so possibly a med board (fastest one I have ever seen). Who knows though and it wouldn't honestly change the perception that he ISN'T a Marine.

If he's claiming benefits off this, does it not count as stolen valour, or does that require medals and commendations?

 Mozzyfuzzy wrote:
If he's claiming benefits off this, does it not count as stolen valour, or does that require medals and commendations?

I didn't see the OP say he's getting actual government benefits from this, other than a drink at the bar or discount at McDonald's.

Lame, though.

Should've clarified that I meant the 10% off that some places offer for Vets or stuff related to those kind of benefits, not the government kind.

Any chance you have any relatives or friends who are Marines who could set the guy straight? I imagine the local VFW or VA has a few guys who could explain to him how it works. It's cool he's proud of the Marines. Not so cool to be a washout pretending to be something he's not.

 Mozzyfuzzy wrote:
If he's claiming benefits off this, does it not count as stolen valour, or does that require medals and commendations?

Well, since the Supreme Court has stated that Stolen Valor is not a crime, doesn't really matter.

It's not a "stolen valor". Tehnically, he's a veteran. He can use any benefits like price discounts government give him.

 Freakazoitt wrote:
It's not a "stolen valor". Tehnically, he's a veteran. He can use any benefits like price discounts government give him.

I think that short of a service connected injury, there is a 180 day requirement of service to legally be considered a veteran.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 djones520 wrote:

 Mozzyfuzzy wrote:
If he's claiming benefits off this, does it not count as stolen valour, or does that require medals and commendations?

Well, since the Supreme Court has stated that Stolen Valor is not a crime, doesn't really matter.

Could there still be general fraud charges at the local level if someone gets benefits via deception? If so it would probably be up to McDonalds to decide how much trouble it is worth to get the money back for their discounted coffee.

 d-usa wrote:


I think that short of a service connected injury, there is a 180 day requirement of service to legally be considered a veteran.

and therefore I confuse the terms. then it can be considered a "have served" to legally

in Russia called veterans who took part in a war, I thought that you have so called who served

there are benefits for serving and they works even if service lasted 1 day

VA employee here who does deal with eligibility. It would depend on his separation. It would most likely be an entry level separation of uncharacterized, which for VA purposes is considered Honorable (technically, under conditions other than dishonorable). He would, in that case, be considered a veteran, again for VA purposes. If, however, he had a voided enlistment or induction, then an actual determination would need to take place (by the VA) before the service could be considered Honorable or not (again, technically under conditions other than dishonorable).

The VA's definition of a veteran is, "A Veteran is a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable."

38 CFR for those that want it:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/3.12

Edit: Please don't hurt me, my claim was also delayed for over a year in the hell hole that is known as the Atlanta VA Regional Office.

 Evil Lamp 6 wrote:
Please don't hurt me

I'm sorry it is far to late for that; they have been sent and will be arriving shortly.

 conker249 wrote:
He served 2 weeks in Marine Corps Basic training(he gave up claiming his knee hurt), He got to his 2nd week and after receiving a letter from his fiance to come home, he now claims he is hurt and after 2 months of med hold, comes home. Only to start working as a tower climber. Doesn't seem right to me to fall out because of knee problems, only to go into a job that is physically stressful.

While that certainly does sound dubious, I'm inclined to give people the benefit of the doubt. There are reams of fairly trivial medical problems which preclude people from being soldiers, things like acne and haemorrhoids (for example). Just because someone is able to do a physical job, doesn't necessarily mean they are fit for service in remote locations, or able to march long distances with heavy equipment.

To put an alternative perspective out there, It's possible that he really had his heart set on being a marine, and through no fault of his own, this injury prevented him. That happens sometimes: I went to school with a guy who had his heart set on joining the Navy, it was all he ever wanted to do. After we left school he applied, but for some reason he wasn't able to pass the medical, and that was that. He never told me exactly what was wrong, and obviously I didn't ask, but whatever it was, it didn't stop him from playing football, and being perfectly healthy (so far as I could see).

I'm not saying that makes him a marine, but just maybe it makes him not a poser. It might be something that's really important to the guy, which was taken away.

 Smacks wrote:

 conker249 wrote:
He served 2 weeks in Marine Corps Basic training(he gave up claiming his knee hurt), He got to his 2nd week and after receiving a letter from his fiance to come home, he now claims he is hurt and after 2 months of med hold, comes home. Only to start working as a tower climber. Doesn't seem right to me to fall out because of knee problems, only to go into a job that is physically stressful.

While that certainly does sound dubious, I'm inclined to give people the benefit of the doubt. There are reams of fairly trivial medical problems which preclude people from being soldiers, things like acne and haemorrhoids (for example). Just because someone is able to do a physical job, doesn't necessarily mean they are fit for service in remote locations, or able to march long distances with heavy equipment.

To put an alternative perspective out there, It's possible that he really had his heart set on being a marine, and through no fault of his own, this injury prevented him. That happens sometimes: I went to school with a guy who had his heart set on joining the Navy, it was all he ever wanted to do. After we left school he applied, but for some reason he wasn't able to pass the medical, and that was that. He never told me exactly what was wrong, and obviously I didn't ask, but whatever it was, it didn't stop him from playing football, and being perfectly healthy (so far as I could see).

I'm not saying that makes him a marine, but just maybe it makes him not a poser. It might be something that's really important to the guy, which was taken away.

If a man has to be obtuse about his service when asked about it, so he doesn't admit that he never made it through basic, then he is a poser.

 Smacks wrote:

 conker249 wrote:
He served 2 weeks in Marine Corps Basic training(he gave up claiming his knee hurt), He got to his 2nd week and after receiving a letter from his fiance to come home, he now claims he is hurt and after 2 months of med hold, comes home. Only to start working as a tower climber. Doesn't seem right to me to fall out because of knee problems, only to go into a job that is physically stressful.

While that certainly does sound dubious, I'm inclined to give people the benefit of the doubt. There are reams of fairly trivial medical problems which preclude people from being soldiers, things like acne and haemorrhoids (for example). Just because someone is able to do a physical job, doesn't necessarily mean they are fit for service in remote locations, or able to march long distances with heavy equipment.

To put an alternative perspective out there, It's possible that he really had his heart set on being a marine, and through no fault of his own, this injury prevented him. That happens sometimes: I went to school with a guy who had his heart set on joining the Navy, it was all he ever wanted to do. After we left school he applied, but for some reason he wasn't able to pass the medical, and that was that. He never told me exactly what was wrong, and obviously I didn't ask, but whatever it was, it didn't stop him from playing football, and being perfectly healthy (so far as I could see).

I'm not saying that makes him a marine, but just maybe it makes him not a poser. It might be something that's really important to the guy, which was taken away.

I would be inclined to agree if he was more upfront about his status. Something like saying, "I was a recruit at one time and didn't finish boot camp so I can't claim the title, but I still really like the Marine Corps and want to show my support." I personally wouldn't find anything wrong with that. Claiming the title when it's not earned is wrong though.

 Hordini wrote:
I would be inclined to agree if he was more upfront about his status. Something like saying, "I was a recruit at one time and didn't finish boot camp so I can't claim the title, but I still really like the Marine Corps and want to show my support." I personally wouldn't find anything wrong with that. Claiming the title when it's not earned is wrong though.

This is correct. The Captain has spoken.

 Ahtman wrote:

 Hordini wrote:
I would be inclined to agree if he was more upfront about his status. Something like saying, "I was a recruit at one time and didn't finish boot camp so I can't claim the title, but I still really like the Marine Corps and want to show my support." I personally wouldn't find anything wrong with that. Claiming the title when it's not earned is wrong though.

This is correct. The Captain has spoken.

Hear hear! Thank you, my good sir.

 djones520 wrote:

 Smacks wrote:

 conker249 wrote:
He served 2 weeks in Marine Corps Basic training(he gave up claiming his knee hurt), He got to his 2nd week and after receiving a letter from his fiance to come home, he now claims he is hurt and after 2 months of med hold, comes home. Only to start working as a tower climber. Doesn't seem right to me to fall out because of knee problems, only to go into a job that is physically stressful.

While that certainly does sound dubious, I'm inclined to give people the benefit of the doubt. There are reams of fairly trivial medical problems which preclude people from being soldiers, things like acne and haemorrhoids (for example). Just because someone is able to do a physical job, doesn't necessarily mean they are fit for service in remote locations, or able to march long distances with heavy equipment.

To put an alternative perspective out there, It's possible that he really had his heart set on being a marine, and through no fault of his own, this injury prevented him. That happens sometimes: I went to school with a guy who had his heart set on joining the Navy, it was all he ever wanted to do. After we left school he applied, but for some reason he wasn't able to pass the medical, and that was that. He never told me exactly what was wrong, and obviously I didn't ask, but whatever it was, it didn't stop him from playing football, and being perfectly healthy (so far as I could see).

I'm not saying that makes him a marine, but just maybe it makes him not a poser. It might be something that's really important to the guy, which was taken away.

If a man has to be obtuse about his service when asked about it, so he doesn't admit that he never made it through basic, then he is a poser.

While I am very hesitant to use the term "malingerer"... it does seem to fit the bill here... IF the OP is being completely honest (and really, we don't have any indications to not believe him) with the situation: leaving a physically destructive job like the military, for a job that is just as physically destructive (climbing cell towers) just screams of malingering.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 djones520 wrote:

 Smacks wrote:

 conker249 wrote:
He served 2 weeks in Marine Corps Basic training(he gave up claiming his knee hurt), He got to his 2nd week and after receiving a letter from his fiance to come home, he now claims he is hurt and after 2 months of med hold, comes home. Only to start working as a tower climber. Doesn't seem right to me to fall out because of knee problems, only to go into a job that is physically stressful.

While that certainly does sound dubious, I'm inclined to give people the benefit of the doubt. There are reams of fairly trivial medical problems which preclude people from being soldiers, things like acne and haemorrhoids (for example). Just because someone is able to do a physical job, doesn't necessarily mean they are fit for service in remote locations, or able to march long distances with heavy equipment.

To put an alternative perspective out there, It's possible that he really had his heart set on being a marine, and through no fault of his own, this injury prevented him. That happens sometimes: I went to school with a guy who had his heart set on joining the Navy, it was all he ever wanted to do. After we left school he applied, but for some reason he wasn't able to pass the medical, and that was that. He never told me exactly what was wrong, and obviously I didn't ask, but whatever it was, it didn't stop him from playing football, and being perfectly healthy (so far as I could see).

I'm not saying that makes him a marine, but just maybe it makes him not a poser. It might be something that's really important to the guy, which was taken away.

If a man has to be obtuse about his service when asked about it, so he doesn't admit that he never made it through basic, then he is a poser.

While I am very hesitant to use the term "malingerer"... it does seem to fit the bill here... IF the OP is being completely honest (and really, we don't have any indications to not believe him) with the situation: leaving a physically destructive job like the military, for a job that is just as physically destructive (climbing cell towers) just screams of malingering.

Eh, it's likely he rehabbed. My question though, why didn't he rejoin? If he's so gung ho about it, and he's phsyically capable, then it should have been a no brainer.

*snip*

More than 180 Days service is required along with General or Honorable discharge if he was injured.

Week two, he would have just got shots.

 djones520 wrote:

Eh, it's likely he rehabbed. My question though, why didn't he rejoin? If he's so gung ho about it, and he's phsyically capable, then it should have been a no brainer.

I suspect it may have something to do with the fiance.... probably a "me or the Corps" type ultimatum (had she known about the spouse benefits she may have changed her tune)

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 djones520 wrote:

Eh, it's likely he rehabbed. My question though, why didn't he rejoin? If he's so gung ho about it, and he's phsyically capable, then it should have been a no brainer.

I suspect it may have something to do with the fiance.... probably a "me or the Corps" type ultimatum (had she known about the spouse benefits she may have changed her tune)

What are these 'spouse benefits' of which you speak?


Seeing as my wife is still active duty and I am not, I want to know what I am entitled to as a Dependa!

BAH, food allowance, (depending on branch as BAH I think is supposed to primarily cover that,) on base housing, Tricare, stuff like that. Ens is probably better explaining on that front however.

Screw on post housing. We had to have it when we were both stationed in Panama. That was the only time. Hated it. Especially since we both lost BAH, effectively paying double to get quarters that a family with one service member would have gotten with just his/her BAH.

Especially now, with the horses, on post housing don't cut it. I've never seen on post housing with its own 100 yard rifle range like I have on my property either...

The mischievous part of me would suggest taking him to an American Legion Post some time around Veteran's Day and letting him try to hoodwink actual veterans. I'm sure they would be able to set the record straight in short order.

 CptJake wrote:
Seeing as my wife is still active duty and I am not, I want to know what I am entitled to as a Dependa!

Men don't count, you just need to pull up your bootstraps harder.

 CptJake wrote:

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 djones520 wrote:

Eh, it's likely he rehabbed. My question though, why didn't he rejoin? If he's so gung ho about it, and he's phsyically capable, then it should have been a no brainer.

I suspect it may have something to do with the fiance.... probably a "me or the Corps" type ultimatum (had she known about the spouse benefits she may have changed her tune)

What are these 'spouse benefits' of which you speak?


Seeing as my wife is still active duty and I am not, I want to know what I am entitled to as a Dependa!

Lol, as I am currently in your boat (soon to be not)... we used to be dual-military as well.

But yeah... for someone with no military experience, the free medical, cheap dental (it isn't free no more), I used to throw in housing... but it's a bit crap everywhere I've been. The PX/BX/ Navy Exchange, etc. and Commissary are decent enough, especially if you like certain regional brands, and don't live in that region (or international stuff).

And I'll echo CptJake... Worst time for the wife and I was when we were in Germany, we both lost BAH to live in cramped, tiny quarters that were definitely not big enough for our needs (what can I say, we both have a propensity for books, which take up space)