re: Fake Green Beret Special Forces Marine Corporal Busted In New Orleans

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Federal and state governments have laws prohibiting the unauthorized wearing of military and police uniforms. For example, a U.S. Marine is allowed to wear Marine Corps uniforms but not Navy uniforms

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That says nothing about civilians

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Stolen Valor Act of 2013 - Amends the federal criminal code to rewrite provisions relating to fraudulent claims about military service to subject to a fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both an individual who, with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit, fraudulently holds himself or herself out to be a recipient of:

a Congressional Medal of Honor,
a distinguished-service cross,
a Navy cross,
an Air Force cross,
a silver star,
a Purple Heart,
a Combat Infantryman's Badge,
a Combat Action Badge,
a Combat Medical Badge,
a Combat Action Ribbon,
a Combat Action Medal, or
any replacement or duplicate medal for such medal as authorized by law.

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LINK


Just wearing the uniform is not a federal offense. Seeking to gain from it is.

Just wearing military gear is not but to adorn an official uniform and present yourself as a military member is illegal. 10 usc 771 and 772 address the only authorized uses of official uniforms. The page I linked cites the exceptions to official uniforms. Keep in mind there is a difference in throwing on a uniform without rank and ribbons or name tags and trying put one on with the intent to pass yourself off as a member of the military.
dipshite read this

You can go to jail for 6 months!

I am an officer in the USAF. The stolen act of valor pertains to simply wearing a uniform but it does not address an authorized uniform. As an officer in the USAF I have uniform codes that regulate the proper usage of my various uniforms. My basic ABUs are generic. If somebody wants to wear ABUs without rank and other badges that is not illegal. The moment you attempt to meet code and are not authorized to wear an officIal uniform and you do that in the U.S. or it's territories, you have violated 10 usc 771 and 772. You are not just trying to get respect/valor, you are impersonating an officer. It is a crime and it is a security risk. You can go to jail for 6 months. If you don't believe me, try it.

Google 10 usc 771 and 772. Now try and find a ruling that strikes them.

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Google 10 usc 771 and 772. Now try and find a ruling that strikes them.

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Read the other post below yours. You are wrong on this FYI.

Under the old Stolen Valor law and 10 usc 771 and 772 someone could be prosecuted for wearing a uniform they were not entitled to or just for making claims of service. The new SV law states they can only be prosecuted if there was a tangible monetary gain received by their fraud.

As OleWar pointed out it is unconstitutional otherwise.

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As an officer in the USAF I have uniform codes that regulate the proper usage of my various uniforms.

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You are not a civilian though.

Don't impersonate Dirk...

These videos are laughable. You're really that butt hurt that some dude is wearing your uniform? That alone shows that you're more concerned with the glory people in the military get than actually protecting your country. Then you're gonna go harass the guy on video and brag about your rank and post it on the internet? It's unfortunate that our great military has to be represented by jackasses like this

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These videos are laughable.

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Pretty much this.

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Stout

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You are badly misinformed.

10 U.S.C. 771 and 772 are federal laws that detail the proper use of official military uniforms. The law is very much enforceable. If you wear a military uniform that designates you as an official and are not, whether civilian or in the wrong branch, you are in violation of federal law. You are subject to fines and prison. This is very much like impersonating an officer of the law. The main difference is that it would be like impersonating an FBI agent. This is a very serious crime.

Somehow you and others have taken the new Stolen Valor Act signed into law in 2013 and made it apply to uniforms. It applies to medals and awards. It is not a crime to simply claim a medal but you must benefit from the claim.

It is one thing to be able to falsely claim a medal. It is another thing to be given the ability to wear an official uniform.

Make no mistake, it is against the law to put on an official uniform unless you are authorized do so.

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Dizz

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So much fail in this thread. It is a federal crime to impersonate a postman. 18 USC 1730. These are federal laws. You can't impersonate any federal officers.

Claiming medal for gain or claiming to be military for a discount is different that dressing up in a current uniform with rank and other insignia that causes one to believe you are official when you are not.

The penalty for doing so is 6 months and fines.

You guys lack the legal acumen to understand the subtlety of the difference between a current uniform and one that is no longer in use. Take BDUs. They are no longer in use. If you want to get in uniform in DBUs and wear rank and all the insignia you are not in violation of 10 USC 771/2. If you wear USAF ABUs and put on rank and insignia it is a violation because it is current and that would be impersonating an officer.

So go buy surplus but if is current do not put on insignia.