Mall Ninjas, Armchair Rangers, Keyboard commandos

[hankpac]

Re: Mall Ninjas, Armchair Rangers, Keyboard comman

Army here, 101st ABN as in my sig 91B2P after coming back from VN. 91A when I got there. In country, I was blessed to serve with C company of 1/327, 101, and Tiger Force, the battalion Scout Team.
I wear one of "those" ball caps, with a bunch of stuff on it, and it seems to drag out wanna-be's out of the woodwork.
I was at a train station waiting for an excursion ride in central Iowa one day, with my wife and grandson (he is big on trains). A guy walks up to me, about my age, wearing a ball cap with jump wings on it.
He starts out with "I was in an elite unit." I think, "Oh, shit."
He didn't know the unit designation, other than Airborne. Didn't know his service number. I let him run down, and told him "I am sitting in the first car, you sit in any other car you like, but don't sit in my car." And walked away.
My wife worked as the County Veteran's Service Officer in Texas, and she found that the simplest means to start to vet an applicant is to ask his service number. The real thing, spouts the number off with no hesitation. Just a start.
Recently our newspaper (small town) had an article mentioning that a new guy was moving to town, to work for our and the neighboring county. the article mentioned that the guy said he was a Navy Seal (not SEAL). I did a quick google, located the people who vet SEAL claimants, and started the process. They outed him in very, very short order. The Navy people indicated he was not only never a SEAL, he never served at all. The County got wind of all this, and the Commissioner who became interested is a Marine VN Vet. The guy asked to resign and never moved to town. Took about a week.
BTW, in reference to a post above, I only had one close friend, die in my arms, although I lost many friends, and many men whose names I did not even know. We lost 60% of our battalion just taking FB Veghel in 68.
I also saved a few, that I never saw again. Until recently. Photo: Left to right, medic, machine gunner, platoon sgt, point man, squad leader.

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[Short-bus]

Re: Mall Ninjas, Armchair Rangers, Keyboard comman

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: hankpac</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Army here, 101st ABN as in my sig 91B2P after coming back from VN. 91A when I got there. In country, I was blessed to serve with C company of 1/327, 101, and Tiger Force, the battalion Scout Team.
I wear one of "those" ball caps, with a bunch of stuff on it, and it seems to drag out wanna-be's out of the woodwork.
I was at a train station waiting for an excursion ride in central Iowa one day, with my wife and grandson (he is big on trains). A guy walks up to me, about my age, wearing a ball cap with jump wings on it.
He starts out with "I was in an elite unit." I think, "Oh, shit."
He didn't know the unit designation, other than Airborne. Didn't know his service number. I let him run down, and told him "I am sitting in the first car, you sit in any other car you like, but don't sit in my car." And walked away.
My wife worked as the County Veteran's Service Officer in Texas, and she found that the simplest means to start to vet an applicant is to ask his service number. The real thing, spouts the number off with no hesitation. Just a start.
Recently our newspaper (small town) had an article mentioning that a new guy was moving to town, to work for our and the neighboring county. the article mentioned that the guy said he was a Navy Seal (not SEAL). I did a quick google, located the people who vet SEAL claimants, and started the process. They outed him in very, very short order. The Navy people indicated he was not only never a SEAL, he never served at all. The County got wind of all this, and the Commissioner who became interested is a Marine VN Vet. The guy asked to resign and never moved to town. Took about a week.
BTW, in reference to a post above, I only had one close friend, die in my arms, although I lost many friends, and many men whose names I did not even know. We lost 60% of our battalion just taking FB Veghel in 68.
I also saved a few, that I never saw again. Until recently. Photo: Left to right, medic, machine gunner, platoon sgt, point man, squad leader.
</div></div>

A couple things, first of all, thank you very much for your service sir.

Second, perhaps this isn't done anymore, but I haven't a clue what my "service number" is, unless you are talking about my SSN. I served from '97-'00 (have the DD214 in front of me now as a matter of fact, job apps, sheesh!), and I can't recall ever being asked for a service number.

Branden

 

[Lindy]

Re: Mall Ninjas, Armchair Rangers, Keyboard comman

People used to have a service number which was not their SSN. My father's AF service number had 4 digits - he was in the Army Air Corp when it became the Air Force. My Marine Corp service number had 7 digits, and I still remember it.

 

[scaxeman]

Re: Mall Ninjas, Armchair Rangers, Keyboard comman

Branden,

I joined in '87... my "service number" was my social... the last 4 of which was stenciled on EVERY damn thing in boot camp.

 

[Short-bus]

Re: Mall Ninjas, Armchair Rangers, Keyboard comman

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Darrell Buell</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Branden,

I joined in '87... my "service number" was my social... the last 4 of which was stenciled on EVERY damn thing in boot camp.

</div></div>

Ahh, I see. They used our last 4 of our SSN for most everything, they didn't call it a service number though. Funny thing, my last room mate before I got out had the same last 4, and was in my squad. We had to do something to out duffle bags to differentiate them, I don't remember what, need to go out to the shed.

Branden

 

[GlockandRoll]

Re: Mall Ninjas, Armchair Rangers, Keyboard comman

Funny how the tougher guys seem to be, the more cool headed about it they are. I guess an empty can really does rattle the most.

 

[Sespe]

Re: Mall Ninjas, Armchair Rangers, Keyboard commandos

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nailz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wasn't in the Marines, an ex Army guy here, but aside from a Marine being too smart to just blaze away into the night with a .357 that has more capacity than I have heard of, there are things that obviously come to mind...

You don't remember your MOS? He got out in like 2001? I remember EXACTLY what day I ETS'd. Throw a few acronyms at him that any Marine would know, you should have called him on it, that is pathetic....

I was never a front line infantry soldier, but I was proud to do what I did (97G, basic at Ft. Lost in the Woods, AIT in Ft. Huachuca, and active at Ft. Meade), it just pisses me off to no end that every single person I meet that we end up talking about the military is either a Ranger, or a SEAL, or was in Recon, but can't tell me where they went to basic because it's CLASSIFIED.
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Funny, I'm quite similar to you. I feel like a poser compared to current Army veterans. I was 97E 84-94. Light Infantry and Airborne, but that doesn't count today. Only shot ever fired at my was by a dumba$$ Lieutenant on the range. Those serving today have a much tougher time than I did.

And, SFC Parker, Fort Leonard Wood 1984: I picked up my first AR-15 in well over 10 years last week. I still could perform the manual of arms correctly.

(You never forget your Drill Sergeant).

 

[Short-bus]

Re: Mall Ninjas, Armchair Rangers, Keyboard commandos

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sespe</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">Only shot ever fired at my was by a dumba$$ Lieutenant on the range. </span> Those serving today have a much tougher time than I did.</div></div>

I had a squad leader during a trench clearing live fire that was a pretty big guy, went to throw the live hand grenade into the bunker 90 degrees to the left of the trench leg that I was pulling security in and about 8' or so to my front. The dumbass throws the grenade too high and hits the boards on the top of the "door" and it bounces back out and lands on the ground in direct line of sight in front of me 8' or so away. I didn't know it until i saw this 240lbs squad leader of mine scream like a girl and in a singular fluid movement flew out of the trench like god himself picked him up and out. That's when I saw what was going on. I did the most spectacular combat roll down the other leg of the trench to take cover that anyone would have ever seen if anyone did see it. They were too busy taking cover. I'm glad that grenades have a long delay.

My latest mall ninja who was telling everyone that he was recon, was fired for being a douche bag, and whining like a little girl about everything. Doesn't sound like a recon Marine to me. The other original recon loser has also since been fired. So far, no mall ninjas at work for the time being. The boss doing the hiring doesn't particular like ex-military, he say's that I was the first ex-mil person he hired that was worth a damn. I'm sure he'll be avoiding more mall ninjas in the future as I asked him to not hire them.

I still like to encounter them at the range, if I wanted to actually be so, I could be their god. I need a little more multicam stuff though.

Branden

 

[boom2336]

Re: Mall Ninjas, Armchair Rangers, Keyboard commandos

The best is when I am in country and hear guys at the BX/PX, chow hall, disbo, or post office talking big stories. I hear these stories and bite my lip to not say anything. Then the wost part is when they turn around and see your credentials on your uniform and start talking to you like you dont know they are full of shit.