People claiming to be ex Royal Marine/Para

[iambeowulf]

I've met quite a few people over the years who boast about being ex RM/SBS/SAS/Para/Soecial Forces etc. usually it turns out they had a brother or family member in or failed the initial selection process or the 9 month course.

I met a guy recently who claimed to be in "Forty one commando" but a quick google and 41 unit was disbanded in 1980. He's also got the dagger emblem tattooed on his leg. He's only 35.

Why do people lie about this when it would be easy for them to slip up especially if they met s real one, who probably would be a little bit pissed off?

In the U.S. It's called "Stolen valour" and is a criminal offence. (I think)

I was in the Cubs. Hated it.

In Asia (Pattaya mainly) every other person is ex special forces!

Why!

[jmorgan]

There was always someone down the pub who claimed to be something the army but could not tell you what in cos it is secret, you know, what colour is the boat house. Nowadays internet gives them more info to big it up. Sometimes.

Never going to change.

[Asterix]

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Walter-Mitty-Hu...

Always good for a giggle.

[iambeowulf]

Asterix said:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Walter-Mitty-Hu...

Always good for a giggle.

I was only looking at that yesterday.
Quite funny!

[Countdown]

I seem to recall that PH'er eharding is ex-RM? There was a thread on here a few years ago where he challenged another poster who was claiming to be RM and (IIRC) exposed as a Walt by EH

It was embarrassingly funny...

Also isn't there a another poster who's a "low level covert insertion sniper specialist"? Which begs the question "Are there any high level overt insertion sniper specialists"? ......

[e21Mark]

iambeowulf said:

I was in the Cubs. Hated it.

Me too. Maybe there's a leg tattoo available for us?

[HTP99]

A couple of weeks ago we had an old boy in work; really interesting, as people of that generation are, he was chatting to our Director for ages as he is massively into past conflicts, particularly WWII.

He was chatting about WWII and what he got up to; bomber pilot in whatever squadron and a particularly well known mission and so on.

That evening my Director did a bit of research on the internet to try and find the guy, he found the mission, the plane and names of all who took part, this guys name wasn't on it and he couldn't find any reference to him anywhere.

[williamp]

hora said:

Asterix said:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Walter-Mitty-Hu...

Always good for a giggle.

I can't look at things like that, it makes me cringe. I was in the ATC, does that count as 'forces'?

I was an aircadet too. Cant say too much as it was during gulf war 1, but what I do know is that when we flew "combat air patrols" out of Manston in our chipmunks, NOT ONE Iraqi Mig got through to
London....

[Axionknight]

e21Mark said:

iambeowulf said:

I was in the Cubs. Hated it.

Me too. Maybe there's a leg tattoo available for us?

Afraid not, but there's a patch you could sow on to the chest of your shirt/jacket as an alternative.

[wolves_wanderer]

williamp said:

I was an aircadet too. Cant say too much as it was during gulf war 1, but what I do know is that when we flew "combat air patrols" out of Manston in our chipmunks, NOT ONE Iraqi Mig got through to
London....

I bet you never have to buy a pint nowadays, thanks for your service

[ewenm]

Axionknight said:

e21Mark said:

iambeowulf said:

I was in the Cubs. Hated it.

Me too. Maybe there's a leg tattoo available for us?

Afraid not, but there's a patch you could sow on to the chest of your shirt/jacket as an alternative.

I thought the badges went on your sleeves...

[Axionknight]

Times have changed, I'm fat, old and uncool now, so I wear short sleeved shirts to try and look hip.

[e21Mark]

ewenm said:

Axionknight said:

e21Mark said:

iambeowulf said:

I was in the Cubs. Hated it.

Me too. Maybe there's a leg tattoo available for us?

Afraid not, but there's a patch you could sow on to the chest of your shirt/jacket as an alternative.

I thought the badges went on your sleeves...

They did / do. I knew that sewing badge would come in handy. Who's laughing now eh?

[Thankyou4calling]

I am a trained fighter
I am a trained fighter
I am a trained fighter

[escargot]

williamp said:

hora said:

Asterix said:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Walter-Mitty-Hu...

Always good for a giggle.

I can't look at things like that, it makes me cringe. I was in the ATC, does that count as 'forces'?

I was an aircadet too. Cant say too much as it was during gulf war 1, but what I do know is that when we flew "combat air patrols" out of Manston in our chipmunks, NOT ONE Iraqi Mig got through to
London....

[jogon]

My dad past the para course aged 18 and was one of the youngest at the time to have done so apparently. I unfortunately failed the second round of Sandhurst selection and was told to reapply in 2 years but never bothered.

[iambeowulf]

Isn't Sandhurst just for officer training?

[Countdown]

My uncle (ex-REME) serviced the Toyota Landcruisers used by the LRDG (predecessors to the SAS). He saw some awful things which he keeps telling us that he doesnt like to talk about.

[iphonedyou]

iambeowulf said:

Isn't Sandhurst just for officer training?

Maybe they do selection there, too? As they'd have the facilities etc. Like RAFC Cranwell (or like it used to, anyway - don't know about now.)

[Blib]

I manufactured training shoes for the Royal Marines for a brief period in the '80s. Each marine used them for their six week basic training at Lympstone, I seem to remember.

Therefore, for a short time, I was the hardest cobbler on the planet.