Texas man faked way into Army

Andy in NH

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Faked he was a Marine and joined the Army!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_army_infiltrator

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FORT WORTH, Texas – A Texas man with no military experience tricked the Army into letting him enter a reserve unit as a noncommissioned officer earlier this year, a deception that placed an untrained soldier in a leadership position in a time of war, an Associated Press investigation has found.

The revelation comes just months after the Army drew criticism for failing to flag the suspicious activities of the Army psychiatrist now charged with killing 13 and wounding dozens of others at Fort Hood.

The case, detailed in court records and other documents examined by the AP, raises more questions about the Army's ability to vet soldiers' backgrounds as it faces continued pressure from Congress over its screening and records system. While the soldier never deployed overseas, some say the case demonstrates how easily someone could pose as a member of the U.S. military.

Jesse Bernard Johnston III, 26, joined the Army Reserve in February as a sergeant and was assigned to the Corps Support Airplane Company based at the Fort Worth Naval Air Station. But he wasn't qualified to hold that rank, according to military records obtained by the AP. The records show that Johnston's only military experience was attending part of a 12-week Marine officer candidate course for college students in 2004.

Maj. Shawn Haney, spokeswoman for Marine Manpower and Reserve Affairs, said Johnston didn't complete the course's final six weeks. "He was never considered a Marine," she said.

The matter, currently under investigation by the Army, means a soldier received a security clearance and was in position to lead troops in combat even though he hadn't gone through basic training or spent any time in the service. The Corps Support Airplane Company has been deployed in Iraq, providing pilots as well as intelligence and support personnel for an aviation battalion set up to destroy improvised explosive devices.

If it's proven that Johnston gained his Army rank based on a phony Marine record, it would be the first documented case of so-called "stolen valor" in which the military was duped during the enlistment process, according to watchdogs of such fraud. Most cases involve attempts to get veterans' benefits or other forms of financial gain. Congress attempted to crack down on military impostors in 2005 by passing a law that makes it a crime to claim false decorations or medals.

"This just raises some incredibly significant issues at a time when this country is involved in a global war on terror," said Rep. Mike Coffman, a Colorado Republican who served with the Marines in Iraq and the first Gulf War. "If this person was able to penetrate the military fraudulently, you have to ask the question: Couldn't somebody who was out to do harm to our country do the same thing?"

Coffman is pushing for the creation of a single database for all military records as a step toward eliminating fraud.

Army officials, citing an ongoing investigation, declined to provide details of Johnston's enlistment or say whether he's suspected of providing false documents or using some other means to make himself out to be an ex-Marine.

Questions about Johnston were raised by an officer who grew concerned when Johnston couldn't satisfactorily explain how he got certain Marine medals and ribbons that he displayed. The officer, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation, said he contacted Marine and Army legal authorities and learned from the Marines that Johnston never served.

Lt. Col. Maria Quon, spokeswoman for the Army's Human Resources Command, said her database contains an entry showing Johnston joined the military in 2002, but there are no documents to support the 2002 date. She described the lack of documentation as unusual and said it likely means the date was entered this year. The National Personnel Records Center, which collects information on all who have been discharged from the military, informed the AP that it could find no evidence that Johnston ever served.

Since March, Johnston has been stationed at Fort Rucker in Alabama, the primary training base for Army aviation. The Army declined to provide details of Johnston's assignment. Johnston did not respond to phone and e-mail messages seeking comment.

In a recent court proceeding, Johnston's former wife, also an Army reservist, accused him of using falsified documents to make it appear he'd served in the Marines. Melanie Rolfing, 24, made the claim in a sworn statement filed last month in Fort Worth family court when she had her two-year marriage annulled, alleging fraud. Johnston did not contest the annulment.

In her affidavit, Rolfing said she met Johnston in 2006 and that he joined her Army Reserve unit so they could fulfill their dream of becoming Army aviators together. She said Johnston led her to believe he'd served as a Marine in Iraq and Afghanistan and earned a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. He would even attend military functions wearing a Marine dress uniform, and people would come up to shake his hand and ask about his medals, she said.

"I don't know who Jesse Bernard Johnston III is, but I do know he is not the man he claimed to be," she stated in the affidavit. Rolfing, a sergeant in Johnston's unit, said the Army has ordered her not to talk about the case publicly.

The idea that a volatile soldier could be hidden in the Army's ranks has drawn congressional scrutiny since Maj. Nidal Hasan opened fire on his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood in November. After the shootings, evidence emerged that Hasan behaved erratically and maintained ties to a radical Islamic cleric. The Army has refused congressional requests for documents detailing what the Army knew about Hasan's behavior, citing the ongoing criminal case.
 
Of course it can happen.

We have a Commander in Chief that is a flaming socialist and has never shown proof of birth, likes to hang out with terrorists, and takes policy suggestions from leaders of OTHER countries.

As for this human slime by the name of Jesse, I think a tragic accident where he [STRIKE] is pushed[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]thrown[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]launched[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]sucked[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]requested[/STRIKE] accidentally finds himself leaving a plane at 40,000 feet is in order.
 
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How is that even possible?

It is an organization run by the Federal Govt., Derek. I know MEPS Albany doesn't (or atleast, didn't) even require original hard copies of paperwork to go through. If it happens there, it happens elsewhere. Fake a document, fax it, scan it, print it, then hand it in.


That being said, this would either take brass balls or a seriously messed up individual. And, seeing as if the guy had brass balls, he would probably have finished USMC OCS, I'd go with the latter.
 
How is that even possible?

Possible because when the government is involved anything is possible. [laugh]

If this guy was actually good at BSing, he probably would have stayed undetected, unless he applied
for some MOS that required a full background check. (Well, at least until his lack of knowledge showed through).

Course, if he was good at anything, he would have entered the service legitimately, so that idea is sort of a non starter. [laugh]

-Mike
 
Lt. Col. Maria Quon, spokeswoman for the Army's Human Resources Command, said her database contains an entry showing Johnston joined the military in 2002, but there are no documents to support the 2002 date. She described the lack of documentation as unusual and said it likely means the date was entered this year. The National Personnel Records Center, which collects information on all who have been discharged from the military, informed the AP that it could find no evidence that Johnston ever served.

left hand doesn't talk to the right hand.

i left the Regular Army (Active Duty) and came into the National Guard.... NONE of my personnel or medical records followed me.

for Medical / Dental: i had copies of "most" of the important stuff
for Personnel: i had my "I LOVE ME" binder.... -but that was in 2003.

more of the files are availalbe electronically nowdays (iPerms for Army / Army Reserve / National Guard)

based on his phony entrance date(s), it is very possible, and likley he fudged some documents... those who have served in more than one component can probably remember "that" guy that came from zzzyyyxxx and had all kinds of awards, skill tabs w/o any actual proof. [laugh]

Jesse Bernard Johnston III, 26, joined the Army Reserve in February as a sergeant and was assigned to the Corps Support Airplane Company based at the Fort Worth Naval Air Station. But he wasn't qualified to hold that rank, according to military records obtained by the AP. The records show that Johnston's only military experience was attending part of a 12-week Marine officer candidate course for college students in 2004.

there it is... that's when the "iPerms" started kicking in for the Army Reserve / Army Guard, i'm not sure about the other branches, but back then (2004), a supply guy could enter the National Guard as an Special Ops Astronaut Ranger Sapper with the 1st Presidents Hundred Detachment (HSLD-Light) [laugh]
 
Why is this such a surprise?
Welcome to the new virtual world where nothing is real anymore.
A bullshit artist recently faked his way into Harvard with a scholarship and another bullshit artist faked his way into the Whitehouse.
 
It seems like every fake Marine has awarded themselves jump wings. When I went through Ft. Benning there were something like 150~200 people in my company. There were about a dozen Marines. It's a pretty small group in the USMC that has them. Talk about calling attention to yourself when you go from a Marine Recon unit to a guy in the Corps Support Airplane Company.

B
 
"mustard" wings - aka combat jump...

The Navy-Marine Corps Parachutist insignia (Gold jump wings) can also be earned without going to combat.

Either way, this chump didn't do anything to earn any part of those uniforms.
 
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