Guy faked his way into a high rank in the Army
05-21-2010, 12:11 PM
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Guy faked his way into a high rank in the Army
Interesting
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_army_infiltrator
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_army_infiltrator
QUOTE
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.
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.
