Ken Aden supporters; Don’t try this at home
Tim and I have been trying for days now to get Ken Aden’s DD214 that he supposedly “publicly released” to a select few media outlets. They confused me with Tim and think Tim owns this blog. So much for amateurs investigating anything. But now, this idiot at Blue Arkansas thinks he has a blockbuster defense of Aden and has the temerity to call this a right wing blog. Actually, dimbulb, we’re a military blog and I’m about to show you why we’re a military blog and why you shouldn’t try to do what we do. Here’s what he thinks is proof that Ken Aden didn’t lie when he said he is a Green Beret;
Yup, he can read – it says SF Weapons Sergeant right there in the circle. But look at the last unit in block 8a – 73rd Armor isn’t a special forces unit, last I checked. The date of the DD214 coincides with the date in his FOIA and yet in the Military Education block (suspiciously missing from the DD214) doesn’t mention SFQC. There is no Special Forces tab in the decorations and awards block of the FOIA (another block suspiciously missing from the abbreviated DD214).
Of course, Aden’s defenders take the route of questioning the veracity of the FOIA instead of asking why they only got half of his DD214. Smooth move there, guys. No soup for you.
Category: Phony soldiers
TSO: I believe 18-series MOS/specialties are only granted on completion of SFQC and that OJT is not an authorized method of granting the MOS/specialty. One of the regulars here from the SF community should be able to tell us definitively if that’s the case.
I figured that as well, but it seemed the only possible way out that didn’t involve something fairly nefarious, so thought I would give it a shot.
@49 Great. I am so glad you have been there and done that. I also relieved to know that you have seen so much, it is really difficult to get someone to understand.
But guess what? History is filled with highly educated vastly experianced people who have royally fucked this country not to mention the world. being a chat room smart guy doesn’t really do it for me.
I am not sure what you are getting at with the income thing. It still doesn’t give you the right to belittle one person’s service over another. I was an officer in the Army. In no way was my service more valuble then the NCOs I served with because of my pay grade. I had a job to do and so did they. Once you figure out what the word selfless service means then you will understand.
I’m hungry. Get back behind the counter and flip my burger.
@47. Thanks I know there was a reup commitment in there somewhere. I just didn’t know how it played out.
@TSO. What he said. From what I have read it happens in the SF Reserve units where a troop will get assigned to them prior to SFAS but they don’t actually get the MOS nor any other goodies of the job until passing muster. It actually got a Mayor in Pennsylvania in hot trouble because he was in a SF unit but didn’t pass selection, but claimed SF status because he was assigned and in a SF slot.
Bottom line, as has been pointed out, they’re not about to dump a shitload of training into a guy just to have him walk as soon as he completes the “Q” course and whatever other schools he needs to attend, as is the case with any other specialty program like SEALs, PJ’s, nukes, etc.
So yeah, be interesting to see the rest of this guy’s 214, if he ever releases it.
@53: Good grief. In the future, I’ll make sure to run every post by you before I click “submit comment”. If you can’t understand that there is a human factor involved with 214 creation, then I don’t know what else I can say. While I would like every service member and federal civilian to be extremely satisfied, competent, and yes, steadfast and loyal, that’s not the case. You know it’s not the case…or at least you should know it. Stop taking my statement about how 214’s are the product of humans fraught with the human condition and making it into an attack on the entire civilian workforce. That dog doesn’t hunt. You think money has nothing to do with it? Bullshit. You’re a 13, of course you have fewer financial concerns (at least from the “bring home” perspective) than a 4, 5, or 6. You’ve also made it to the senior GS grades. Again, congratulations. Not everyone is as lucky as you. Well, I guess I have some burgers to flip. Amazing that a mere burger flipper can maintain a conversation on this subject matter, huh?
Well, not so sure on Maintain. You first asserted that I publicly tried to undermine the support of the CinC, which I did not. When called on it you resorted to some sort of argument that we created a climate. Now you are arguing about the financial burdens of GS 6’s and 13’s when the conversation is about a man and whether he doctored a DD214, or whether he served in the SF without a Tab, or whether NPRC screwed up. So, you’ve addressed 3 things not in contention, and avoided the one that was posed.
How is that maintaining?
TSO: Go back and read what I typed. Admittedly, it was an awkward sentence construct, but you are putting words and assertions where I didn’t have them. Let me rephrase in a way that you will understand: this blog fosters a climate where active duty service members can bash the CINC. Let me caveat this by stating that it may not be the intent, but it nevertheless happens. I’ve even seen the First Lady called a gorilla and A Wookiee. Not a peep from the admins. And now, even after I explained what I meant above, you continue to press on. Reading comprehension is a good thing. You also missed where I have maintained the conversation. 214’s are NOT the final answer and that source documents are. Ring a bell? Or did you ignore it because I disagreed with you using actual Army regulations? Either the guy has source documents to post besides some 214 that appears to have all sorts of problems or he doesn’t. If he doesn’t then he’s a poser. Not sure how much plainer I can make it. My point about the individuals who create 214’s making errors became a sidebar, yes.
I’m sure this escaped you, Ben, but we also foster a climate at this blog in which people can call Lindsay Graham, Ron Paul and Michelle Bachmann names. We don’t discriminate when it comes to political parties.
And, oh, yeah, you haven’t seen the comments I deleted, so you really wouldn’t know what I don’t allow.
Dear gawd. I need a road atlas to follow his logic.
The dickgead faked his 214.
He is repnsible for it no matter what grade wrote it up. In fact the service member has to review it and sign off that it is valid before he leaves service. So even if they had to hire a chimp from the zoo to type it the veteran is still on the hook. There is a process to get it fixed. I know you’re shocked because us civil servants are too busy either rolling in our money or trying to find pennies for lunch…but it’s true there is a correction process.
I’m done with this. Fake 214. Nuff said.
Dear gawd. I need a road atlas to follow his logic.
The dickgead faked his 214.
He is repnsible for it no matter what grade wrote it up. In fact the service member has to review it and sign off that it is valid before he leaves service. So even if they had to hire a chimp from the zoo to type it the veteran is still on the hook. There is a process to get it fixed. I know you’re shocked because us civil servants are too busy either rolling in our money or trying to find pennies for lunch…but it’s true there is a correction process.
I’m done with this. Fake 214. Nuff said. Enjoy the holiday, brothers
This has been a nice interesting read. Here is a tip for anyone running for office, don’t claim anything you haven’t done. If you have done stuff you will be ashamed of you are probably gonna get caught.
Ben it matter if they encourage people to talk bad about the president or not because John and TSO are no longer in the military and no longer subject to UCMJ. Many of the readers and commenters are no longer subject to UCMJ, those who are don’t have to participate and have their integrity. Is the site more right leaning than left…well duh yeah. Nobody likes dirty hippies. They criticize many people on the right also. When someone one the right lies on the level of this dude bring it up…I bet they will check it out.
*it doesn’t matter*
Uh, Ben . . . the First Lady is neither the POTUS nor CINC. So that dog doesn’t hunt in the context of “bashing the CINC”, amigo.
Further, the final word is source documents contained in official government records vice personally held copies. Until those “source documents” you reference (e.g., orders, DA638s, etc . . . ) make it into official records somewhere (e.g., personnel or unit files/archives), they’re essentially irrelevant – since unless and until they make it into official records, there’s always question as to whether or not they’re legitimate. Remember: awards and badges can be revoked as well as awarded.
Those “source documents” you reference are also relatively easily faked – in some cases, more easily so than a DD214. They also show up faked (to varying degrees of believability) from time to time. Search TAH for “Stoops” or “Pequignot” (and read the comments to the articles) for examples.
Point of the matter, closest this dude has ever come to being an “Operator” was the Radio/Telephone type.
A bit off topic but it looks like he’s wearing a French fourragere, in the photo in the link. I know the 5th Marine Regiment earned it in WWI after Bella Wood and it was either the 6th or 7th Marines were also awarded the honor. My brother served with the 5th so I’ve seen them up close. Are any Army units authorized to wear it? Just trying to learn, not trying to start a fight.
Yat Yas; The 82d and 3rd ID both wear the French fourragere
Mr. Lilyea, thanks. I’m still puzzled/upset by vets who have served honorably but can’t be satisfied with it. I’m an inactive Marine trac rat who made it as far as Canada, Mexico and 29 Palms!? No Audie Murphy tales but dammit, I served honorably and I’m proud of it. Whew, I think I need a beer!
@66 – To draft off of Jonn, it’s much more than the 82nd and 3rd ID. Any Regiment that was awarded the Fourragere can wear it as a temporary award. You’ll see this worn in Battalions spread across Big Army.
CI, thanks to you too. I knew you Army types wore different color chord things but I didn’t know about the fourragere. So what’s with the scarf things?
Um….the scarves are ghey. I really don’t know what’s behind them other than I thankfully didn’t have to wear one….ever.
I think YatYas has the right idea. It’s beer time.
This clown is a complete fraud! Done. End of story!
CI, I should bring you along to witness the incredulity I always run into when people find out I was a Marine, woman, and a no good queerosexual at the same time but managed to not be raped, harassed, or otherwise discriminated against.
It gets hard to control the laughter when people trot out that ‘1/3 of women veterans have been raped’ nonsense. Or when they try to talk me out of my statement about out of the several rape investigations I witnessed not a one seemed even remotely credible to me. I almost want to start including something about how the black helicopters will come snatch me off for torture in parts unknown if I say otherwise, but I have a feeling if I did then it would be part of the keynote speech at the next IVAW pity fest.
Wow. I wouldn’t think it would be funny to anyone to hear that especially a woman, whether you are gay or not is really not relevant. It’s probably a better idea not to speak on the topic if you don’t have first hand experience so as not to discount anyone who has been victimized in this way. You have gone so far to say that “not one seemed remotely credible to you.” Suffice it to say that you are probably not the person that women confide in given your obvious insensitivity to the issue. Not sure how this came up in this thread, but it doesn’t seem necessary to do as a way to endear these guys to you and/or to prove that you are a “part of the gang.”
Ann, you give me ‘wood’ in the “Ooh-rah” sense! I don’t give a damn about who you like. You wear the Eagle, Globe & Anchor and that’s all that matters to me! I bet you’d have been one helluva ‘tractor rat’!?:) Semper Fi!
Actually, Olive Oil, Ann appears to have been relating her opinion about a matter with which she has personal knowledge – e.g., the fact that she never saw a rape allegation she found credible while serving on active duty. Her unstated point is that would be virtually impossible if the “1/3 of women veterans have been raped” BS one hears repeatedly were true.
Sorry that doesn’t support the lies you’ve been told about the military being an organization designed to mistreat women. But you’ve been lied to, lady.
Ann was merely telling you that in comment 73 above. You have no justification to retaliate with an ad hominemattack on her, or to ascribe ulterior motives to her for doing so. She’s merely an individual who’s telling you the truth based on her own firsthand observations. And unlike many repeating the lie, she was indeed in a position to see “ground truth” firsthand.
“Best to keep one’s mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt”. You just might want to remember that old maxim in the future, Olive Oil.
Thanks, Hondo. Was trying to figure out just how to word it.
Will simply have to concur that real abuses happen. The phony tales and distortions only compound the problem for those real victims.
Have also known quite a few women in the military. My guess would be that there are more who have vitimized men than have been victimized by men. And even that is a rather small number compared to the civilian world.
I never said that the 1/3 part was true (or false), but as a person who counsels people, some of whom are veterans and other military folks, I know that it has happened and it would be crazy to say it never happens. That’s all. Whether it happens more in the military than in the civilian world, I cannot speak on. The prevalence in the general population is staggering (anywhere from 15% and up) and this I do speak of from personal experience. I’m not sure if it really works to differentiate about where it happens and by whom and to whom, because it happens and it happens everywhere. I know, again from personal experience, that people often choose not to report so it would be a stretch to discount its occurrence entirely based on only reported incidents.
I agree #77 that phony tales and distortions only further serve to victimize victims in other ways. I’m sure men have been mistreated (in general) and we hear less about them for obvious reasons.
Be assured by those of us who HAVE been there, done that, Olive Oil, that the incidence is much smaller in the military than in the civilian world. Perhaps simply because fewer military women generally act like victims?
You might want to reread what has been said here. No one asserted that it NEVER happens. In fact, the opposite has been said here several times. Anecdotally, more than one of us has been involved where it turned out to be buyer’s remorse rather than a rape.
Olive Oil, considering just about every phony TAH has busted obtained money and benefits from the VA based on their fables I don’t see why the issue of claiming rape would be any different. I agree with the others: I am not saying rape doesn’t happen, but it most certainly isn’t as prevalent as it’s made out to be. The issue has been brought up a few times when my fellow women Marines and I sat around and BSd. Many were people I knew a long time, but they all denied experiencing sexual assault. It’s funny you assume nobody ever confided in me when in all actuality I was viewed as one of the most approachable NCOs in my shop. I never made any public judgements on the issue, it was simply something I noticed. I’ve always done my best to help my Marines (male and female) through difficult situations from their pet goldfish dying to a significant other cheating on them to deployment jitters to helping new joins through the initial discouragement of Fleet life. I was never moto or meritorious board material, but I did the best I could. My fellow Marines and I noticed one of our underage new joins had a drinking problem. It would have been much easier to just sit around and wait for him to get caught. Instead, we determined the most beneficial course of action, got our chain of command involved, had him in an in patient addiction facility within a month, and ensured he didn’t get in trouble because he trusted us enough to be straight up about the situation. They were my Marines, and even if they gave me conniption fits I took are of them. So, do not comment on or presume things you have no firsthand knowledge of (namely, my career and the military as a whole.) Much of the rape allegations are nowhere near as clear cut as you think. There were a few crazies who more than likely made it up. I mostly witnessed he said/she said situations: consensual sex that is turned into rape because… Read more »
Perhaps there are some people who have been raped refuse the “victim” label, but how people cope with it doesn’t take away from the fact that a crime was committed. “Buyer’s Remorse”? Sure, it happens to the best of us, but overall, rape is an under reported crime for many, many reasons, so we can assume that it happens more than we really know or attend to. The comment I was responding to was “I witnessed not a one seemed even remotely credible to me.”
Thanks Yat! I’m actually not even remotely in your face about it except in situations such as this. A lot of the points I defend lead people to automatically assume I’m straight, white, fundie Christian, and male (who apparently aren’t credible enough to discuss the issue.)
So I add my demographic into my arguments as a counterbalance and to discredit claims about who chooses to serve in the military, and how they conduct themselves argued (of course) by those who never served in the military.) There’s this assumption that should you deviate from the norm then the people you serve with will treat you horribly.
I’ve used it a lot courtesy of snotnosed Bradley Manning and his merry band of sycophants who tried to claim he was discrimination against for being gay despite the Intel LGBT ratio that is beaten only by the medical and linguist fields. Or for being liberal because the most I was ‘discriminated’ against regarding my liberalism was being given the nickname ‘hippie’ which was all in good fun. I try to debunk other assumptions involving atheism and gender so my points aren’t quickly rationalized away as typical of the alleged average male WASP soldier.
Olive, rape is definitely under reported, but again I strongly believe it isn’t as common in the military as it’s made out to be. I feel this is partly to do with the average recruit being of a higher legal and moral caliber than regular society. Another component is the esprit de corps, and the familial bond unit has.
The military has made leaps and bounds to get their victim’s advocacy programs where they are today. You are informed of a myriad of options for reporting: PMO, NCIS, Chaplains, Navy medical personnel, a higher ranking individual you trust, the Uniform Victim’s Advocate, all manner of hotlines just to name a few. You are also explicitly informed of which you should use if you want to report or not report rape.
I tried to help female new joins understand those concepts, the potential consequences of dating within a unit, the consequences of getting too intoxicated, how to be proactive and ensure their safety, and how to foresee and avoid putting yourself in sketchy situations. Some did, some didn’t. After a while I actually
Olive Oil, if you do indeed counsel victims of rape, you should be aware that the garden variety male rapist selects a victim based on her perceived inability to defend herself – in other words, the ones who look most like victims. They tend to be cowards and do not want to be hurt or try to rape someone who would increase the likelihood that he will be caught.
So, military women simply are NOT the optimal victim for a rapist. Sure, there are plenty of males for whom female military personnel are a challenge, but they are not the typical rapist.
Since this discussion began because of unsubstantiated claims of ridiculously high numbers of sexual assaults of military women, it seems signifcant to point out that simple logic would lead one to conclude that there would be fewer, not more, rape victims among strong, well trained females who comport themselves as anything but victims.
As my daddy used to say, “it’s all relative” meaning depending on the group, one could be perceived as the strongest or the weakest. I am not a rape counselor, but in the course discussion about all other things, these experiences tend to make a definite “footprint” on the future paths people take, how they view themselves, their overall motivation, etc. P.S. I truly appreciate your response. Thank you very much.
That survey which claims that 1/3 of women in the military were the victims of rape was a few years ago. Some think tank sent out surveys to every woman who had ever served in the military in the last 50 years – hundreds of thousands of women. A little more than a thousand responded and one third of those had experience with rape and the group extrapolated that to the entire number of women who had served. It seems to me that a woman who had been a victim would be more likely to respond to the survey, and that would skew the survey. I wrote about it a long time ago and I don’t remember the numbers or the people involved. I’m just sayin’….
OWB, funny you should mention that. I mostly worked nights on my deployments, and the walk ran through some dark, uninhabited areas. I like to be prepared, so as a precaution I planned out exactly how I would defend myself if sometime tried to rape me.
It more or less entailed smashing the nervey areas with my Leatherman, a knife for back up, and hightailing it out of there. I kept my hand on my Leatherman for the duration of the walk, and wandered around the area during the day to scope out what direction I should take off in to get to the nearest sentry or living quarters.
It’s not exactly Jackie Chan, but I figured if I could damage an eye or knock the wind out of him I would get enough leeway to skedaddle.
Jonn, some time or another I would be very interested in seeing that survey. Would like to know, for instance, how they determined “experience with rape.” Sounds like a serious crock of it, but who knows. Were the questions suspect? The recipients of the survey? Methodology only?
No hurry, of course. A some day project.
Good point. Also question the types and numbers of people who respond to various surveys, etc.
Yep, Ann. Simple situatioinal awareness – the type that is expected of every member of the military. Not necessarily designed to protect military folks from becoming victims of crime, but very effective in that regard!
[…] doing it’s best to keep it out of our hands. We discussed Aden and his tomfoolery here and here earlier this month. But here’s his complete DD214 and you’ll see why they only released […]
Confirmed with U.S. Army Special Forces Command through a FOIA that one each Kenneth Wade Aden DID NOT complete the SFQL Course. I have an e-mail from them.
I also confirmed from two informal sources at Fort Bragg that Aden may have washed out of the SFQL. I turned the matter of what appears to be bogus entries on his DD Form 214, posted on this site, to the 82nd Airborne Inspestor General after the Fort Bragg Transition Office Chief, whose name appears on the DD Form 214 (bottom right) did a Sergeant Schultz immitation when asked about block 8a (appears to be 74th Armor deactivated at Fort Bragg in 97′) and MOS 18B3P which we believe does not exist in the Army. SF MOS18 only has a B, C, D, E or F add-on. She knew nooothing, noothing and they don’t verify ERM (Enlisted Record Briefs) a soldier brings in from their Company, unless it lists a high award, such as a Silver Star or Medal of Honor. Knew noothing. Next step is to expose him here in Arkansas and offer an opportunity to refute. Also learned his (web site) claimed Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, listed ahead of his three ARCOM’s, is not listed on his DD Form 214, and the Arkansas University he claims (again on his campaign web site) to have received an AA Degree from, has never had him as a student. Now people at Bragg are wondering about his rapid rise in rank to E-6, three ARCOMs and two AE’s.
[…] Ken Aden supporters; Don’t try this at home […]
looks like he’s still lying about it and claims to have a letter from a guy was supposedly in his unit vouching for his SF claims. we need to get on this before this idiot gets into office.