How to Verify Military Claims

Raymond Schepansky's April 14 arrest made national news, which drew the attention of veterans from around the country who began looking into claims about his military record.

Records from the National Archives and Records Administration obtained by veterans, as well as Plymouth-Canton Community Schools' records obtained by Canton Patch, show that Schepansky made false claims. His job application package included a .

"The truth is, military service has nothing to do with being hired here," said Plymouth-Canton Community Schools' spokesman Frank Ruggirello Jr.

He said the district's background check includes verifying that an applicant graduated from college and has a valid teaching certificate, as well as a criminal background check, which includes fingerprinting. The only time military claims would be verified, he said, is if an applicant claimed to have received a degree from one of the military academies or had been a military instructor.

Though Schepansky taught military history for nearly 12 years, records show his application specified only social studies.

Schepansky Sept. 8 by the district and is scheduled for a Sept. 28 appearance for the arrest before Third Circuit Court Judge David J. Allen for a one-count charge of illegally carrying a weapon, for which he has entered a not-guilty plea.

Professional background checks

Michael Pachuta, owner of the Troy-based Credential Check Corporation, said any employer would be wise to consider verifying any applicant's military claims. His 30-year-old firm has about 1,200 clients throughout North America, he said, "from small two-person trucking firms to larger Fortune 100 companies."

There's more incentive for hiring veterans than patriotism.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides tax credits ranging from $2,400 to $4,800 for hiring veterans disabled in the line of duty, veterans receiving food stamps and those who have received at least four weeks of unemployment benefits in the previous year.

These incentives are scheduled to end Dec. 31.

Military records should be checked, he said for two reasons: an employer's responsibility to provide a safe workplace and because "it is a previous employer—you have to validate that information," Pachuta said, recalling a case his company investigated about a man who claimed to be a chef for the state of Michigan—and in fact, he was, but left out one small detail: He was in prison at the time. The truth came out, Pachuta said, when his company contacted the reference listed and it became clear that the job applicant had used a friend's cell phone number.

Pachuta said checking military records is easier than in years past because armed forces now provide former military personnel with a form, DD214. He said the employer should ask for the long form—and because that document can also be falsified, it is important to verify that it is authentic.

Pachuta's company follows a strict set of legal guidelines (and offers free resources to the public).

Veterans groups checking military records

Others work more informally to check military service records and in some cases work together to protect the integrity of military rank and honors. The groups include:

• This Ain't Hell... Blogger Jonn Lilyea obtained Schepansky's records after filing a Freedom of Information Act request with the National Archives' Military Records Center. "It's a hobby of mine to 'out' phony military pretenders," he wrote in an email to Canton Patch. "I'm not from Michigan, but one of my readers sent me the information initially. We've outed pretenders from coast to coast."
• Stolen Valor is run by a team of decorated combat veterans, many of them retired Navy SEALS, including Larry Bailey and Steven Waterman and decorated Vietnam veteran and author B.G. Burkett, who helped introduce the Stolen Valor Act of 2005. Stolen Valor team members said people who lie about military honors diminish the integrity of the medals themselves and dishonor military men and women who have rightfully earned them.
• US Army Ranger Association: Mark Pelphrey, secretary for the Fort Benning, GA-based U.S. Army Ranger Association said that his site does get periodic inquiries but that is not the main purpose of the association.
• POW Network: Mary and Chuck Schantag of Skidmore, MO, operate this site primarily dedicated to documenting Vietnam-era prisoners of war. But they also fact-check claims of military service.
• ProfessionalSoldiers.com, a website "by Special Forces Soldiers for Special Forces Soldiers," this Arizona-based site is noncommercial and, according to site owner Jeff Hinton, retired as a master sergeant after serving in the U.S. Army Special Forces, the largest social networking site for Green Berets. Hinton's site is open to the public but has strict rules for nonmilitary. Those with Special Forces experience are verified and the term "Quiet Professional" is added to their ID on the site. Hinton and other members do check out claims specific to Green Berets; a portion of the site is a designated "Hall of Shame" for those proved to be posers.

The Stolen Valor Act of 2005, signed into law by then-President George W. Bush in 2006, makes it illegal for people to claim military service or honors—and the penalties if convicted include up to a year in jail and fines. That law was struck down in March in a decision by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals for being so broad that it violated the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech. On Aug. 18, the U.S. Department of Justice asked the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the law.

Meanwhile, from Florida to California, similar laws are being considered. Michigan is no exception. In May, bills were introduced in the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives which would make it illegal for people to falsely claim current or former military status—orally, in writing or with false displays—to get jobs, pursue elected office or to defraud others.

Violations would lead to misdemeanor charges punishable with up to a year in prison, a fine up to $5,000 and up to 100 hours of community service for a veterans home or veterans service organization. Both bills have been referred to the judiciary committee.

Spotting and reporting red flags

Each of the veterans' websites have options for reporting people who may be faking military service or honors.

Waterman said cases of men and women making such false claims are rampant.

"One of the first indicators of scumbaggery is when they tell you that all they did was secret and then they proceed to tell you they can't talk about it," he wrote in an email to Patch. People with real high-level security clearances, he said, "NEVER talk about it. Once the cake is cut another piece is never missed, so they DON'T talk about anything."

Hinton said he recently testified in court against William Hillar, a man who posed as a Special Forces officer and obtained contracts to teach counterterrorism and other classes for federal agencies and emergency responders. Hillar was sentenced last month to 21 months' jail time, 500 hours of community service and ordered to repay more than $171,000 to agencies he had defrauded.

Stolen Valor offers an extensive list of tips for fact-checking military records.