Seen this video and this guys videos are entertaining. His name is Don Shipley and he is a retired Navy Seal and he exposes phony Navy Seals and throws in his wife and some dry humor along the way. It's amazing how many guys lie about this stuff.

That was pretty entertaining.

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Here's another one....these guys are so full of shit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=_08lCa4azQI

I enjoyed the video, and sampled a couple of others.  But then I got to wondering...

Why would a retired Seal have access to a database of all Seals?  Talk about a security risk!

Suppose someone with that access decided to compile a list of all Seal graduates from the last decade.  Then went out and began stalking them on the internet, particularly via social media.  It's not too much of a stretch to imagine being able to predict, or locate, a secret troop movement, or to expose an operation.  I mean, there would have to be luck and idiocy involved at a few points, but really, not much.

Which just goes to reinforce my "I don't believe it just because I saw it on YouTube" philosophy.  What would it take to fake these videos?  A few friends and a free internet hosting service.

I'm not saying he IS faking anything.  Just asking questions...

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I'm usually in the same frame of mind as Tom regarding the "I don't believe it just because I saw it on YouTube" philosophy, unless it can be verified by a credible source. In this case, Don Shipley is a legitimate retired Navy Seal, which is easily verified by several creditable sources to include DoD sources. There are also numerous pics of him while on active duty floating around.

I found several interesting articles about Navy Seal impostors or people wearing medals they didn't earn. I didn't realize so many people tried to claim they were a Navy Seal. I just picked this article because it had some good info but there are several articles on the same topic and Shipley is mentioned in a lot of them for his work and dedication to out these fakes. This article also goes into how they can determine who is a phony without going into the classified arena. No need to go classified because these fakes can't even validate that they attended BUD/S Training to begin. I'm sure if someone was found to be legit, that would be the end of that. I would think the Navy Seal fraternity (active duty & retired) is a real tight-knit group and they would never knowingly release of any classified or PII info, or put a fellow comrade in harm's way. I'm sure even the Seal's may have a few shitbags too, but in general I believe this to be true.

Since the beginning of Naval Special Warfare in early 1943, there have been roughly 17,600 men who completed training of some sort and served with the Naval Special Warfare Teams (including the Underwater Demolition Teams, the SEAL Teams and the earlier NSW units of WWII).

Of those 17,600 men, roughly 10,000 (or fewer) are still living, and approximately 2,400 of those living members are currently serving on active duty.

With that said, the FBI estimates that there are 300 SEAL Imposters for every living Navy SEAL. Verifying at least a dozen and often over 20 fraudulent SEAL claims each day, I put the number much, much higher than 300.
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SEAL Training in the Navy, BUD/S, (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL School) is an “Unclassified” Navy School and much like any other school in the Military. It’s no big secret where BUD/S is located and it’s no big secret what is taught there.

When a man graduates BUD/S Training in the Navy, or even begins it and fails, he is listed in a “database.” Records are kept…

The fact that a SEAL goes on to more secretive work with more secretive Teams, has NO IMPACT on him being listed as a graduate of BUD/S Training.

That being said… The “Database” of Navy SEALs is considered “Sensitive” and will never be posted where just anybody can view it for obvious security reasons.

The “SEAL Database” is an alphabetical listing of EVERY man who ever graduated any form of training for Navy Combat Demolition Units, Underwater Demolition Teams, Scouts and Raiders and SEAL Training and dates back to 1943 at our inception during WWII. EVERY MAN, without exception is listed there. http://navyseals.com/2408/stolen-valor-navy-seal-imposters-part-one/

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Isn't there something (called Stolen valor or something) that arrests or files criminal charges to these kinds of fakers ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_Valor_Act_of_2005

http://guardianofvalor.com/

It seems though that this only prosecutes those that falsely wear a medal and not those just claiming to be part of a special military unit.

Isn't there something (called Stolen valor or something) that arrests or files criminal charges to these kinds of fakers ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_Valor_Act_of_2005

http://guardianofvalor.com/

It seems though that this only prosecutes those that falsely wear a medal and not those just claiming to be part of a special military unit.

From your link it sounds like it's a federal misdemeanor to falsely represent oneself as having received any U.S. military decoration or medal. I would hope impersonating or claiming to be part of an elite unit is also a punishable offense but I don't know.

Check this fake out, previously in the Air Force. Spent over 4 years at Pope AFB as a loadmaster on C-130s and reached Airman First Class (A1C...E-3) before being court-martialed for multiple counts of drug use with bust to E-1 and BCD in 2005. Surprised he didn't get a dishonorable discharge.

Story is he went to Ft Benning for a graduation of a family member when the MPs detained him. Apparently all that drug use affected his judgment...when confronted, he said he knew he went overboard but didn't think the Army guys would know anything about an AF uniform! Wrong...when you blouse a Class A uniform with desert boots and a beret, displaying a CIB, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and all of that other stuff, even an idiot would take notice.

This dude has more medals than Audie Murphy had...what a complete idiot. I recognize a lot of those medals and citations at a quick look and any old timer would immediately know this guy is far too young for some of those. Dude went high order to boot...DFC, Silver Star, BSM, Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross, Purple Heart and on and on, and he proudly displays that rank he didn't earn. Looks like he went into the military clothing store and bought one of everything they had!

How did the guys that saw him keep from peeing their trousers laughing?

Bummers... reading a bit more on the Stolen Valor Act of 2006, it seems this has been struck down in 2012 by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional, ruling that these lies are subject to First Amendment protection. 

Disgraceful but not surprising. I guess one would have to consider what would be the threshold and how far reaching. I think to a lesser degree, many yoyo's claim they did one thing or another in the military for all kinds of ridiculous, self-serving reasons, and IMO they're no better...they're all disgraceful shitbags and should be outed and disgraced. The only difference between the two groups is when it involves an elite unit, it's highly scrutinized because these guys are the best of the best, and only a very small percentage have what it takes to be a part of that fraternity, and those guys don't take this shit lightly...rightfully so.