Phony Marine guarding school (UPDATED)
Preston sends us a link to Business Insider who checked out the background of Sgt. Craig Pusley, a marine who the Associated Press and Huffington Post among others featured in an article about how Pusley volunteered to guard a local school in his Marpats.
Well Business Insider found out that Pusley hadn’t even made it out of training during his stint;
Craig R. Pusley served for not even a year, from 17 July 2007 to 8 April 2008, never earned a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS – a job designation), and never left Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, according to the report.
He left the Corps as a basic Marine (8000 MOS designation), no reserve status.
His rank was never more than Private First Class, he never deployed, and his only award was for the National Defense Service Medal.
I’ve got a Facebook conversation about Staff Sgt. Jordan Pritchard that isn’t very flattering either. So, while I think some of these guys hearts are in the right places, they need to keep the phony shit out of it.
UPDATE: Our buddy, Jeff Schogol at the Air Force Times sends us a link to the Marine Corps Times interview with Pusley;
“There’s a lot of fabrication to this story that didn’t come out of my mouth,” Pusley said. “All I know is that I talked to a Modesto Bee lady, and everything went crazy.”
Photographs show him wearing the rank insignia of a sergeant, however. Asked about that, he said he didn’t realize what was on the uniform and borrowed it from someone else.
“I feel horrible about this,” he said. “My intention was for the kids. I don’t understand why everyone has to find a negative in every situation.”
Pusley didn’t have an explanation why Austin would have reported that he went to Iraq and Afghanistan, or why it was repeated in subsequent news coverage. However, he said he is “deeply sorry” if standing in front of the school in uniform if it offended anyone, and has written an email to the White House apologizing. He wasn’t anticipating a blast of negativity after appearing at the school, he said.
“I cannot emphasize enough how sorry I am that all of this has happened,” he said. “These were not my intentions. This was never supposed to happen.”
Yeah, funny how that happens – you tell lies and when you get caught, it’s hardly your fault.
December 20th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Jesus F’ing H. Christ.
Give me a break.
December 20th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
No excuse. Thank him and kick him dead in the ass if it’s true.
December 20th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
Somehow, I wasn’t shocked by that
December 20th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Sometimes I wish my instincts were wrong.
December 20th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Not too big of a shocker, heart was in the right place, but he didn’t need to be wearing a uniform to do it.
December 20th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
No real Marine would say some bullshit like “I don’t need a weapon” because every real grunt knows that you don’t bring fists to a gun fight. Fucking stupid.
December 20th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
I saw that on the news and said to my wife, “Just please don’t let it be another Stolen Valor idiot trying to look cool and get on TV.”
So yeah, once again a phoney trying to look good.
December 20th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
Maybe we can get the wrold’s fourth most dangerous man to guard a school or two. Shouldn’t be a probelm, unless numbers one through three decide to show up and kick his ass.
December 20th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
@8.
Heard that. “Ranger” Burrell leads the way…
Oh wait. He might be on a secret mission…
December 20th, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Told you. Marines know who these asshole phonies are instantly.
December 20th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
@8 Well the way Burrell ranks people you are either a 1,2,3 or 4….it’s more like percentile than actual standings. Thus, 75% of the population can kick his sorry 4ss….
December 20th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
#7: I said the same thing. I saw that photo of that Marine and thought “hmmmm, no Marine I know who was in recently enough to have MARPAT would be caught dead looking like that.” Sad.
December 20th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Well he’s famous now; hero of the stupid!
December 20th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Just shot Burrell an email asking if he would be game. He will probably threaten me and my family, but worth a try….
December 20th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Unfortunately,
It does make the good intentions of Staff Sgt. Jordan Pritchard now look like a dumbassed thing to do.
If I was unemployed then I’d have done the same thing and then would have armed myself with *SOMETHING* other than bare hands (Aluminum bat?) and I’d have not worn any insignia on my uniform except my name. Is that Legal?
I have old style (2007) BDUs.
Oh and I have a pink DD2AF Res in my pocket as I’m a *RETIREE*.
That does make a difference. I can prove my service in about 3 seconds.
December 20th, 2012 at 4:04 pm
Yea I had a feeling something wasn’t right when I saw the news story. Kind of explains what he was doing in Nashville. Not to many marine bases there.
December 20th, 2012 at 4:04 pm
On my post @8, I either need to proofread before posting, or stop multi-tasking while I am updating a paper on encryption devices. There are a few words in that comment that appear to be misspelled, but in the interest of security, they were encrypted.
December 20th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
Just exercising his 1st Amendment rights, eh Supreme Court? No one gets hurt by his actions, right?
December 20th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Maybe all of the posers can provide security for the on-line high school that Skyler Whalen is attending.
December 20th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Shades of Baby Blue Marine.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074173/
December 20th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Well I guess this is progress. Somebody in journalism didn’t take a guys claims at face value, so we got that going for us. Silver lining and all that.
December 20th, 2012 at 4:13 pm
OK … I was wrong … I do see a problem with it now!
ONCE an almost, who did not serve very long, did not obtain MOS, never deployed, but got a NDSM and the rank of PFC MARINE …
ALWAYS an almost, who did not serve very long, did not obtain MOS, never deployed, but got a NDSM and the rank of PFC MARINE …
December 20th, 2012 at 4:23 pm
I think the point is so the children feel safer. It’s for the children’s.
December 20th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Just so everyone is clear on this, this guy, Craig Pusley (don’t do it!) is a copycat and not the fellowwho was featured in the other post here. Staff Sgt. Jordan Pritchard is the real Marine who, I understand, had the regs pulled on him and was told to desist from wearing the uniform at school. Fancy that.
December 20th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
8000 MOS? Even “Basic Marine” is questionable, and so is his rank until I/we see a DD214 or something.
One of 2 things happened at MCRD:
(1) Injured during training and medically processed out, or;
(2) Administratively separated from MCRD for failure to train, post enlistment issue (i.e. fraudulent enlistment), or any other possibility.
Saving this, Of course, if he went through recruit training during ’07, then he would have endured the ‘Crucible’, where you earn your Eagle, Globe and Anchor – hence the title “Marine”.
(When I went through and graduated recruit training during October 86, I wasn’t considered or called a Marine until graduation day.)
December 20th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
[...] problem is, SGT C. Pusley never made it out of Boot camp. By some reports, never even made it out of the processing center. So, the story becomes: Craig Pusley dressed up in [...]
December 20th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Nine months at MCRD? He must have been a serious medical hold. Marine Times had an article a few months ago about some recruits being on med hold at MCRD PISC for almost a year. It was the ultimate Catch-22/Mind F*ck. Couldn’t train because of medical issues. Couldn’t separate because they were waiting on the med board. No liberty because they didn’t graduate. Couldn’t graduate because of medical issues. Repeat cycle until featured in Marine Times, then someone may move their pile of paper work to the right desk.
Now this guy, and I’m just speculating here, may have had “ideations of harming himself”, and was placed in a quiet room out of the way until they decided that it was time to send him back to momma. All speculation on my part. One of my lesser poolees had a “mental breakdown” at MCRD San Diego, and when he got back home told everyone that he was discharged for a collapsed lung.
December 20th, 2012 at 4:55 pm
@23 Air Cav-
“Staff Sgt. Jordan Pritchard is the real Marine who, I understand, had the regs pulled on him and was told to desist from wearing the uniform at school. Fancy that.”
I believe that had he not worn then with *ANY* insignia on them, then that’s legal. If I took everything off my 2007 BDUs and wore them with a name tape, that’s not illegal. However, if I were to be in that situation, ABUs BDUs are a No No, (USAF 36-2903 – “ABUs may be worn off base for short convenience stops and when eating at restaurants where people wear comparable civilian attire. Do not wear ABUs off base to eat in restaurants where most diners wear business attire or at establishments that operate primarily to serve alcohol.”) But 12.6.1. says ”
Honorably discharged Air Force personnel … may wear the authorized uniform prescribed at the date of member‘s discharge or any of the uniforms authorized for current active duty personnel, including the dress uniforms. Do not mix uniforms.
12.6.1.3. May wear the uniform at military funerals, memorial services and inaugurals.
12.6.1.4. May wear the uniform at patriotic parades on national holidays, other military parades or ceremonies in which any active or Reserve U.S. Military unit is taking part.
12.6.1.5. May wear the uniform on any occasion recognized by the Secretary of Defense in DODI 1334.1 or when authorized by law.
Standing in front of a school after a tragic event, while noble, is not covered and not considered an official function.
NOW if he was in Dress Uniform, then that is not an issue I do not believe.
I can’t fit in my blues so I’d have not done it.
December 20th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
I take that back….it doesn’t differentiate between ABU/Dress or Mess uniform. II believe it needs to be an authorized function to wear ANY uniform or else you can wear Civies and then authorized medals/decorations.
December 20th, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Now those who were bashing him in the other discussion have every right to. As I said in there… no like he was a poser… but seeing as he is! Fire the hell away.
Posers/embellishers just suck.
December 20th, 2012 at 5:08 pm
@30 This isn’t SSgt Pritchard. This is a different guy.
December 20th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
My daughter would tell me I’m a moron if I stood in front of her school in uniform, unarmed.
December 20th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
@29. Yeah, Chip, I am good with the regs. That is, I trust you and Nik have quoted or referenced them correctly. My objection was along the line of ‘What the hell, he’s doing a good thing.’ And as I said, I read that he was called on the regs and will comport his attire accordingly.
___________________________________________________________
Again, this POSER and Pritchard are two different people.
December 20th, 2012 at 5:20 pm
Okay, I stand corrected… Still hate Posers and embellishers. Regardless of intentions!
December 20th, 2012 at 5:33 pm
How did these two get approval to stand outside the school anyway?
My kids’ school goes on lockdown if a fox shows up let alone some dude showing up in a uniform.
December 20th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/12/marine-craig-pusley-military-service-newtown-122012-w/
More info
December 20th, 2012 at 6:15 pm
He “has written an email to the White House apologizing.” Say what? What the hell is he apologizing to the WH for? Take his entrenching tool away. He keeps digging his hole deeper.
December 20th, 2012 at 6:20 pm
As far as the 9 months at MCRD, no MOS and rank of PFC. Perfectly plausible. Unless things have drastically changed since I was the CDI/SNCOIC of the Recruit Separations Unit and Basic Marine Platoon he could be legit. Recruits that get injured before completing all the training requirements get a medical board,,, which takes several months. They get to hang around the depot do odd jobs and on occasional they get base liberty or at the commander’s discretion get leave to go home for the holidays. When they get discharged they get a DD214 and if applicable a VA card or medical retirement. If they came in as a contract PFC they get paid at that rate. On paper they are considered an honorably discharged veteran of the Marine Corps, but no Marine will consider them a Marine. The vast Majority of them are good kids who tried their best and just got hurt.
The 2nd type of case is when someone gets injured but still guts it through training and graduates, though they have an injury. The next duty station (in this case MCT at Camp Pendelton) is adamant that no one reports there unless they are fit for duty. So the new Marine (wearing his rank of PFC if applicable) goes on boot leave, but reports back to MCRD. In Most cases after a few weeks of light duty and medical treatment they are cleared to go to further their training and tranfered. Sometimes (and it could be this clown’s case) they don’t get better and end up getting med boarded out. While on Med hold they do odd jobs around the depot, get liberty and leave like any other Marine, just with much more supervision.
December 20th, 2012 at 6:22 pm
Sorry. That was me above. Cleaned My cookies and didn’t log back in.
December 20th, 2012 at 6:23 pm
There’s an update on the Marine Corps Times facebook page. He graduated bootcamp with a broken leg. He was placed into MRP after he graduated but never made it to MCT/SOI. He went UA and the Corps ended up kicking him out.
December 20th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
Oh, good. Phoney AND UA. Perfect.
December 20th, 2012 at 6:39 pm
Who loans their Uniform to anyone with their shit still on it? Not even my own kids got to wear my old uniform with my rank or US Army still on it.
Another in a long line of lame ass poser excuses
December 20th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
It’s another lie unless he just “happened” to know another Marine with the same last name:
http://media.modbee.com/smedia/2012/12/19/16/19/acbJm.St.11.jpeg
December 20th, 2012 at 7:10 pm
@39 and 40 – Thanks for the update and clarification.
It’s all becoming very clear now… We’ve heard of or actually seen all of this before.
…good intentions aside, he’s still a fuck-knuckle.
December 20th, 2012 at 7:14 pm
“These were not my intentions. This was never supposed to happen.”
I think he’s telling the truth there.
His INTENTION was to have everyone pat him on the back and tell him how great he was. Heck if other posers could get hunting trips, free rifles, and trips to Hawaii…surely there would be freebies for him too.
And it was NEVER SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN, because like so many posers, he didn’t think he’d get caught.
December 20th, 2012 at 7:17 pm
[...] [...]
December 20th, 2012 at 7:22 pm
What a piece of shit. I knew it was crap the minute I saw it on Facebook.
December 20th, 2012 at 7:25 pm
@45 – What’s sadder than him being embarrassed about being outed is that he’ll likely come back.
I’ve posted elsewhere in here (see Ryan Brashears) that these youngsters don’t realize that whenever they leave an electronic imprint of themselves (i.e. full name, Facebook profile, etc) on the internet, it’s out there somewhere, and it seems to never go away. Put your name and nonsense out there on “Al Gore’s internet”, and you’ll get some unwanted attention if you’re not careful.
Experience is a ruthless teacher.
December 20th, 2012 at 7:43 pm
aaahhh How stupid
December 20th, 2012 at 7:57 pm
I served with this guy, and will never forget him as he was one of the main reasons we got smoked often. (I’m sure there was other reasons and such but lots of times just him)
He did graduate injured and went on to BMP and that’s where he ran. I had two knee surgeries in BMP and went on to SOI and such adter recovery.I remember standing duty once instead of normal watch – we had to just watch him.
His fan base has made a Facebook profile supporting him and its showing pictures of him at the school. In his statement it says he borrowed the uniform. Really ? I took a picture off his new Facebook which shows his name tapes clearly. Really? You didn’t notice the sgt stripes? Right. This kid is an attention grabbed, he was on dr drew . He tried out for American idol just to get people attention.
One of his ex friend sent me his phone number and address and he won’t answer anything. I asked him on Facebook if he had gotten out of the beig and changed his life, apparently not as he has read myessage but won’t reply.
December 20th, 2012 at 8:07 pm
So he got the other guys uniform, had the name tapes changed, and never realized there was Sergeant chevrons on there? Seems legit
December 20th, 2012 at 8:17 pm
So he BORROWED the uniform? Whos name is on the nametapes?
December 20th, 2012 at 8:52 pm
Yeah, we get the same thing at Monterey, at DLI. It’s way too hard to return folks to civilian life (after medical issues) than it is to ship a kid off due to a failure on the DLPT (after they finished a year and a half of school). Same goes with legal stuff. Crazy….
George
December 20th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
This guy is a maggot.
@50 was right.
The turd needed attention to make up for his tiny heart.
December 20th, 2012 at 10:10 pm
https://www.facebook.com/newschannel5?ref=stream
December 20th, 2012 at 10:24 pm
Here’s another Marine, standing guard at a school:
http://www.9news.com/rss/story.aspx?storyid=306148
December 20th, 2012 at 10:56 pm
Okay, last year it was Marines asking celebrities to the Marine Corps Ball. This year, we have them guarding schools. I expect Duffel blog to post an article on this by tomorrow afternoon.
December 20th, 2012 at 10:58 pm
Maybe all of the military posers can ask celebrity impersonators to the Posers Ball.
December 20th, 2012 at 11:01 pm
Sweet.
I’ll go, if asked of course, as a watered down Bruce Willis.
Not.
December 20th, 2012 at 11:04 pm
I wonder if the posers follow General Orders in that they will not leave their post unless properly relieved?
December 20th, 2012 at 11:08 pm
My resemblance falls somewhere between Tom Cruise and jerry mathers (Beaver Cleaver).
December 20th, 2012 at 11:41 pm
I’ve got pictures of me as the captain of some Starfleet ship. Will that do?
December 21st, 2012 at 12:30 am
Hack Stone 57-maybe the duffel blog can propose an alternate Marine Corps hymn: “from the drawers of Mila Kunis, to the halls of PS 103″.
December 21st, 2012 at 8:42 am
@57 (Hack Stone) – here’s the link to the ‘Duffel Blog’ article you wished for:
http://www.duffelblog.com/2012/12/accused-faker-marine-guarding-school-to-receive-honorary-promotion/
Merry Christmas!
December 21st, 2012 at 10:28 am
All this poser stuff makes me want to change my user name. I never refer to myself as Major unless I’m dealing with TriCareSouth or USAA. Have only worn my Blues once since retirement when I was invited to a high school JROTC military ball (I was a sponsor when I taught high school). Even when doing a WW2 reenacting project for my US History class, I only wore Artillery branch (crossed sewer pipes) and Major’s rank which I earned in real life.
These guys make me feel like I shouldn’t even acknowledge my efforts to prevent the “Great Fulda Gap Live-Fire Exercise”.
December 21st, 2012 at 10:39 am
That article almost had me going there. Just one second’s worth of it.
Then I realized I have to go put salt on the 1/4 inch of snow on my front steps and the thud back to reality was like a brick to the head.
December 21st, 2012 at 11:26 am
Mr. Pusley has been very disturbed since childhood. I woudnt want him around any young children………..
December 21st, 2012 at 12:02 pm
So, here he is being caught in his lies…on video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uV9YU8D2k5I
- “I’m Sgt Craig Pusley”
- “I’m on a reserve attachment now”
- Reporter: “When did you get back from Afghanistan?”
Pusley: “About a year ago”
- Makes up a reserve unit.
December 21st, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Bullshit! His heart was NOT in the right place. That was a “look at me, I’m a Marine” cry for help. You put unauthorized chevrons on in the hope that someone will call you SERGEANT and then you stand in front of a school in duty uniform. You already know someone is gonna be “hey there’s a Marine standing out front” and want to know why. So of course someone is gonna ask your story and of course he is gonna embellish his record. If he was REALLY concerned he would show up wearing civilians and do his part. In no way shape or form does his 1 month military service ever have to work it’s way into the conversation. This is about him and no those children. You guys see this shit everyday on here. These assholes have a need for attention. Instead of a PVT I am now a SSG, instead of a ARCOM I now have a Silver Star, the woods of JRTC all of the sudden become Fallujah. It never ends, I just can’t believe some people defend this crap.
December 21st, 2012 at 1:43 pm
@69, go to a Star Trek convention some time. At least, the ST and SF/fantasy people do it for fun. Same thing with the Rennies, it’s just for fun. When the convention or the Faire is over with, they go back to work and plan their next costume gig.
These nutballs — that does it! I’m the captain of the Carpathian, a United Federation of Planets Starfleet Assault Cruiser with enough nasty weapons to take out Q and the entire continuum.
December 21st, 2012 at 3:32 pm
I should go guard an Elementary school in my Civil War Uniforms.
December 21st, 2012 at 3:41 pm
I might just go guard a school wearing the Knights Templar costume I wore on Haloween.
December 21st, 2012 at 3:49 pm
The season just started, and this year’s stolen valor tournament is already a barn burner. Someone call Vegas and get the point spread.
December 21st, 2012 at 3:51 pm
From the Navy Crimes link @36;
‘Pusley was separated from the service after it was found he took unauthorized absence to attend a court hearing involving his ex-wife, he said. It’s the Corps’ version of being absent without leave, and can lead to being court-martialed. Pusley thought he had leave at the time, he said.’
‘he took unauthorized absence’; Nice grammar Dan Lamothe.
and
‘Pusley thought he had leave at the time’; It’s not like you have to request leave, have it approved, and then check out.
December 21st, 2012 at 11:21 pm
[...] http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=33322 [...]
December 21st, 2012 at 11:37 pm
@71, 72 & 73 – Yeah, well, I have a picture of me with Lieutenant Uhura and you don’t!
December 22nd, 2012 at 12:34 am
Sad thing here gents….his lousy, shitbird, pic is ALL OVER FB! I been doing my job of letting the local civy population know about him…..
December 25th, 2012 at 11:26 am
This scumbag should be jailed for Stolen Valor Act. Impersonating an Non-Commisioned Officer is a crime under the UCMJ and he has violated that and as any Marine knows we don’t wear “cammies” in public places, as it is against MCO p1020.34. Dirtbag, I hope you get yours and they jail your ass! What a D-bag. They twisted his words? He STATED he was a Sergeant in the USMC Reserves. Punish him appropriately and make an example of him so this BS stops NOW!!! Too many of our troops paid the Ultimate price to have scumbags like this steal honor that was never earned!!!!! As a Retired Marine, this insults me greatly and is in extremely bad taste, regardless of motives.
February 14th, 2013 at 12:42 pm
i guess EVERYONE is too busy talking shit about this guy to acctually take action and do anything remotly close to what this guy did to prevent further tradgedy to americas children in schools… hats off to you dedicated americans, keep up the good work!!
February 14th, 2013 at 12:50 pm
@79 “I guess everyone is too busy talking shit…”
Including you? What have YOU done to “prevent further tragedy to americas children”?
Throwing rocks, glass houses…that kind of thing.
February 14th, 2013 at 1:01 pm
@ 79 MR BentOverInMensroomStallAlongLonelyInterstateHighway Niswonger
Are friggin’ kidding me?
Find another place to post your blatherings!
February 14th, 2013 at 1:08 pm
So a shitbird got dressed up and stood in front of a school. You know what he is? The first casualty. Schools are still (for the most part) “gun-free zones”.
Short answer, he ain’t preventing shit.
I wouldn’t call that “doing something”, nor would I hold a higher opinion of his shitbaggery for doing it.
You may go now.
April 14th, 2013 at 9:28 pm
Someone just posted a BS chain letter about this case with a lot of misinformation on facebook. Said he was a SGT and deployed etc etc. No link, but they mentioned the Huffington Post. I replied with this link and the Marine Corps Times link. They took it down. Wish I had gotten a screen shot.
May 24th, 2013 at 10:04 am
This happens more than you think. I have a friend of mine from MOS school who got booted after 10 months. I just happen to still keep in touch and was near his home for business. I ended up meeting his wife and friends and then the “war stories” came out at a bar all his friends asked me if I was there when he got blown up. I am a medical retire on pdrl and have a purple heart this guys stories were crazy. I embarassed him in front of his wife and friends and told them he was my roommate in mos school and got out as an e2 not an e5 and that he does not have a purple heart. Needless to say we are not friends anymore. He ended up telling his wife and friends that I am crazy and the best part of it is the pictures he has of afghanistan are mine from facebook!
May 26th, 2013 at 6:52 pm
Wow just saw that video of him lying for the first time. He just looks fidgety and full of lies. What an asshole, piece of shit more appropriately. Lying and saying “My name is Sgt Craig Pulsey” along with saying he didnt know the rank was on the uniform.
I wonder if he has gone into hiding since these lies came to light.
June 10th, 2013 at 8:20 am
[...] 9) Craig “School Guard” Pusley [...]