Expert: Jason Grabill - 10/3/2007

Question
QUESTION: ok Jason, I've got another question.
medals- regulation standard and regulation anodized.
       mini standard and mini anodized.
Accourding to regulations which are approved to wear and when.

ANSWER: Mel:
  Both standard and anodized full sized medals are authorized to be worn.

  Mini medals are usually only worn on lapels of civilian clothing and such these days, although on the old "Mess dress" they were authorized.  Again, both anodized and regular were ok to wear.

Jason

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So does it matter which ones were worn? Are there regulations on wearing anodized at this time and regular at that time and such?
Also, what would the MOS be for a USMC captain of an expiditionary unit? what are the expiditionary units around? There is a guy that lives in my neighborhood that swears he was a Marine captain of the 26 MEU. Now I'm the first to show respect to all service personel especially marines, but something rubbs me wrong about him. I come from a huge back ground of armed forces family especially marines and when i talk to him he just seems to avoid or half answer questions.I'm not going to call him out, i just want to know for myelf if this guys is a true salty dog or just a wannabe but can't be. He says he was company commander for 26th MEU b-company and that he went to Quantico for OCS. What would the typical MOS be for that?
Thanks Jason


ANSWER: Mel:

 Well, you can't 'mix and match', in other words, if you were mini medals, you can't wear full sized.  And vice versa.  You also have to have all anodized or all standard medals.

  Quantico is where OCS is, and there is such a thing as the 26th MEU.  I'd ask him what unit in the 26th MEU and what time period he served with them.  It will be easier to track that down than what you have so far.   The MEU's have a variety of MOS's aboard, everything from tanks to communications to infantry.

Jason

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Jason,
Sorry I didn't see your reply at first.
Well I talked to him and all he says is he was a company commander(captain) for Charlie company in the 26th MEU out of Lejeune. He says he did a B-Billet to instructor after force recon was phased out and became commander for Charlie company afterward. I'm the first to trust wat people say when they inform me about their service in the Corp. but he just rubbs me wrong for some reason. My cousin William Sebella(not sure about the spelling) was a DI at PI but I can't seem to reach him to ask him questions about this. He says his MOS was infantry commander but he lead special covert teams. What really causes my curiosity to rise is when he tells me that after basic he went straight to quantico then to coronado california and went through SEAL training, then to New Mexico for Para-Rescue training, then he went through Delta training. I'm not sure why he would have to do all of that, I believe the Corp. has the resources to and divisions to train you for all such things, doesn't it?
Anyway he says he lead small special operations teams.
maybe he's telling the truth, who knows. I like the guy, I just hate "wanna-bes" that lie about it. If you love the Corp. and wish you were in, GREAT!!! I admire that. But if you lie to everyone about your past and the Corp. then you just do a disgraceful disservice to all that served and gave their everything for the Corp. My Family were all Corp. and Army except on sailor, but we won't hold that against him.hahaha My grandfather was a tank commander that served with Patton and Bradley both in Africa and Europe. Both of his brothers landed in Normandy and servived it. His oldest son(my uncle) was an engineer in the NAVY, his middle a Ranger in the Army, his youngest a com-troller in the Corp. every one else in my family Corp. all the way. I want to believe my neighbor and give him his dues and deserved respect, but something tells me to ignore the lying idiot. Which wouldn't be hard if he didn't cram it down everyones throat.
Regards
Mel


Answer
Mel:

  OK, the BS flag is now officially thrown on this guy.  "Could" he have been an infantry officer?  Yes.  "Could" he have served in the MEU?  Yes.  I note he is not saying what exact unit WITH the MEU, however.  MEU's are task organized groups set up with exact size units but different units each time they deploy.   In other words, one float may be 1st Battalion 6th Marines, the next may be 2nd Battalion 8th Marines, etc.   Saying you commanded "Charlie" company in the MEU, without giving a unit, is a red flag.   THEN going into all the covert nonsense, SEAL, DELTa all that is an immediate indicator that the guy is likely a poser of the highest order, and also leads me to believe not only was he NOT any of those things, but possibly not a Marine, ever, either.