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 What drives
ANZMI's
mission?
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There are only three criteria that drive our
mission to expose military imposters and publish
their deceitful acts on-site.
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The investigation
results as published on site will be
the truth, and -
The
information is published in the public
interest.
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The information is published
in good faith.
We are often asked why so few prosecutions
appear in other media for transgressions under
the Defence Act. The facts are, that the
penalties under the Act are woefully
inappropriate and that resources to
investigate and prosecute on both a State
and Federal level are few. Especially for
such small penalty results. Penalties in
Australia are a pittance. A fine of $3300 and
a jail threat of up to 6 months. In the USA,
penalties are much more serious with fines
up to US$5,000 plus jail time.
We urge you to
contact your local State and Federal Member
of Parliament and lobby for an increase in
penalties and to gain some commitment to
action by the Federal Police and the various
State Public Prosecutors. This
site, like other investigative media outlets
simply collects the facts (through our
investigators right across Australia and New Zealand) that
are available on the public record to
illustrate the truth about the 'Walter Mitty'
types who attempt to gain advantage by
pretending to be someone they are not.
Whether that advantage is to bolster their
ego, gain benefits for which they are not
eligible, or to gain a competitive advantage
in business or a career; is not our concern. Each time
a military impostor is left "unexposed", it cheapens the value of every
true hero, and cheapens the sacrifice that every genuine service-person and veteran makes.
The impostor has ruined his own life with his lies. The
impostor makes a choice and must face the consequence of HIS or HER OWN actions.
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How are
investigations done?
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Most of the phoney veterans reported to us are
from the Vietnam era, impersonating Vietnam vets seems to
have been the "flavour of the month" since the
Welcome Home parades in 1987. We have recourse to the
Vietnam Veterans Nominal Roll, which is not a definitive
guide, just the first source of confirmation. The VVNR is
not accurate, and it is not complete. Our Australasia-wide
team has access to unit/ship/muster records in all three
services and under the federal Freedom of Information
legislation, service records beyond thirty years are
available to anyone. Plus there are several sources of
information for all three services that provide accurate
information on honours and awards. Our myriad
investigators come from all services and many, many
postings and their network of contacts in the Navy, Army,
and Air Force are impressive and valuable.
On active cases, an
investigating team, sometimes a lone investigator near
the suspect's location is briefed and the painstaking
research begins. Some cases have taken years to resolve.
Great care is taken with accuracy in compiling data, and
all cases have cast-iron back-up documentation.
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Is anything on this
site illegal?
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No. That's a preposterous
notion. All information is checked, verified, and checked
again before publication. The information we
publish is from public sources; available to anyone.
Once 30 years have passed, service records are public
records and made available to anyone on request
through freedom of information legislation. Some imposters
often claim their files (or some of their service files) are "sealed" or their
missions were "top secret" and they are sworn to
secrecy. Rubbish!
Genuine Veterans often have
problems validating their legitimate claims to
compensation and allowances because of the widespread
belief that service records are private. They are not. After thirty
years, all records are available for view and copy. ALL
records. We use the same sources and resources that are
used by other investigative journalists to get at the truth of
issues.
The ONLY people who make
this "illegal" claim are those who have been
exposed and try to shift attention from their infamous
acts. And sadly, they are usually genuine veterans who
have embellished their own stories of bravado and are now
embarrassed after a lifetime of lies to family, friends
and business or career associates.
Military service is now
100% verifiable in Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
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Who is a likely candidate
to covet valour?
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Here is a small list of those most likely
to take on the cloak of deceit.
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One
who wants to be a member "of the group,"
they need to feel included, to have a sense of belonging.
Usually occurs because they've been rejected by
friends, family and/or colleagues.
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For
financial gain, access to benefits, so they don't
have to work. Or perhaps they're not eligible for
any other type of pension.
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Mental
instability, where someone has to prove to the world
and principally to themselves that they are worthwhile,
and have done something honourable in their lives.
They lose sight of the difference between
reality and fantasy. A psychiatrists once said,
"Neurotics build sand castles in the air, psychotics
move in, psychiatrists collect the rent." In
the end they believe that their fantasy is in fact
reality.
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Attempting
to escape from the law. No access to social security
funds, because law enforcement might find it too
easy to trace him or her. Access to veteran disability
payments could be easier.
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Guilt.
Someone who has maimed or killed their own, intentionally
or by accident, or done wrong by his or her family,
and has taken on a false persona to atone for the
crime.
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Mental
illness, known as Fictitious Order. Physical maladies,
frequently self inflicted for self interest or other
type of claim.
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