'Ranger' major faces jail over phony medals

RTO · Post by **RTO** » November 28th, 2007, 9:59 pm

The awards and badges Maj. Anthony Angelo Calderone wore turned his Class A uniform into a colorful billboard of combat heroism and professional achievement.

The Army Reserve major, who served in Iraq in 2005, wore a Silver Star, the Special Forces and Ranger tabs and other insignia.

The problem is Calderone didnâ€™t earn any of those awards. Moreover, he used the illegitimate awards to nail down his promotion to major.

On Sept. 20, Calderone pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of lying about his awards and qualifications in order to gain a promotion. Sentencing is pending in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City. He faces a maximum sentence of five years and six months in prison and fines of up to $255,000.

The bogus awards include the Silver Star, the third-highest award for valor; the Special Forces and Ranger tabs; the Senior Parachutist Badge; the Military Freefall Parachutist Badge; the Special Operations Diver Badge; the Pathfinder Badge; the Combat Infantryman Badge; the Humanitarian Service Medal; the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; the United Nations Medal; the Army Good Conduct Medal; and the Southwest Asia Service Medal.

Full Story Here...

Chiron · Post by **Chiron** » November 29th, 2007, 1:37 am

I vote the maximum penalty. A poser is a poser.

Jim · Post by **Jim** » November 29th, 2007, 6:21 am

I'll put him in the Poser Trophy Wall.

Ranger Bill · Post by **Ranger Bill** » November 29th, 2007, 6:41 am

A major poser, indeed.

Parabellum · Post by **Parabellum** » November 29th, 2007, 7:13 am

What a clown.

Flesh Thorn · Post by **Flesh Thorn** » November 29th, 2007, 7:29 am

Could someone explain the legalities discussed here. Am I to understand that a Reservist is not subject to the UCMJ ?

Is the Uniform Code of Criminal Justice a typo or a code that I am just not aware of ?

He was later investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service before he was turned over to federal prosecutors. The case was turned over to civilian court because Calderone is accused of committing these acts as a drilling reservist. Because he wasnâ€™t on active duty, he wasnâ€™t subject to the Uniform Code of Criminal Justice.

The case against Calderone was fairly complex, and because investigators didnâ€™t discover the fraudulent actions for some time after he returned from active duty, it was referred to civilian instead of Army court, said Lund, who also is a major and the command judge advocate for 19th Special Forces Group in the Utah Army National Guard.

Ranger Bill · Post by **Ranger Bill** » November 29th, 2007, 8:05 am

Flesh Thorn wrote:Could someone explain the legalities discussed here. Am I to understand that a Reservist is not subject to the UCMJ ? Is the Uniform Code of Criminal Justice a typo or a code that I am just not aware of ?

Members of the Reserve Components are only subject to the UCMJ when they are on orders for active duty. Typically, that means when they are attending Annual Training or when their unit is activated for deployment.
The UCMJ does not apply to weekend drills.

cams · Post by **cams** » November 29th, 2007, 10:38 am

Ranger Bill wrote:
Flesh Thorn wrote:Could someone explain the legalities discussed here. Am I to understand that a Reservist is not subject to the UCMJ ? Is the Uniform Code of Criminal Justice a typo or a code that I am just not aware of ?
Members of the Reserve Components are only subject to the UCMJ when they are on orders for active duty. Typically, that means when they are attending Annual Training or when their unit is activated for deployment.
The UCMJ does not apply to weekend drills.

This is interesting, not to hijack but, how can members be serving in uniform and not be held acct under the UCMJ? THat kinda made my head spin when I read it. How do they discipline soldiers without it? Or do they?

PocketKings · Post by **PocketKings** » November 29th, 2007, 11:22 am

ProudAFDad wrote:not saying he ever earned or deserved anything, but how did he ever even make Captain if he never earned a Good Conduct medal? Did he never do anything of any worth? Hmm... posers reallllllly suck....

I made CPT and never got a Good Conduct Metal. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that upwards of 80% of all CPTs in the Army have no Good Conduct Metal.

Why, you ask? Army CPTs don't get Good Conduct Metals. Our good conduct is assumed.

Rock Island Ranger · November 29th, 2007, 11:41 am

PocketKings wrote:
ProudAFDad wrote:not saying he ever earned or deserved anything, but how did he ever even make Captain if he never earned a Good Conduct medal? Did he never do anything of any worth? Hmm... posers reallllllly suck....
I made CPT and never got a Good Conduct Metal. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that upwards of 80% of all CPTs in the Army have no Good Conduct Metal.

Why, you ask? Army CPTs don't get Good Conduct Metals. Our good conduct is assumed.

Yea...what you say is true. HOWEVER, they seem to hand MSM's out like fucking candy to Officers yet ration it like pussy from enlisted men.

42L5V · Post by **42L5V** » November 29th, 2007, 11:45 am

Abell9 wrote:
PocketKings wrote:
ProudAFDad wrote:not saying he ever earned or deserved anything, but how did he ever even make Captain if he never earned a Good Conduct medal? Did he never do anything of any worth? Hmm... posers reallllllly suck....
I made CPT and never got a Good Conduct Metal. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that upwards of 80% of all CPTs in the Army have no Good Conduct Metal.

Why, you ask? Army CPTs don't get Good Conduct Metals. Our good conduct is assumed.

Yea...what you say is true. HOWEVER, they seem to hand MSM's out like fucking candy to Officers yet ration it like pussy from enlisted men.

That's fookin' funny. Well, not funny but you know what I mean...

Ranger Ron · Post by **Ranger Ron** » November 29th, 2007, 11:46 am

Abell9 wrote:
PocketKings wrote:
ProudAFDad wrote:not saying he ever earned or deserved anything, but how did he ever even make Captain if he never earned a Good Conduct medal? Did he never do anything of any worth? Hmm... posers reallllllly suck....
I made CPT and never got a Good Conduct Metal. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that upwards of 80% of all CPTs in the Army have no Good Conduct Metal.

Why, you ask? Army CPTs don't get Good Conduct Metals. Our good conduct is assumed.

Yea...what you say is true. HOWEVER, they seem to hand MSM's out like fucking candy to Officers yet ration it like pussy from enlisted men.

That's where the phrase "Hey little girl, do you want a piece of candy?" came from!

Ranger Bill · Post by **Ranger Bill** » November 29th, 2007, 11:52 am

Officers are not eligible for award of the Good Conduct Medal. They may wear a GCM if they have prior enlisted service and were awarded the medal during that time.

PocketKings · Post by **PocketKings** » November 29th, 2007, 11:56 am

Ranger Bill said it professionally. I said it as every NCO explained it to me...laughing, and rolling their eyes.

I never got a MSM. I guess I missed the candy truck with the other little girls.