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Basic Trope: A character who falsely claims to have served in the military, or who exaggerates their rank or achievements in the service.

  • Straight:
    • Walt, who has never been in the army, claims to be a veteran.
    • Walt was in the army, but claims to have been awarded numerous medals for courage in battle, when in fact he was in a support role far behind the lines and never saw combat.
  • Exaggerated: Walt, who is obviously a teenager, claims to have singlehandedly won a war that ended before he was born.
  • Downplayed:
    • Walt's war stories are mostly true, but the specifics (claiming to have been awarded a certain medal for a certain action) are falsified.
    • Walt claims to be a sergeant in the Troperia Army but in reality, he's just a private fresh from basic training.
    • Walt claims to be a member of the Troperia Rangers when in actuality, he's just an ordinary infantryman.
    • Walt is a veteran, but he inflated his service record.
    • Walt repeatedly mentions being in boot camp, which turns out not to be military basic training but a civilian gym class.
    • Walt is a senile old man who thinks his veteran friends war stories are his own.
    • Walt was in the army but as a civilian employee or contractor, not as a member of the Troperia Armed Forces.
  • Justified:
    • Walt's a Con Man, wants the perks that come with veteran status or wants the benefits of being a higher rank.
    • Walt is a pathological Consummate Liar.
  • Inverted:
  • Subverted:
    • It turns out that Walt really is a veteran, and that his service record is true.
    • Walt lied about his military service. He actually fought for the other side.
    • Walt genuinely believes that he was a military veteran.
    • Walt isn't claiming to be a veteran, it's his character Private Rombers, but people tend to mix them up.
  • Double Subverted:
    • The documents confirming Walt's service record turn out to be faked.
    • ...Because he started believing his own lies.
    • Walt was actually in the army...the BTS ARMY.
  • Parodied: Walt claims to be a veteran of various fictional battles.
  • Zig-Zagged:
    • Walt truthfully claims to be a veteran, but he lost his hand in an accident after the war, which everyone around him assumes was a war injury, and he lets them think that because he's sick and tired of correcting people all the time.
    • Walt rather vaguely states he was in "the army", which results in people assuming he meant the military. When confronted he denies the accusations and clarifies what he meant, only for that to turn out false. Ultimately it seems like he has no military connections, but then...
  • Averted: Walt never lies about his military service or lack thereof.
  • Enforced: Walt was based off of a real person who was later exposed as such. Given his bluster before it is consistent with his character anyway.
  • Lampshaded: "You weren't even in the army, Walt!"
  • Invoked: Some higher power (like a government or political party) wants a war hero to endorse its propaganda for added prestige, but they can't find any that are willing to step forward. They decide to invent one instead.
  • Exploited:
    • Walt claims Alice was not really in the military and that her tales of combat are false in order to get people to hate her.
    • Walt needs money and a veteran's pension seems like the perfect way to get it.
    • Walt is running for a political office and exaggerates his military record in order to improve his popularity.
    • Walt fakes military service to get a veteran's discount on various purchases.
    • Walt fakes military service to buy army fatigues and other gear from a supplier for discount.
  • Defied:
    • Walt enlists so he won't have to be a pathetic impostor.
    • Bob nips Walt's lie in the bud with a detailed account of everything he was actually doing during the time he claims to have been in the army.
  • Discussed: "By the way, don't believe anything Walt tells you. Especially if he's going on about his military past. He didn't even serve."
  • Conversed: "Walt is such an evil character. He has everyone on the show fooled that he was in the military."
  • Implied: Walt's age and details aren't quite right.
  • Deconstructed:
    • Impersonating a veteran is illegal in Troperia and Walt gets arrested and jailed.
    • Veterans harass each other, making allegations of stolen valor for any mistaken detail.
  • Reconstructed: Walt does not profit off of his veteran status, and actual veterans find his wildly over to the top stories to be amusing.
  • Played for Laughs: Walt wants to go on a date with Alice, so he tells her he is a war vet in order to impress her. Things go well until a bully mouths off at them and Alice shouts, "My boyfriend was in the army! Get ready for an ass-kicking!" Walt nervously rolls up his sleeves and hopes for the best as he stares down the large man in front of him.
  • Played for Drama:
    • Walt is deeply insecure and a pathological liar. He makes up wild stories about his days in the military so people will notice him.
    • Walt pretends to be a different man that was actually killed in battle many years ago. When the soldier's family discovers that he is an impostor, Walt tries to murder them.
    • Walt claims to be a Shell-Shocked Veteran to hide the actual source of his PTSD.
  • Played For Horror:
    • Walt is pretending to be a soldier that died in battle, and Walt knows well because he murdered the other dude.
    • Walt is a Right-Wing Militia Fanatic and racist who uses his false veteran status to help attract same-minded maniacs. Once he is exposed as a fake, he probably will be annihilated by the beast he created and it won't be pretty.


Take your fake medals back to Phony Veteran.

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