In the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting, a frightened and aggrieved state of Connecticut was grateful to Craig Pusley, a self-described veteran who volunteered to guard an elementary school from attacks. Pusley claimed to be a USMC sergeant and reservist who had served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 25-year-old showed up to unpaid guard duty at Hughson Elementary School on two separate days in December 2012.

The grateful community got somewhat less that way when it turned out that Pusley misrepresented his service record in more than one way. A spokesman for the Marine Corps confirmed that Pusley is not a reservist; not a sergeant; had never served overseas, and was discharged as a private after serving less than a year.

While no longer welcome to guard Hughson Elementary, Pusley’s transgression didn’t result in any legal action, because phony claims of this nature are generally not prosecuted, and the motive for his deception appears to have been a genuine desire to serve his community.

If you are interested in a career protecting people and places in the state of Connecticut, and would like to do so without telling fibs, come to our school and qualify for a Connecticut guard card in only a day.