20
Apr
2025

Carlos Gilestra, Green Beret? Far from it...

Carlos Gilestra, the fake Green Beret, was sent to us a while back by someone that works with him. They said Carlos always wore Special Forces T-shirts, hoodies and other SF swag to work and told of being in combat in various locations around the world.

He told people that he, his dad and his Grandfather were all "Triple Canopy". We're guessing he was talking about being Airborne, Ranger, and Special Forces qualified and confusing the term triple canopy with "Tower of Power".

There are over 100 pictures so when you get to the bottom of the picture section, click on the red bar to expand more and see his records.

If you've heard Carlos Gilestra make military claims that aren't true, send us an email. We will redact your email address and use only what you have in the email itself.

Carlos Gilestra wearing his Fake SF hoodies and SF lanyard.

We started gathering data on the internet while we waited on his legit records. We saw periods of incarceration that would conflict with his supposed dates of service. His criminal history dates back years.

We were also sent multiple versions of résumés that he had created. Each résumé had him claiming Ranger, Special Forces, that he had earned a Silver Star, Bronze Star for Valor, and 2 Purple Hearts.

Résumé showing his lies.

He also created a fake DD214 (yet another crime), showing he received almost every high award except the Medal of Honor.

Carlos Gilestra's fake DD214.

There's so much wrong with this fake/forged government document that it's pathetic. He didn't put much effort into this bad example of a fake.
What are some glaring mistakes?

Block 13: "Metals, and Decorations", should be "Medals". He can't spell.

The DOB to Date entered AD is 16 years, 11 months, and 29 days. You had to be 17 years old WITH a guardian's signature in 1988. The recruiter would have told him to wait one day, but that's not waivable.

The math doesn't add up. 12a to 12b is 10 Yrs 5 Mo's 14 Days. 12c says 6 yrs 5 mo. Based on 12d which says he already had over 10 yrs 5 Mos AD he could have retired with over 20 yrs AD.

The separation code of KBK should automatically require a RE code, usually a 3.

He shows no SF Tab or Ranger Tab in awards and decorations. It only looks like one deployment for a month, yet he was stacking bodies during that month, according to his combat awards. V devices are listed as medal W/V Device.
He forgot to fill in any foreign service time, so he was the most decorated soldier in history who never left the US.

There is a problem with time in service from 88-98, yet net service for the period is shown as only 6+ years.

Airborne Ranger Infantry is not a Primary Specialty. It should say 11B, 11C, or whatever his MOS followed be a brief description. Indirect Fire Infantry is an example. Airborne and Ranger are qualifications. Saying that his MOS should be 18B4V if he was Ranger and Airborne. 4P if he was just Airborne.

Air Medal w/valor? We're pretty sure you need to be aviation-qualified for that one.

Once we got his legit records back, we called him:
👉Hear his phone call by clicking this link👈

He doesn't seem to understand the issues with claiming to be something or someone you're not.

His true records show he tried to be a Marine (pic 107) for a month and a half and then went AWOL while in the Army (pic 102-106) and separated a Private E-1 after being reduced in rank and spending time incarcerated.

What are his claims vs the truth?
Airborne: True He completed BAC. (Basic Airborne Course)
Ranger: False, he never attempted Ranger School, nor was he assinged to Ranger Batt.
Green Beret: False, he never attempted the Special Forces Qualification Course, nor was he assigned to an SF unit.
18B40: False, he never attempted the Special Forces Qualification Course, nor was he assigned to an SF unit.
11B40V: False. Had he earned the "V", it would read 11B4V. V signifies Ranger qualified. He never attempted Ranger School.
Distinguished Service Cross: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Defense Distinguished Service Medal: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Silver Star: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Legion of Merit: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Soldiers Medal: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Bronze Star W/ V device: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Purple Heart x2: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Defense Meritorious Service Medal: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Meritorious Service Medal: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Air Medal W/ V device: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Army Commendation Medal x3: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Joint Service Achievement Medal: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Army Achievement medal x4: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Good Conduct Medal: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
National Defense Service Medal: True
SWA Service Medal (3 Service Stars): False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Army Forces Medal: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Kuwait Liberation Medal: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Army Service Ribbon: True
Combat Infantry Badge: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Master Parachutist Badge (1 Combat Jump): False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
HALO Parachutist Badge: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.
Combat Diver: False, His legit records show he went AWOL and seperated a Private E-1.

This article will continue to be updated and added to.

Carlos Gilestra, you'll now be added to guardiansofthegreenberet.com hall of zeroes forever.

#CarlosGilestra, #CarlosRGilestra, #CarlosRGilestraGreenBeret,

Zero?

More links

Hear his phone call by clicking this link

1) Carlos Gilestra, the fake Green Beret. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

2) Carlos Gilestra, the fake Green Beret. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

3) Original email that we receive on Carlos Gilestra the fake Green Beret. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

4) Carlos Gilestra, the fake Green Beret. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

5) Another email that we receive on Carlos Gilestra the fake Green Beret. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

6) One of 12 Résumés that Carlos Gilestra, the fake Green Beret created. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

7) The shadow box Carlos Gilestra, the fake Green Beret showed people claiming to have earned all the fake awards and decorations. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

8) Text message from Carlos Gilestra the fake Green Beret claiming things that aren't true. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

9) The fake DD214 that Carlos Gilestra was submitting to potential employers. There's so many mistakes. It's not even a good fake. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

10) Enlarged section of Carlos Gilestra's fake DD214. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

11) Enlarged bottom section of Carlos Gilestra's fake DD214. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

12) Random article about Carlos Gilestra the fake Green Beret. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

13) Carlos Gilestra, the fake Green Beret. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

14) Random article about Carlos Gilestra the fake Green Beret. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

15) Carlos Gilestra, the fake Green Beret. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

16) 1 of 2 Hand-written letter to a person that Carlos Gilestra the fake Green Beret was trying to get a house from. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

17) 2 of 2 Hand-written letter to a person that Carlos Gilestra the fake Green Beret was trying to get a house from. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

18) One of the fake SF shirts Carlos Gilestra the fake Green Beret wore to work. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

19) Text message from Carlos Gilestra the fake Green Beret claiming things that aren't true. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

20) One of many charges we found on Carlos Gilestra that he's collected over the years. #CarlosGilestra, #CarlosGilestraGreenBeret, #CarlosRGilestra

Author: SuperUser Account

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Categories: Hall of ZeroesNumber of views: 1176

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We are former and current Green Berets who find and investigate those who falsely claim to be a Green Beret. We will never out someone unless we are 100% certain via FOIA and Bragg.

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Recent comments

Clyde1994:

This news is pretty sad for me because I knew the guy. The 1998 overwrite should read that he was the commander of C Troop, 1-18 Cav. I don't recall him wearing any tabs or badges. I am glad that a 19th Group (Guard) guy brought this to your attention. To me this casts a shadow of suspicion with anybody in the Guard. He left the Guard prior to GWOT. I think that the Guard did our share in GWOT with multiple mobilizations and deployments. I was mobilized twice, including a year in Afghanistan as an Infantryman. Now I'll wonder if people will think I'm a liar if I say anything about my service. Thanks Eddie...

1/3/2024 10:11:38 AM

Scott Berndt:

Talk about a disgrace to the uniform! I can't believe he got away with the fraud all those years. If you go to his website at

https://www.rudigresham.com, it still makes it sound like he has an Army SF background without stating he was one. He even has awards issued by several SF organizations. Sounds like the GotGB still have some hunting to do.

9/21/2023 9:29:14 AM

U.S. Naval Aircrewman (90-95):

Wow. Absolutely mind blowing & disgraceful. They should make a documentary about how this turd BS'd his way through the years in order to be in a position to be standing next to Presidents, politicians & celebritys. I get pissed when I think of all the others like him but that have never gotten exposed or caught. Great job catching this s--t turd.

6/9/2023 1:52:24 PM

U.S. Naval Aircrewman (90-95):

You can tell just by looking at him that he is a shit bird.

6/9/2023 1:14:57 PM

Royal Mons:

If these phonies want to play dress up they should join a re-enactment society and not lie about their fantasies and live off the sacrifice of others.

5/2/2023 6:41:13 PM

SOF VETTE:

FRANCO K WEBB is a LYING POSER. He and I were BEST FRIENDS during the time he CLAIMS 7th GP 18D (MY MOS and MY Duty assignment - ODA 755/754, O&I, SWC G Co SFAS, 1st Bn S3).

He was NEVER ASSOCIATED WITH, ASSIGNED TO, in SUPPORT OF, or attended ANY TRAINING that would qualify his claim of being an 18D.

He was a CAR STEREO SALESMAN and INSTALLER on Yadkin Road the ENTIRE TIME I KNEW HIM. We were in Westarea Fire Department TOGETHER and he lived in a trailer on Haretown road.

It APPEARS that he has taken some of MY SF TRAINING, HISTORY and BACKGROUND, claimed it as his own, and further EMBELLISHED those stories for his own video game centered bravado.

FRANCO K WEBB IS A GREEN BERET FRAUD

12/8/2022 12:33:09 PM

SuperUser Account:

He probably never will. The 7th Grp picture he pretends is his is an ODA from the mid-'80s. We've identified all men in the picture. It also looks like he added a Ranger Tab to his website. He's never before claimed Ranger so this is strange.

He and Mike Mika (President of SFA Ch 34) threatened to sue the SFA National if they didn't rescind the letter they sent us, give Rudi a formal apology, and re-instate him as a member in good standing. Of course SFA National refused and nothing came of his idle threat.

Mike Mika has twice, along with Rudi Gresham the fake Green Beret claimed that Rudi spent 12 years in the S.C. National Guard and that's where he attained the rank of LTC. Neither time were they able to produce records that baked up that statement.

7/21/2021 9:03:41 AM

SGT P - Rakkasan:

I just looked at his personal website, and it still has a picture autographed by General Yarborough, and a statement that says he served as Yarborough’s Aide. When will this clown give it up? I took screen shots.

7/19/2021 12:51:24 AM

Rick Upton:

Why is he working for the VA?

3/24/2021 9:11:54 AM

RobertEddy:

First of all, thank you folks for what you do, what you’ve done, and what you’re willing to do.

Secondly, it is my hope that Mr Prouix owns up to his lies. I have been watching this story and it disgusts me that there are people who would assume to receive the accolades deserved, but never sought, by better, braver, stronger men.

Mr Prouix needs to be exposed. Well done.

1/31/2021 6:25:58 PM

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One hundred men will test today but only three win the Green Beret.