Walter Mitty - in Military Terminology

In Military Terminology

There is a military slang term, "Walt", which is an abbreviation of the name 'Walter Mitty', which refers to someone who has aspirations to become a soldier, but none of the necessary personal qualities. This slang can also refer to someone who poses as an (ex-)soldier but who isn't a soldier (serving or former), or who poses as something he isn't or wasn't; for example, regular army soldiers who pose as SAS troopers. The term is sometimes used to describe individuals who participate in 'wargames' such as Airsoft, Paintball, Military Re-enactment, and millitaria/weapon collecting that do not recognise that what they do for a hobby does not compare to military service.

In his book on selection for the Special Air Service (SAS), Andy McNab wrote that people who give away the fact that they want to be in the SAS for reasons of personal vanity are labelled as 'Walter Mitties' and are quietly sent home.