Dave Canterbury - Pathfinder - Claims debunked

[zzak]

the show has some useful info, and it's often not the actor's fault what bs is chosen by the producer/director. Dave HAS apologized, but there's also been claims that he didn't pay some assistant instructors as agreed, in his early days. He was probably hurting at the time he hired on the show, but he's making GOOD money today. In fact, I'm certain that he's rich and getting richer by promoting the 18th century gear that he overcharges for so much. :-) Anyone who "thinks" that shtf is going to be a time for muzzleloaders is a moron, and won't be around for very long at all.

[Diesel]

Putting this one to rest, an admission of guilt

http://youtu.be/BDmRrJ-GdUA

[Diesel]

WORD for WORD on his own site

http://www.thepathfinderschoolllc.com/BioPage.html

Dave Canterbury has more than 20 years of experience and personal training from both a Civilian and Military standpoint. He joined the U.S. Army at age 17, eventually becoming a Special Reaction Team (SRT) Team Leader and Trainer, SRT sniper and SRT scout. He trained soldiers in the U.S., Central America and Korea in unarmed combat and close-quarter techniques.

After leaving the Army, Canterbury worked on a reptile farm and as a commercial fisherman and diver in the Florida saltwater marshes. He put his background, skills and training to work for the next phase of his career — learning and now teaching wilderness survival at his Pathfinder Training School in Southeast Ohio.

Canterbury, a professional hunting guide and tracker, has posted over 300 survival-themed instructional videos on the web. He is also the author of The Pathfinder System: A Common Man's Guide to Survivability.

He is the Owner of the Pathfinder Training School in SE Ohio and has over 500 students Worldwide.

Dave is also and adjunct faculty member of Frontier Christian University for the Wilderness Self Reliance Certificate Program.


Is there proof of ANY of this?
"Special Reaction Team (SRT) Team Leader and Trainer, SRT sniper and SRT scout. He trained soldiers in the U.S., Central America and Korea in unarmed combat and close-quarter techniques.


A 2 week course DOES NOT make you a SRT Sniper
Nor does a 2 weeks SRT course make you an SRT Scout or a Team Leader or Trainer

Hell why not say your 1 week first aid course makes you an EMT too?


OH and Dave.. You and your d-bag friends you had come on our site to stir this up or defend you, is what brought this upon yourself. It was actually a DEAD issue and thread

[maric]

Im gonna motion to close as well. There is no reason for this BULL SHITZ on this forum. I think anyone who lies about their military career, or anything is an asshole. I used to like Dave and what he stood for, but if you have followed him as I have in the last few years, I could care less. His head is up his butt... My husband has had some issues with his DD214 as well, BUT Ill sure as heck make sure their taken care of. Anyone can "elaborate" in the military. Mr used to get so pissed when he would see guys wearing the 82nd patch when they were just attached (is that the correct term) He earned his, and wears it proudly. He was attached to a Ranger squad, but wont wear that patch til he earns it, which he will... I just think elaborating and lying is crap. Close this thread, Diesel. :) And if i misuse military lingo, please excuse, Im still learning to "talk the talk"...

I mean Ranger TAB... sheesh.. sorry.. thatll get you smacked around here! lol..IM KIDDING!!!!!!!

[TennOutdoors]

Thanks Maric Ill give it a go.

[maric]

all Ill say on this is DD 214 's arent exactly accurate. Mine has the Job I cross trained into as my primary, and left off my original primary and even got my rank wrong. and left off a variety of other things.

the only question I have, is how is it so easy to get some ones records. Ive been trying for years to get copies of my Dads records, first I had to prove I was his son, then provide his SSN, then supply more paperwork covering everything but the receipt for the new sink, and still havent managed to get a copy.

I second the motion Close the thread. we really dont need a flame war on this site. its a good site lets not drag it down. agree to disagree or Ill get the spoon out. LOL.

Have you tried the local or county veterans associations, instead of the VA? We have had help in obtaining info...

[maric]

Im gonna motion to close as well. There is no reason for this BULL SHITZ on this forum. I think anyone who lies about their military career, or anything is an asshole. I used to like Dave and what he stood for, but if you have followed him as I have in the last few years, I could care less. His head is up his butt... My husband has had some issues with his DD214 as well, BUT Ill sure as heck make sure their taken care of. Anyone can "elaborate" in the military. Mr used to get so pissed when he would see guys wearing the 82nd patch when they were just attached (is that the correct term) He earned his, and wears it proudly. He was attached to a Ranger squad, but wont wear that patch til he earns it, which he will... I just think elaborating and lying is crap. Close this thread, Diesel. :) And if i misuse military lingo, please excuse, Im still learning to "talk the talk"...

[Gray Suirrel]

Ok well "special reaction team is the military version of "SWAT" taught at the Army's MP school. its not a spec ops unit, so maybe he needs to explain that more in his credentials. Misinformation gets used alot by folks, kind of the " if you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, you baffle 'em with bs" At any rate , if he's lied, regardless of what skills he gives out to people, his integrity is greatly dimminished. I am sure this can go on forever, but why not just forget about him and get on with more important things. If he lied, bad karma will come to him sometime.

[Gray Suirrel]

Well with all thats been said about Dave Canterbury, and from watching him on the Discovery show, I tend to think the reports on him about false claims he made are most likely true. He seems a bit arrogant and condecending,
especially towards the other guy in the show. Maybe he's just a "legend in his own mind" . So if the reports of false claims are true, he should come forward and appologize to everyone. Discovery Channel needs to do a better job on background checks on the people they put on these kind of shows. And maybe they need to get rid of himon that show.

[hminus]

Really said right in there he trained as a sniper yep damage control alrighty.:rolleyes:

That is not sniper school my friend... sniper school is a five week course.. That was some MP in house familiarization..

besides his original claims were much bigger than that..

See the following taken from the bushcraft site:
I used to be a big fan of Dual Survival and Dave Canterbury ever since he started on youtube, but recent events have come to light that caused me to lose ALL respect for him. Lying about military service is inexcusable in my opinion. Dave (who goes by the username “PATHFINDER”) admitted publicly he made false claims that he was an Army Ranger to embellish his resume. Apparently the real Army Rangers and many military personnel are appalled. He then removed that information when cast for the Dual Survivor series on Discovery knowing that claim was fraudulent.

Q: “...Please tell us Dave, did you ever claim to be an Army Ranger?”
A: “NO I have served with Ranger units in CA in the 80's on the same checkpoints and patrols and I dont even publisize that!...”

This previous quote from him was then posted:
“As an Ex Army Ranger,Survival Instructor,and Extreme Hunter I expect alot from my gear. It is for that reason that the gear advertised for sale on this site has all been tested by myself and my son in a variety of extreme conditions. When your life depends on what little you carry-Buy from Wilderness Outfitters. We appreciate your business.”

His response:
“I will not try to say that is not my quote and yes after working with ranger units extensivley in CA I do feel one of them but that quote was removed from my site ALONG time ago!...”


Read the whole story for yourself here:

http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showth...t=3851&page=11

Also.. evidence of the ranger statement still exists.. I just found it on a 2008 blog for his outfitters site..

http://americanbushman.blogspot.com/2008/03/i-got-email-last-night-from-phil.html

[Domdabears]

I second the motion Close the thread. we really dont need a flame war on this site. its a good site lets not drag it down. agree to disagree or Ill get the spoon out. LOL.

I third that motion.

[Stitch]

all Ill say on this is DD 214 's arent exactly accurate.

I have two. They did not put my awards from my first enlistment on my second one. I can verify the above quote by TennOutdoors is accurate.

[hminus]

First off his bio says he's a sniper on his own website, he was NEVER a sniper, second of all you're done here, don't let the door hit you in the ass Dave's friend.

good call brother... I smelled the faint odor of damage control regarding his image...

BTW folks.. This should about cover The big D's first post...

Actual records

http://www.pownetwork.org/pownet.sec...id_michael.pdf

POW network Phonies
http://www.pownetwork.org/phonies/phonies1160.htm

It appears that the folks on the bushcraft site simply called him out for statements made about being a Ranger and Paratrooper as well as a few other things. I just checked the internet archive to see if his original BIO was still out there. It is not... The fact is, many of the folks posting on the bushcraft site say they have SEEN these claims on his bio.. According to one post by the Pathfinder himself, he admits of a mistake and claimed it was his webmasters typo... Now.. be that as it may... It all boils down to one thing and one thing only.. do you believe one guy (Dave) or do you believe several people..

After reading many of the postings and responses by the Pathfinder, I lean towards Dave making false claims... Now, if that is true some may say whats does it matter... It may not matter to some of you.. It matters to me.. Not because I did my time in green, but because making those claims for pesonal gain is wrong..... It is wrong...

If he were some dude talking smack in a bar, I would not give it a second thought... If it was a guy running for public office, I would be pissed... If it was a TV personality... I would be pissed...

I would like to say that "IF" the Pathfinder made false claims with the intent of profiting from those claims, I would be pissed...

regarding the forum user "Subject".. I don't know who he is.. I don't care.. I do find it strange that out of all the stuff on this site, he picks this subject and this one only.. He is from Ohio and He just loves Dave... It is strange...

[TennOutdoors]

all Ill say on this is DD 214 's arent exactly accurate. Mine has the Job I cross trained into as my primary, and left off my original primary and even got my rank wrong. and left off a variety of other things.

the only question I have, is how is it so easy to get some ones records. Ive been trying for years to get copies of my Dads records, first I had to prove I was his son, then provide his SSN, then supply more paperwork covering everything but the receipt for the new sink, and still havent managed to get a copy.

I second the motion Close the thread. we really dont need a flame war on this site. its a good site lets not drag it down. agree to disagree or Ill get the spoon out. LOL.

[Stitch]

I am not sure what can be proved or disproved other than looking at his SRB & DD214. The below is from Dave's website.

snip
He joined the U.S. Army at age 17, eventually becoming a Special Reaction Team (SRT) Team Leader and Trainer, SRT sniper and SRT scout. He trained soldiers in the U.S., Central America and Korea in unarmed combat and close-quarter techniques.
snip

http://www.thepathfinderschoolllc.com/BioPage.html

snip
DAVE CANTERBURY - Army-trained scout, sniper, hunter

Dave Canterbury has more than 20 years of combined military and civilian survival experience. He joined the U.S. Army at age 17, eventually becoming a Special Reaction Team (SRT) instructor and sniper. He trained soldiers in the U.S., Central America and Korea in unarmed combat and close-quarter techniques.
snip

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/dual-survival/bios/