There is no doubt that Walz (right) was a citizen soldier.
Walz’s Questionable Claims
Well, Kamala Harris announced her VP pick yesterday. In case you’ve been living under a rock and missed it, she picked Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Walz is about as left-leaning as they come, but that’s not what I’m here to write about today. My mission is to discuss his military record and the substantial controversy/confusion surrounding it. During my 16 years as an Army Officer, I’ve been the Investigating Officer on a number of 15-6 investigations, so I’m quite familiar with digging out and reporting facts in a fair and impartial manner.
For those of you not in the know, these investigations are typically carried out to determine the facts surrounding allegations of misconduct, incidents, accidents, or any other issues that require a detailed inquiry but do not necessitate a formal court-martial or legal proceeding. But I digress…back to Walz. Just because he does not share the same political beliefs that I do, it does not mean I’m going to be one of those people who attack him personally. You know the type. All of us at SOFREP are committed to taking the high road.
There are those who say he never served in the military. Let’s get this allegation out of the way up front. There is absolutely no doubt that Tim Walz did indeed serve 24 years as an enlisted soldier in the Army National Guard. He joined the Nebraska Guard when he was 17 years old and still in High School.
Walz as a fresh-faced young recruit in the Nebraska National Guard.
Here is proof positive that he indeed handled a weapon at one time. This was apparently taken back in the old “steel pot” days. Image Credit: Tim Walz Facebook
Rank Controversy and Timing of Retirement
The first issue I see is on his official bio page as Governor of Minnesota. It reads in part:
“After 24 years in the Army National Guard, Command Sergeant Major Walz retired from the 1-125 Field Artillery Battalion in 2005.”
In a recent Breitbart article they note that they have spoken to a Public Affairs Officer from the Minnesota State National Guard‘s office. One Army Lieutenant Colonel Kristen Augé. LTC Augé informed the publication, via email, the Walz indeed did not retire as an E-9 (Command Sergeant Major).
Walz’s Questionable Claims
Well, Kamala Harris announced her VP pick yesterday. In case you’ve been living under a rock and missed it, she picked Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Walz is about as left-leaning as they come, but that’s not what I’m here to write about today. My mission is to discuss his military record and the substantial controversy/confusion surrounding it. During my 16 years as an Army Officer, I’ve been the Investigating Officer on a number of 15-6 investigations, so I’m quite familiar with digging out and reporting facts in a fair and impartial manner.
For those of you not in the know, these investigations are typically carried out to determine the facts surrounding allegations of misconduct, incidents, accidents, or any other issues that require a detailed inquiry but do not necessitate a formal court-martial or legal proceeding. But I digress…back to Walz. Just because he does not share the same political beliefs that I do, it does not mean I’m going to be one of those people who attack him personally. You know the type. All of us at SOFREP are committed to taking the high road.
There are those who say he never served in the military. Let’s get this allegation out of the way up front. There is absolutely no doubt that Tim Walz did indeed serve 24 years as an enlisted soldier in the Army National Guard. He joined the Nebraska Guard when he was 17 years old and still in High School.
Walz as a fresh-faced young recruit in the Nebraska National Guard.
Here is proof positive that he indeed handled a weapon at one time. This was apparently taken back in the old “steel pot” days. Image Credit: Tim Walz Facebook
Rank Controversy and Timing of Retirement
The first issue I see is on his official bio page as Governor of Minnesota. It reads in part:
“After 24 years in the Army National Guard, Command Sergeant Major Walz retired from the 1-125 Field Artillery Battalion in 2005.”
In a recent Breitbart article they note that they have spoken to a Public Affairs Officer from the Minnesota State National Guard‘s office. One Army Lieutenant Colonel Kristen Augé. LTC Augé informed the publication, via email, the Walz indeed did not retire as an E-9 (Command Sergeant Major).
She clarified the matter:
“He retired as a Master Sergeant (E-8) in 2005 because he did not complete additional coursework at the US Army Sergeants Major Academy.”
The Minnesota National Guard also confirmed that Walz was conditionally promoted to Command Sergeant Major in 2004, but, as stated above, never completed the required coursework. This is why he had to retire at the lower rank.
Was this lying, fudging a technicality, or a simple mistake? You can make the call on that one.
What is more concerning, to me at least, is his timing to quit the Guard. Walz quit several weeks after his unit, the 1-125 Field Artillery Battalion, received a warning order that they would be mobilized for active duty in Iraq. At the time he as acting as his unit’s senior non-commissioned officer.
It is said that Walz’s excuse for retiring when he did was due to the fact he would be running for Congress. But, running for Congress and military service are not incompatible. Many have done it. He would have simply had to request permission from the Secretary of Defense prior to being activated. I’m still trying to get verified copies of his discharge paperwork, but it is widely said that he did not sign his official retirement document and instead it reads, “Soldier not available for signature.”
What is known for certain is that the 1-125 Field Artillery Battalion was deployed to Iraq for 22 months from 2006-2007…without Tim Walz.
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Disclaimer: SOFREP utilizes AI for image generation and article research. Occasionally, it’s like handing a chimpanzee the keys to your liquor cabinet. It’s not always perfect and if a mistake is made, we own up to it full stop. In a world where information comes at us in tidal waves, it is an important tool that helps us sift through the brass for live rounds.
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Brandon Webb former Navy SEAL, Bestselling Author and Editor-in-Chief
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