Quick Hit:

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, is under renewed fire for allegedly misleading the public about his military service. Former National Guardsmen accuse Walz of abandoning his troops just before their deployment to Iraq and misrepresenting his re-enlistment and retirement dates.

Key Details:

Former members of the Minnesota National Guard allege that Walz has embellished and omitted facts about his military career, particularly his actions post-9/11.
Critics claim Walz retired months before his obligation was complete to avoid deployment to Iraq. Walz claims he retired to instead focus on his first congressional run.
Walz’s use of the title "command sergeant major" has also been disputed, as he retired before completing the necessary training and service, officially retiring as a master sergeant.

Diving Deeper:

According to a 2018 report by Alpha News, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has faced significant criticism from former members of the Minnesota National Guard who allege that he has misrepresented his military service record. These concerns have resurfaced amid his recent selection as Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate for the 2024 presidential election.

Thomas Behrends, a retired Command Sergeant Major of the Minnesota National Guard, stated, "Tim Walz has embellished and selectively omitted facts and circumstances of his military career for years." While Behrends acknowledged that Walz served a "long and honorable career," he emphasized that it is the narrative Walz presents about his service after 9/11 that is problematic.

In 2006, during Walz's first congressional campaign, questions arose about the timing of his retirement. Tom Hagen, a Minnesota military reservist who served in Iraq, questioned Walz's sudden retirement in a letter to The Winona Daily News. Hagen wrote, "Walz quickly retired after learning that his unit — southern Minnesota's 1-125 FA Battalion — would be sent to Iraq. For Tim Walz to abandon his fellow soldiers and quit when they needed experienced leadership most is disheartening."

Walz responded by stating that he re-enlisted for four additional years after completing 20 years of service in 2001 and retired before his battalion's deployment to run for Congress. However, official documents from the National Guard contradict this claim. Walz's Report of Separation and Military Service form shows he re-enlisted for six years, with his service obligation ending on September 18th, 2007. Despite this, Walz retired on May 16, 2005, months before his obligation was complete, leading to allegations that he retired to avoid deployment.

Behrends, who took over Walz's position, noted, "Even if Walz did re-enlist for 4 years, he still retired months before his obligation was complete." This sentiment was echoed by Tony Wenzel, a retired Platoon Sergeant for the Minnesota Army National Guard, who said, "It sickens me to realize that Tim Walz, in the face of being deployed to Iraq, would quit. When the going looked tough, he bolted. Good soldiers don't do that."

Another point of contention is Walz's use of the title "command sergeant major." Before his retirement, Walz was conditionally promoted to this rank but did not complete the necessary training and service, retiring as a master sergeant. Despite this, he continues to use the title of command sergeant major. Behrends and fellow retired Command Sergeant Major Paul Herr detailed these discrepancies in an open letter, stating, "He failed his country. He failed his state. He failed the Minnesota Army National Guard, the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion, and his fellow soldiers. And he failed to lead by example."