The Minnesota National Guard has raised concerns about Governor Tim Walz’s military credentials, specifically disputing his claim of retiring with the rank of command sergeant major. According to Army Lieutenant Colonel Kristen Augé, the state’s public affairs officer, Walz actually retired as a master sergeant in 2005 because he did not complete necessary coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. Army regulations dictate that failure to complete this training results in a rank drop.
This revelation came shortly after Vice President Kamala Harris announced Walz as her running mate, introducing them as the Democratic ticket at a rally in Philadelphia.
Walz’s military history has faced scrutiny before. During his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, two retired Minnesota National Guard officials publicly criticized him for retiring right before his unit’s deployment to Iraq, accusing him of leaving soldiers unsupported during a mobilization. One of the retired officials, Thomas Behrends, expressed his disappointment, stating, “He had the opportunity to serve and said ‘Screw you’ to the United States. That’s not who I would pick to run for vice president,” in a recent interview with the New York Post.
In contrast, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance, an Ohio senator and Marine Corps veteran, criticized Walz’s decision to step back during a press conference. He emphasized his own commitment to serving in Iraq, stating, “When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, he dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him.” Vance described this choice as shameful, reflecting the sentiments of many in the military community.
Lieutenant Colonel Augé clarified that Walz was part of the Minnesota National Guard from April 1981 to May 2005, after transferring from the Nebraska National Guard. While in service, he held various roles, including cannon crewmember and field artillery senior sergeant, before concluding his career in the Minnesota National Guard as a master sergeant in 2005.