The controversy surrounding Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's military record has come to light following his selection as Vice President Harris's 2024 presidential running mate. Questions have been raised about Walz's claim of retiring as a command sergeant major from the Army National Guard, despite officially retiring as a master sergeant.
Walz served 24 years with the Army National Guard, retiring in 2005 after deployment to Italy in support of U.S. operations in Afghanistan. Although he was promoted to the rank of command sergeant major upon returning from Italy, he did not complete the required coursework with the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy to retain the title in retirement, retiring instead as a master sergeant.
When questioned about the discrepancy, both the Harris campaign and Walz's gubernatorial office declined to comment on why Walz did not complete the necessary coursework. The Harris campaign referred to a 2018 Minnesota Public Radio article where a Minnesota National Guard public affairs officer stated that it was legitimate for Walz to claim he served as a command sergeant major, citing his retirement before completing the required academy coursework.
Following public scrutiny and accusations of 'stolen valor' from veterans, the Harris campaign updated Walz's biography to reflect that he 'served as a command sergeant major' rather than being a 'retired Command Sergeant Major.' Walz's military record has faced increased scrutiny, with criticisms of his claims of deploying to war zones during his service, despite never being deployed to a combat zone.
Regarding his statements about handling firearms 'in war,' the campaign clarified that Walz 'misspoke' and emphasized his belief that only trained military personnel should have access to such weapons. Walz retired before his unit's deployment to Iraq in 2005 and subsequently pursued a successful political career, serving in the U.S. House before becoming Minnesota's governor.
The Minnesota National Guard issued a statement addressing questions about Walz's military service, noting that his battalion's deployment to Europe in support of Operation Enduring Freedom qualified as service in OEF, even if he did not physically set foot in Afghanistan. The statement also clarified the timeline of Walz's retirement relative to his unit's deployment orders.
