[Dan_Frisbie]

Accusations of “Stolen Valor” and the “quitting before deployment” accusation are very dangerous.
During my career as a Naval Aircrewman, I was “officially” deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In reality, I spent one night in Bahrain to be briefed on our assignment elsewhere. I could still claim to be part of that campaign.

Most senior enlisted members apply for retirement at least six months before we retire from duty. It is very likely that the SgtMaj was at the end of an enlistment contract and was told to either extend to make a deployment or retire. He chose to retire.

Again, I was in a similar situation. As the Senior Enlisted Advisor in a training squadron in Florida, I was approaching time to move to my next duty station, but didn’t have the time left on my enlistment and didn’t really want to go back up to Maine (It’s cold).
My Navy Detailer told me to either extend my enlistment to head North or submit my 1306 (retirement request). I submitted my request in March of 2004, ended my duty in November 2004 and officially retired (after using all my leave) in January 2005.

There are plenty of reasons to reject Tim Walz without going into this gray area.

[Liz]

In photo, Walz is wearing a camo hat bearing the U.S. Army Special Forces crest. Walz was never a member of the Special Forces. Wearing a hat in support of such a prestigious organization is frowned upon in military veteran circles.

Walz’s slobbering at the public trough: multiple govt pensions, gold-plated health care, plus whatever he slobbed up took from the miliary $$grab bag.

$100,000 US House pension, $60,000 Social Security,$ 40,000 annual compounded interest [403(b) - 2 accounts], $ 40,000 gubernatorial pension, $ 30,000 National Guard retirement pay, total $270,000 annual tax dollars

[cgbg]

Walz never even told his commanding officer he was retiring.

He went over his head to file the paperwork.

Like everything with Walz the stench can be smelled a mile away.

[Repeat Offender]

After your one night in Bahrain, did you walk around telling people how you carried your weapon into war and using such "combat" service to justify taking rights from others?

During my career as a Naval Aircrewman

Did you spend your post-Navy time letting on that you were a pilot or wearing a hat with a trident trying to pass yourself off as a Navy Seal?

As the Senior Enlisted Advisor in a training squadron in Florida, I

Were you actually the Senior Enlisted Advisor, or were you in a training class to become one, dropped out - never actually bestowed such a billet and then passed yourself off as the advisor for nearly the next ~20 years?

Were you frocked to a higher rank, fail to meet the requirements of that rank, then retired at the lower rank....and then spent two decades LYING and telling people you retired at the rank you were frocked

There are plenty of reasons to reject Tim Walz without going into this gray area.

There is no gray area. He embellished and intentionally lied and misled people regarding his service. Stop trying to defend the indefensible.

[silverleaf]

Both the unit Chaplain and Walz’s replacement have made it publicly clear Walz knew about the upcoming deployment and actually made an end run around chain of command to put in retirement papers. Both called him a coward. When the Chaplain publicly calls you out, you have to really be a piece of shite.
So no gray area on that.

And yes, providing support services from a barracks it Italy counts as “ support” to OEF. So technically, he did “ support” OEF but its clear from the archive articles, interviews and statements that Tiananmen Tim passed himself off as as a combat veteran, even alluding to sharing the suffering of PTSD.
The guy is at best a clown car Walter Mitty and at worst, an embellisher of his resume with the feats of other better men…to advance his political career.

[EVO X]

During my career as a Naval Aircrewman, I was “officially” deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In reality, I spent one night in Bahrain to be briefed on our assignment elsewhere.

To get the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal(GWOT-EM) you have to have been deployed for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days or get fired upon. There is another medal called the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal(GWOT-SM) That one is for individuals that aren't forward deployed to the trouble spots but support the effort. I think Walz would have this medal.

[castlebrew]

Walz still had 2 years on his enlistment contract.

Lots of info out there, including statements from his Battalion Commander, Battalion Chaplain, and Brigade Command Sergeant Major.

Walz lied about deploying if ordered and bailed out on his troops. He dropped his retirement packet 2 months AFTER the alert notice.

Walz lied about deploying when running for Congress; never once getting a correction published/issued.

Unforgivable. Stolen Valor.

[cymbeline]

“There are plenty of reasons to reject Tim Walz without going into this gray area”

Thanks for the informative post.

[Gaffer]

It is very likely that the SgtMaj was at the end of an enlistment contract and was told to either extend to make a deployment or retire. He chose to retire.

Uh, no he wasn't 'close' on the last sign up for 6 years instead of the 4 he claimed. The only true fact is that he technically had enough time in to retire at some point. Further, this is the National Guard and his former CSM replacement is saying that he BYPASSED the regular Chain by two levels to put in his papers - unheard of..

And finally, actually saying (more than once) he carried weapons in time of war is just pure BS intended to make the listener believe he actually deployed to a combat area instead of Italy sucking up the local vino.

You can say it isn't Stolen Valor, but to my mind it's at least ABANDONED VALOR.

[mass55th]

"There are plenty of reasons to reject Tim Walz without going into this gray area."

Walz promised to deploy with his unit. He reneged on that promise. He also repeatedly lied, and embellished his service record. That's the real point. Claiming he carried a weapon while serving in Afghanistan...a place he never even went. Same thing with Senator Blumenthal telling people for year's he served in Vietnam, when he never even left the country.

Since the Minnesota National Guard tells me Walz is a slug...he's an f-ing slug, and like Kerry, and Clinton, their lies should be mentioned to prove their lack of character for the job they are running for. RATS fabricated paperwork on George W. Bush regarding his service with the Texas Air National Guard. A liar needs to be called out as the liar they are as often as possible.

[Catholic and Conservative]

Walz retired 3 years and 8 months into a 6 year re-enlistment.

https://www.wctrib.com/community/letters/the-truth-about-tim-walz