As I have now read the details, I’m comfortable concluding that Governor Walz committed stolen valor. As some might recall, I have reached the same conclusion, as I explained above, for Representative Jackson. Political party is no excuse.
Why is that even a question? You don’t earn it, don’t claim it. Well... he is a Democratic so honesty is shot to hell at jump.
No. Just proves that he is a chickensh*t.
You ever serve a day active duty?
People can get RIFed, and leave the service as an enlisted. If they retire, normal procedure is to pay (retired) at highest rank held.
Save your anger for the FOBBETs that play combat vet when the best they did was briefly transit the combat zone.
IMO - non-starter, non-issue
I think his true rank is AFC…..
Asshole First Class.
Yes.
End of story.
According to an article in NavyTimes:
That administrative action involved Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro changing Jackson’s “retirement grade determination” and reducing his rank to O-6, a defense official granted anonymity to discuss personnel matters told Navy Times Thursday.Others with military knowledge will have to weigh in on whether Jackson was given a "retired demotion" that is different from his "active" rank. Is Jackson still entitled to use his "active" rank despite his benefits rank having been demoted three years after he retired?Jackson’s official service record now lists him as a retired captain.
-PJ
What do you know about the history of Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal?
Blumenthal campaigned for the Senate in 2010 as a Vietnam veteran, saying he "served in Vietnam" despite being stationed only in DC and Connecticut.
When caught by a New York Times article during the campaign, Blumenthal said that he occasionally "misspoke" about his record and that he should have said he served in the Vietnam era.
Was that Stolen Valor? Blumenthal is still in the Senate today.
-PJ
Any rank other than what is printed on the DD214, is a federal offense.
“First, Representative Ronny Jackson attained the rank of Rear Admiral but was demoted to Captain upon retirement. Yet, he goes around referring to himself as an admiral. That, to me, is stolen valor.”
I am ignorant. He was demoted in 2022 much after he retired. I saw that he didn’t update his congressional bio. Were there other instances where he referred to himself as Admiral?
“Second, Governor Tim Walz attained the rank of Command Sergeant Major, then retired as Master Sergeant. Yet, he goes around referring to himself as a Command Sergeant Major. That, to me, again, is stolen valor.”
Walz was demoted because he didn’t complete all requirements for his active rank. That was recognized while he was active and the demotion was recorded upon retirement. This resulted in a reduction of benefits. I don’t know how long he could remain active at that rank with unfinished quals.
Not sure in Jackson's case. He retired as a Rear Admiral, but two years later it was downgraded because apparently he hurt his subordinates feeling, or was a jerk depending on how you see it. It was a Biden appointee whom downgraded him. So we will never know if he was a butthole or a victim. Technically he should refer to himself as Captain. He served as an Admiral was reduced by a IG report but never went to a trial. Trump for instance introduced him as having “retired as an Admiral.” That is true. There was some hints he prescribed himself Ambient. I would have thought that would have warranted him being tried. Technically stolen valor. More like he feels the attack was political so he says screw you I identify as an Admiral.
They had the rank. Not stolen valor. President Trump isn’t President right now, but we still call him that. Stolen valor is claiming service or valor that never happened. I’ll cut them both some slack.
In the Navy, one can be advanced in rank in a "frocked" status meaning that they are awarded with wearing the uniform and insignia of the higher rank, and the responsibilities this higher rank entails, but they will still collect the pay of their lower rank until they are no longer frocked. This can take several months.
If a PO1 (E6) gets selected as Chief (E7) and goes through Chief initiation and finally acceptance, he is allowed to wear the uniform of a Chief and to call himself a Navy Chief. However, he may still be getting paid as an E6 for several months. He may even get an ID that says (confusingly) CPO/E6.
Now, let's say he made Chief at 19.5 years but still had plans to retire at 20. He could call himself a Chief at retirement and wear the uniform of a Chief. He had been accepted as a Chief by the CPO Mess. But he will not be paid as a Chief and his retirement pay would be that of a First Class Petty Officer.
Is this stolen valor?
To be honest, I don't know all of the details surrounding Tim Walz. I'm just presenting a scenario where someone could conceivably, and rightly, refer themselves as a different rank than the one they retired at.
Governor Tim Walz attained the rank of Command Sergeant Major, then retired as Master Sergeant. Yet, he goes around referring to himself as a Command Sergeant Major.
......................................
Walz’s CSM rank was conditional. He didn’t complete his leadership academy so he reverted back to E8. His rank would have been CSM until the personnel action officially reverted him back. If he’s still going around as CSM he is wrong and bringing dishonor upon himself. No service member is going to respect that.
Well, let’s see here, major general George Custer of the Civil War reverted back to the rank of lieutenant colonel after the war was over. he actually was retired I believe for a few years and then recalled back to active service as a lieutenant colonel. But he was always referred to as general Custer by almost everyone, except the general officers that he reported to.
So is that stolen valor? He was killed on active duty.
From what I’ve read, his Sgt. Mj. Rank was rescinded after he failed to complete the requirements. If he can claim that rank, then pretty much anyone who attempted a position, but failed to complete the work, or was denied by his superiors, can claim the position.
Hellary won the election, and was President.
What were the circumstances of Captain Jackson being demoted from rear Admiral?
Yes.
Its along the same lines like claiming you earned a purple heart but didn’t.
Its like claiming you fought somewhere but didn’t.
Its stealing, because others actually did what you claimed, but you actually didn’t.
Not stolen valor. Walz did obtain the rank of Command Sergeant Major. After he retired, he was reverted to Master Sergeant because he did not complete the college level CSM academy and staying in 2 years post-school completion. The highest rank he achieved was CSM. Saying so is not stolen valor.
However, if says he is a retired CSM then that is stolen valor because he is a retired Master Sergeant.
Also, it was smart to retire to avoid a 12+ month deployment to Iraq. He probably was on the way out anyway and was trying for the CSM promotion for a retirement pay boost. When his plan didn’t work out, he pulled the retirement rip-cord.
Further, he was a lifer-NG CSM in a FA Bn, trust me, he was not missed on the deployment.
Update: I just noticed a report of him implying that AR-15s are the same as the weapons of war that he carried. This is stolen valor because it implies he saw combat.
It does hint that there may be a lot of this type of loose lipped stolen valor from Walz out in the wild. Maybe the selection team didn’t notice that this stuff could be problem because they dont understand it