The letter written by Walz's accusers say that it was a "provisional" rank dependent upon completing the Command Sergeant Major Academy. He dropped out of the Academy and his provisional rank was withdrawn.
This is probably a bad analogy, but here it goes:
Suppose you are 16 and have a restricted learner's driver's license that limits your driving privileges to daylight hours until you pass the driving test and receive your permanent license. Can you claim to have been a "licensed" diver if you never take the driver's test and your learner's license is expired?
-PJ
“This is probably a bad analogy, but here it goes:”
Try this. Some states have a program where a degreed person can start teaching but are required to complete certain requirements within a certain time.
While they are teaching they can refer to themselves as a teacher.
If they don’t complete the requirements they can only say they WERE a teacher.
Other examples are available. My wife’s brother was given a provisional promotion by Sacramento County based on his job performance. Normally one had to take the required test before promotion. He was given a date by which to pass the exam. He partied, smoked weed and flunked. Demoted. Wife divorced him.