Demoted? That would be everywhere in the news.
It has been in the news for years here in MN, but nobody else has cared about Tim Walz and his lies until now. Its a big deal to claim to be an E9 and then quit just before an expected deployment. That’s why he was discharged as an E8 and not the CSM he claimed to be.
Governor Walz enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard in 1981 and served for 24 years, obtaining the rank of Sergeant Major. However, he was reduced in rank to Master Sergeant in September 2005 after failing to complete the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. But that is just the end of his military career; according to Herr and Behrends, Tim Walz did other shameful things, and something far worse — he abandoned his troops when they went to Iraq.
In September 2001, then First Sergeant Walz reenlisted in the Minnesota National Guard for six years and was selected to attend the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA) in early 2003. Attending this course is mandatory for all senior enlisted members who intend to earn the promotion to the rank of Sergeant Major.