Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a prominent figure in the Democratic party, has recently been embroiled in controversy over the misuse of a military title.
The issue came to the fore during a recent Democratic National Convention (DNC) meeting, where Walz was erroneously introduced as "Command Sergeant Major," a title he did not officially retire with from the military.
According to The Post Millennial, the introduction was made by a woman who enthusiastically welcomed Walz to the stage, stating, "I am so proud to welcome our vice-presidential candidate, soon to be nominee for vice president, Command Master Sergeant and I'm going to start with the title that is very important to me the Command Sergeant Major, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota." She further described Walz as a "joyful warrior" for the Democrats, a sentiment echoed by the cheers of the attendees.
However, the reality of Walz's military career tells a different story. Walz was conditionally promoted to Command Sergeant Major, contingent on the completion of his coursework at the US Army Sergeants Major Academy. Instead of fulfilling this requirement, Walz chose to leave the service in 2005 to pursue a political career, at a time when his unit was preparing for deployment to Iraq. Consequently, his title was downgraded to Master Sergeant.
Despite this, Walz has consistently referred to himself as "Command Sergeant Major" in various speeches and events throughout his political career. This has sparked a wave of criticism, with many accusing the governor of "stolen valor," a term used to describe the act of falsely claiming military awards and decorations for personal gain.
The DNC, which is set to continue until Thursday, will feature a speech by Walz on Wednesday, as reported by Minnesota news outlet Willmar Radio.
John Kolb, the former battalion commander for the National Guard unit in which Walz served, has publicly criticized Walz's actions. In a Facebook post, Kolb expressed his lack of regret over Walz's early retirement from the Minnesota Army National Guard, his failure to complete the Sergeants Major Academy, and his decision to break his enlistment contract. He also criticized Walz for not successfully completing any assignment as a Sergeant Major. This controversy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of integrity in both military and political spheres.
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