By CHASE SPEARS | REAL CLEAR WIRE
There is a saying among veterans that we’re hard on one another, but that we’ll circle the wagons when civilian outsiders attack. Perhaps in another time that was truly the rule. If so, such a tradition expired long before my enlistment in the fall of 2003.
Regardless, one rule remains intact for generations of veterans: Lie about your military service record at your own risk. Governor of Minnesota and vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz is learning that lesson. It’s one he should have known long ago as a retired senior noncommissioned officer.
In the Army, the noncommissioned officer (NCO) leads troops directly. Officers command, plan, and make policy. NCOs make it happen. Good NCOs are the repository of common sense in the ranks, the ones who know their troops well. Having worn the rank of Sergeant, and then becoming an officer myself, I often spoke of the importance of officers having NCO supervision. There’s a reason most U.S. Army officers have an enlisted counterpart, wisdom that was baked into the system long ago. They are integral to a healthy balance of leadership in the military setting.
It is against this backdrop that Tim Walz’s behavior stands out in such stark relief to the Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer, which states, “I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit, or personal safety.”
The problem is not Master Sergeant Walz moving on to a political career as a civilian. He is following in the wake of many who have come before him—all the way back to the nation’s early years. In the U.S., doing time in the military is frequently a catalyst for one’s political ambitions given the favorable view the public has toward the troops. Consider John Glenn: he was recruited to run for senate specifically for being a Marine and an astronaut. The same can be said of Senator Mark Kelly. Though Americans do not often elect veterans as presidents, they routinely elect them to Congress.
Had Walz retired, gone back to civilian life, and been honest about his military record, this discussion would not be happening. Had he spoken of himself as a “retired Master Sergeant, and former Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery,” that would have been fine.
I retired last year having been selected for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. But I chose to depart as a Major rather than waiting months for the date of promotion and completing an additional three years to maintain the higher rank in retirement. Walz himself made a deliberate choice not to complete the requirements to remain a Command Sergeant Major and was returned to the rank of Master Sergeant in retirement.
Everyone in the military leaves eventually, one way or another. Originally planning for a 30-year career, I chose to leave at 20 years for reasons of conscience and a desire to be more present with my family, after having served tours in combat zones. It seems Walz timed his retirement out of a desire to avoid combat deployment altogether, despite claims of reenlisting specifically to fight in the Global War on Terrorism. There were plenty of reasons why one would dislike the idea of deploying to Iraq, a war the Bush Administration never should have started.
Having completed the initial requirements that he signed up for, Walz had every legal right to drop out of the Sergeant Majors academy and retire, instead of continuing to lead his battalion. It is fair to debate the associated honor or dishonor of Walz stepping away as a senior leader when his unit needed him and going behind the back of his immediate supervisors to do so. But the fact remains, it was his choice to make as a free citizen. Many others have made the same choice.
But choosing to step down and then create a false war hero identity for political benefit is deserving of the loudest contempt. Walz attempted to cast himself in the likeness of Rambo, but proves to be more of an emasculated, dancing retired Master Sergeant on the political stage.
Once freed of the shackles associated with his military status, Walz falsely branded himself a combatveteran, a claim debunked by the same left-leaning press that’s doing all it can to ensure he and Harris win in November. Every bit as lacking in ethical prowess, the acolytes running Walz’s public relations effort claim that he merely “misspoke.” That is a lie. Veterans know if they served in a designated combat theater and if they carried a weapon in a war zone. These are not distinctions taken lightly. Suggestions otherwise spit in the faces of those who have been on the ground in dangerous places, putting their lives on the line in America’s defense.
One can criticize Walz for his myriad of insane policy choices, a short list of which includes: tampons in boys’ bathrooms, setting up COVID snitch hotlines, letting Minneapolis burn in 2020, joining Minnesota to a list of states that aim to disregard the electoral college, enthusiastic homosexual grooming of children in public schools, and signing legislation that stripped the rights of children who survive an abortion attempt. He deserves condemnation for playing the “military defender of the nation” card while also saying that there is no right to free speech in that pesky Constitution he pledged allegiance to as a soldier.
Walz’s record as an elected official is reprehensible. Even without bringing his time in the National Guard into the conversation, he is unqualified for leadership at any level.
But since he lied about his military service for personal gain repeatedly over the years, it is right to add that to Walz’s long list of actions that render him unfit for political office.
Chase Spears served as a U.S. Army public affairs officer for 20 years, retiring as a Major-Promotable in 2023. Among other pursuits, he enjoys writing about courage, civil-military relations, communication ethics, and policy. Chase holds a Ph.D. in leadership communication from Kansas State University, where his research focused on the political realities of military norms and actions. He can be found on X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Substack at @drchasespears.
Marxists do not lie. The faith instructs the believer it is not a lie if the perceived outcome is good. Calling a Marxist a liar is like refusing to use a person’s pronouns of choice. Not only are you being bigoted, but worse, you are likely committing a hate crime. Indeed, in Canada, you could be prosecuted for calling a Marxist a liar.
He’s a Democrat, they lie so nothing new here. Look at Elizabeth Warren, she claimed to be Native American because her grandfather had high cheek bones. She used this to gain entrance to Harvard and a very lucrative career thereafter. She’s not Native American and apologized. Nothing happened to her because of the “D” behind her name
Whats the difference between him and the Head liars in charge we currently have?
They all disregard our United States Constitution as though it were graffiti smeared on the sh*thouse door.
Will the citizens of Minneapolis really vote for this feckless leader who let their city burn to the ground by criminals while He hid out in his bunker?
Probably so as they elected Him in the first place so they will get rid of their tragic mistake by sending Him to DC.
Walz is a very creepy dude. Seriously, what’s up Minnesotans? Why would you ever elect such a person? When he forcefully and aggressively grabbed his disabled son’s arm at the convention you have to wonder what goes on behind closed doors. And then Walz’s obsession with teen sex. I could go on with all the communism and lying. Creepy and deviant af.
The offensiveness of feigned military accomplishments is disgusting, a common narrative used by our elite class to pretend they are not just the collection of highly paid and bribed losers they in fact are. That said, virtually every Congressman, Senator, President and their staffs who we have allowed to subvert our country the past 50 years create mythical narratives of themselves and the media amplifies these narratives. We need to focus on why the $35 trillion debt, toxic economic and foreign policies and subsidized mass immigration continue despite several GOP dominated governments since 1945. GOP leaders need to be held to account and not accept weak excuses for their failures, as the Dem Party is beyond help.
Military and DOJ in any state can bring charges against him for “impersonation” of a veteran and activity even though he is the vet. Any state and any military JAG. Lying on record and voicing the lie is serious mental business and the mental issue is of importance to them whether they are active or retired and still actively implying the fantasy. Any vet can go to CID or OSI or investigative unit on a post and lodge the complaint. Their OPS will help determine the steps to take. This needs to be a part of his military medical record. DOJ has an obligation to follow the issue. Can you imagine the vice president of the US implying he is a war veteran to help impression of world leaders? Pretty sick and unstable. We have been in that state of sickness for three years plus we in this country don’t need anymore in this country and are sick of the bad actors in the Biden white house and vie presidency of Harris.
Superb article. It reminds me of another liar, John Kerry. His fellow vets from the Vietnam War era outed him in a book called, “Unfit For Command.” Kerry tried, but he couldn’t defend against the truth. He lost his bid for election to the presidency. As Americans, we are very lucky that he lost. The same principle applies to Walz.
Thank you for your ‘Honest’ service. -Army 58-61
The Trump campaign’s plan was to stage a fake ceremony at Arlington, pretend it was public, and then condemn VP Harris for not showing up. The US Army has now issued a statement condemning their actions. In a sane world, this would be campaign ending.
What a croc, he was invited to share the moment by Gold Star families. He attended because he cares. He has commiserated with those families on multiple occasions. Unlike Biden /Harris he actually cares, they oversaw the worst military moments in our history.
This has nothing to do with article, you leftist have a tough time with that I know, TDS is a real thing with you people.
What should have been campaign ending, was joey checking his watch during the arrival of the blown up bodies arriving at Andrews, like he was bored and afraid he’d miss out on ice cream.
Lets not forget to mention Walz’s criminal background. This narcissist was caught driving drunk at almost 100 miles per hour. No one who has dispayed such contempt for the safety and well being of others should ever be the VP, or even worse, president.
Sadly, in these modern days stolen valor is a resume enhancement for Democrats
This might be a credible line of attack if the GOP ticket didn’t include at the top a draft dodging, veteran bashing, chickenhawk who’s concern for the military and active duty soldiers stops at his ability to use them as props. This proud Master Sergeant will happily vote for the Harris Walz ticket over Donny Bone Spurs and James Donald David Bowman Hamel Vance, or whatever the weirdos name is.
Something appealing about Biden-Harris gelding America’s military, trying to start WWIII, treasonously opening Amertica’s southern border to battalions of homicidal trash, botching the Afghanistan withdrawal so badly that 13 Americans are blown up, $80B of military hardware’s gifted to the Taliban, while God knows how many of ours and those who helped us are left behind?
.
The very same Americans victimized by Harris-Sgt Rock should happily give them the opportunity to do more of the same?
Alaska Jim, what is weird is why the Bolscheviks picked up on the word ” weird” in disparaging JD Vance.
What is weird about his story? In a less insane time Vance’s life story would be used as a template for success. But then you Democrats are all in for WEIRD. That’s what’s weird.
Thank you for your service Jim, but your first sentence is BS that’s been debunked numerous times.
Fun Fact: There have been five generations of Trump’s family in the US. And not one person in five generations served in the military. One more thing – Republicans have uncovered that Tim Walz had stated he changes oil on his Scout at every 5,000 miles, however, in 2016 he didn’t change it until 5,136 miles. This is a fast developing story – updates soon.
You people are the ones that are weird, the garbage you come with to try and make someone look bad is is comical.
Well then here is more comical for you Hunter – Q: What did RFK, Jr. say to Kristi Noem after she shot her dog? A: You going to eat that?
He must have replaced the oil with tranny fluid.
Laughable
I will go with what Mark Esper said about Tim Walz over Chase Spears’ opinion. As far as liars being unfit for office? SMH