Staff Reports
In a stunning display of creative exaggeration, the Democratic National Committee recently touted Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as having attained the illustrious title of “Command Sergeant Major” in a promotional video. While it is indeed true that Walz’s military career holds some notable milestones, the devil is, as they say, in the details. Unfortunately for Walz, those details highlight a rather embarrassing discrepancy that the DNC conveniently glossed over.
Let’s break down the situation: Walz was indeed promoted to the rank of Command Sergeant Major, a title that carries significant weight—especially among fellow soldiers. However, in a twist that would make any military veteran cringe, he didn’t quite earn that title to retire under. In fact, just one day prior to his retirement on May 16, 2005, he was demoted back down to Master Sergeant, a rank that doesn’t sing the same tunes of honor and leadership. The reason? He failed to complete the necessary coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. So, in a sense, while Walz climbed high, he fell just short of the peak.
The timeline is just as rich in irony as it is in details. Walz received notification of his eligibility for retirement back in August 2002, and despite being promoted to Command Sergeant Major, he faced a rude awakening with the paperwork. His purported “credentials” were stripped the day before his retirement, suggesting that perhaps he didn’t fully grasp what it meant to be a leader in the ranks. The Minnesota National Guard, in a statement released in August 2024, confirmed the administrative reduction that turned the soon-to-be-retired soldier into merely a Master Sergeant—deflating any notions of grandeur that might still linger.
Fact Check: DNC Claims Tim Walz Rose to Command Sergeant Major https://t.co/fEiJYpuuGL via @BreitbartNews
— Jeff Robinson, CEO and Chairman of $MRES and $RLAB (@contrariansmind) August 23, 2024
To make matters more amusing, the DNC’s intro video has happily dubbed Walz with the fancier title, dancing around the truth like it’s at a high school prom. They say there’s nothing wrong with a little embellishment in politics, but this kind of hyperbole approaches the realm of absurdity. The fact that Walz has been dubbed “Stolen Valor Tim Walz” by critics reveals just how desperate some are to shine a light on military honors—especially when they don’t fully align with reality.
In the end, while Walz may have once held a prestigious title, the fast and loose treatment of military ranks is an ongoing spectacle in a world where truth is often a casualty of political gains. The DNC’s attempt to put a shiny spin on Walz’s military history not only backfires but also serves as a reminder that in the game of politics, context is key—and humor often finds its way into the mix.
