To answer everyone’s questions about the video being shared. Governor Tim Walz's service record indicates that he did not deploy to a combat zone. Instead, he was stationed in Italy to support combat operations. While all Soldiers carry an M4/M16 rifle during training, qualifications, and other exercises, there is... no evidence to suggest that he “carried a weapon of war in war” as stated in the video.show more

I am currently being flooded with questions about Tim Walz's true retired rank and whether he was demoted from CSM. I have obtained his NGB22, which indicates his retired rank as CSM. To confirm the accuracy of this information, I am waiting for his complete OMPF and DD214s to ascertain if there were any changes to his rank after retirement. It is possible he was demoted after retirement if he didn’t complete the required training , but his NGB22 that I have on hand does not indicate that. If he was demoted there will be an order in his OMPF indicating the reduction in rank. The article that has been circulating is labeled as a 'Paid Endorsement,' so I cannot rely on it as a source of facts. I will provide more details once I have gathered all the necessary information and paperwork. Wanted to let everyone know I am aware of the questions so maybe the DMs and Tags will slow a little. 😂

I received a partial follow up on the NGB22. After the NGB22 was issued, he was “Administratively” reduced for not completing the required educational requirements. So he did hold the rank of CSM, but was subsequently reduced for this reason and receives retired pay for the rank of MSG. There were no disciplinary reasons for the reduction. According to the PAO for the Minnesota National Guard, they said it is legitimate for Walz to say he served as a CSM. They said the rank changed because Walz retired before completing coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy along with other requirements associated with his promotion. As far as deployments, I am awaiting more records but it doesn’t seem he deployed to a combat zone during his service. Will follow up when I have more information.

To clarify, according to records, regulations and the Public Affairs Office of the Minnesota National Guard, Tim Walz did serve as a Command Sergeant Major (CSM) and is permitted to claim that he served in that capacity. However, he did not retire as a CSM because he did not meet the educational requirements to retain that rank. While he can legitimately state that he served as a CSM, he is not a "Retired CSM" but rather a "Retired Master Sergeant" (MSG). Therefore, it is not a case of Stolen Valor, although he should not be claiming to have retired at a rank he no longer holds. Regarding the rumors surrounding the circumstances of his retirement, I have no means of verifying those claims. I have seen various posts, some supporting these rumors and others contradicting them. My role is to verify his military record and claims based on the facts, not to engage in or propagate the political and rumor-related aspects of the situation. I provide you with the verified facts of his service and what the records and regulations state. The political debates and rumors are beyond the scope of my role and will not be addressed.

Since everyone is arguing over the placement of a comma, this is the original source of the video. I am only posting the facts of his records… period.

In reference to the photo of Walz wearing a hat with the Special Forces logo on it. This was a gift from the 1st SF Group when he visited them as a member of Congress. He hasn’t claimed to be SF in any capacity.

Also it seems he was running for Congress at the time his unit was notified of a possible upcoming deployment. Thanks to @angertab for the archive.

In a book written in 2008 and endorsed by then Congressman Walz, it states he served in Afghanistan. This is false, he served in Italy not in Afghanistan. Link to book

The Harris Campaign has updated Tim Walzs Bio online after scrutiny of his military credentials. Link-

Reposting this so it’s more clear as it seemed to cause confusion. According to an email from the Minnesota National Guard Walz retired in May 2005, two months before his unit,  the 1-125 field artillery battalion received an alert order on July 14, 2005. The unit’s mobilization order came on August 14, 2005. This does NOT include the NOS(Notification of Sourcing), that’s usually sent to NG units 18-24 months prior to an actual order. This gives the unit time to prepare plan and coordinate training that's necessary for deployment. I hope this makes it more clear. Sorry for the previous post that left that out. I assumed(being military) that most knew this.

From a member of the unit.

In a statement released early tonight by the Harris Campaign, Governor Walz admits he misspoke in a video where he said he used weapons of war “in war” when trying to make a point on weapons of war not being on the streets.

Wonder where all those that were calling me a liar saying I didn’t hear what he said, Or that I misquoted him, or the coma was in the wrong place?

Adding the space we held with several retired CSMs, including the former SEAC CSM.

The MNNG has released a statement on the rank and retired rank of Retired MSG Tim Walz. According to their records he was officially reduced the day before he retired, on May 15th, 2005. He retired on May 16th, 2005 even though the NGB22A(correction form) wasn’t produced until a few months later. "Governor Tim Walz received his notification of eligibility for retirement on August 3, 2002. He was promoted to sergeant major (E-9) on September 17, 2004, and immediately began serving as the command sergeant major for the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery while his packet was submitted to the National Guard Bureau to appoint him to command sergeant major (E-9). Once approved by NGB, he was laterally appointed to command sergeant major (E-9) on April 1, 2005. He retired from the Minnesota National Guard on May 16, 2005. Our records do not indicate when he made his request to retire. Leadership reviews and approves all requests to retire. He was administratively reduced to master sergeant (E-8) on May 15, 2005, because he did not complete all required U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy coursework." Attributable to Army Col. Ryan Cochran, Minnesota National Guard's Director of Manpower & Personnel So he served as, but didn’t retire as a CSM. (See attachment)

After several months of persistent effort and with the assistance of @SeanParnellUSA, I have successfully obtained Tim Walz's Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). The file consists of 125 pages, and I will require some time to thoroughly review its contents. However, I can confirm that it substantiates the fact that he was demoted to Master Sergeant (MSG) upon his retirement due to his failure to complete the required educational criteria. Additionally, the OMPF contains a signed memorandum in which he acknowledged that he would be reduced in rank to MSG if he did not fulfill these obligations and that this was a “conditional” promotion. He was authorized to wear and claim the rank of SGM before the reduction date. I have also included the DD214 for his mobilization to Italy in support of OEF. Should I discover any further relevant documents during my review, I will share them at a later time. *Please note the DD214 does not include all of his awards, since he was NG some of his awards are on his NGB22, which is further up in the thread and some on his 2-1s. NG personnel may have more than one 214 to cover different periods of Active Duty and do not always include previous awards or State issued awards.