A Letter to The Editor from Rhino Reader Alan Marshall
The Walz fiasco is, to say the least, a situation that could have been avoided by the Queen Kalama controllers with a simple background check and a little insight. Instead, they forged ahead with a person that not only lied about a major portion of his service record, but also lied about his rank upon retirement.
As a retired soldier I, and other prior service members of all branches, have a right…that’s correct, the RIGHT, to call out Walz on his claims. Up to the point he retired, his record appears to be alright, nothing spectacular. The problem becomes when he opts to retire upon finding out his unit…a combat unit, was being scheduled to deploy to Iraq. All of a sudden, becoming a politician was far more important to him than being the senior enlisted leader to the men preparing to deploy to a hostile fire zone. And that is what a Battalion Command Sergeant Major is. He is the ‘father’, as it is; to all the enlisted personnel in the unit. He is the one who is supposed to be providing the example to his enlisted men from the newest Private to the most senior NCO in the battalion. He is the one who is supposed to be aiding and assisting those junior NCOs in their career advancements in addition to being an advisor to the Battalion Commander. Yes, a brevet rank can be awarded for admin purposes but in the end, you are still what you were prior to it. Instead, he is using a rank he never earned, putting it on challenge coins he was passing out. And even after being reduced in rank back to Master Sergeant he still referred to himself as a CSM. I’ll give him credit for having cojones to do that, although he disgusts me in doing so.
The term, the unwritten law in military leadership is “Lead by Example”, and applies to any and all leaders regardless of rank, position or anything else. YOU are the EXAMPLE for your subordinates. I was taught the unalterable 3 M’s of leadership…Mission, Men, Me. The Mission always comes first, then the welfare of my Men, then My personal welfare and comfort. Following the 3 M’s is how real leaders accomplish the mission, any mission.
I would not follow this individual to the latrine.
Alan Marshall, SFC, USA (retired)
Carpe Diem
Walz was also guilty of driving drunk, with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit, in addition to lying about his service.
His character is that of a scoundrel, not a leader.
Doesn’t matter. They elected Joe Biden, who is a confirmed plagiarist and had to drop out of the 1988 presidential election after being caught lying. He never stopped lying, never stopped grifting, voted FOR many things that would be a career ender today, like the extreme drug sentences for low level offenders, and yet here he is as the president of the USA. So they don’t care about the records of their candidates, nor do the voters.
Not a bit shocked a man of your character would use politics as his excuse for shaming a man for his 24 years of military service. Typical conservative going low in the name of his party.
He clearly misspoke when talking about his experience with weapons of war. While this deserves criticism, it doesn’t diminish his 24 years serving his country.
He did not abandon his unit ahead of war. You clearly understand the process of retiring from the military and how it is a process that isn’t a sudden action and takes time. In the case of Walz, 24 years was an impressive period of time to have served in the military. Not to mention that at the time he kicked off the retirement process, his unit had received no deployment orders.
Lastly, he was indeed promoted to the rank of command sergeant major but did not complete coursework for the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, so he retired with the rank of master sergeant. Per my friends who are career military, this is very common but doesn’t diminish his having achieved the higher rank.
Only a conservative would bash a man for his 24 years of military service because of a misrepresentation of his retirement and his retirement rank. Not to mention that his retirement was to continue his service to his country in the name of public service by eventually holding the highest public office in his state.
Go vote for the draft dodger Trump who made fun of Medal of Honor recipients for having been shot or killed prior to being awarded the medal. Your hypocrisy of calling out Walz for misspeaking and your misrepresentation of his Retirment after 24 years of service to country without ever calling out Trumps draft dodging and lack of respect for those who made the greatest sacrifice for their country shows your character.
But you be you.
Walz didn’t “serve 24 years in the military”. He was in the Nebraska, Texas, Minnesota, and Arkansas Army National Guard for 24 years. He was not fully employed and working for the Guard for 24 years as some Guardsmen are, he was an occasional weekend soldier. So during those 24 years, he was on duty full-time for nine months while stationed in Italy in 2003.
The National Guard is an important part of our military and many, like our regular military, serve 24/7 for years so when they say they “served in the military for 24 years” they actually did so. But Walz insinuating that he served 24 years full-time while working at various civilian jobs, going to college, and college again, traveling with his wife and students overseas every summer, is disingenuous.
Neither did Walz achieve the higher rank of “command sergeant major” because he didn’t fulfill his obligation of finishing his coursework. As an officer, one can’t say he “achieved” a rank if he didn’t complete all the work required to achieve the necessary rank. Soldiers don’t achieve their objective if they set up camp, eat their MREs, but never leave the camp to attack enemy forces.
Neither Walz nor Trump can claim they made “the greatest sacrifice for their country”. Walz has inflated his military service to impress people who haven’t taken time to investigate the truth. Trump did dodge military service as did over 60% of males who were eligible to be drafted at the time. About 90% of those in the National Guard in the 1970s were there to avoid military combat. Presidents Biden, Clinton, and George W also avoided the draft using college deferments.
I think one major problem confronting our military is that the Commander-in-Chief has never served in the military. It should be a requirement for the Office of the President that they have military combat service experience since they’re going to be the boss of them.
Generally, conservatives don’t “bash” people who have military service, nor do people in the military “misrepresent” their service or rank at retirement. I’ve lived with someone who chronically “inflated” his status to others to impress them. It was tedious, frustrating, and in some cases dangerous. Most importantly he was lying to the point he believed the lies which caused others to believe the lies.
I don’t care if it’s Walz, Trump, Democrats, Republicans, or who the heck it is, misrepresenting is lying. Causing people to believe something by the words you use is propaganda and that’s lying. I’m ready for some honesty. If I had a choice I’d vote for “None of the Above”.
Thank you for your support Deborah
What are you going on about. Yes, we know that the National Guard is NOT a full time job. No one, including Walz is claiming anything different. LOL But yes, he served 24 years in the Guard which as you yourself point out is a critical part of the military. So yes, he served 24 years in the military.
His rank at the time he put in for retirement was Command Sergeant Major”. But because when you retire from the military you are ‘retired’ at the rank you last served for a minimum of 3 years for purposes of calculating his retirement benefits. So yes, he was a Command Sergeant Major when he retired. THAT is FACT.
Sorry the Conservative propaganda has you so confused. Feel free to ask me any questions and I will help you with real facts versus the BS JD Vance has used to disparage Walz military career.
FYI, conservative has a long track record misrepresenting Democrat’s candidates’ military careers.
WRONG!!!
He was NOT a CSM when he retired. He was a MSG. He was an ACTING CSM. His promotion was a brevet promotion, something that is done in the military from time to time. He carried the rank, title, and responsibilities of a CSM only as long as he held the position,Your rank upon retirement is the rank you were promoted to, not according to the position you held. And he FAILED to complete his responsibilities and requirements in order to EARN the promotion.
I was made an ACTING SGT in my unit even though my rank at the time was SP4. I wore the rank, carried the title and had the responsibilities of a SGT, but was still an E4/SP4 until I met the time in grade & time in service required to be boarded and promoted. The in-house term in the military was ‘acting jack’.
“So yes, he was a Command Sergeant Major when he retired. THAT is FACT. ” Again…WRONG! He was an ACTING CSM.
“Sorry the Conservative propaganda has you so confused. Feel free to ask me any questions and I will help you with real facts versus the BS JD Vance has used to disparage Walz military career.” When it comes to the military (or anything else for that matter) I wouldn’t ask you for directions on putting on my boots.
I’m sorry, I forgot, how long did you serve?
Funny the military people referenced in this article say you are full of S**t. Clearly your biased view distorted your understanding of the actual facts. Get over yourself and stop disparaging a man for his 24 years if military service. Really kinda sad given how much you hang your hat on your own service.
From 2018 article:
>By the time Walz left the military, he achieved the rank of command sergeant major, one of the top ranks for an enlisted soldier. Personnel file records show that he was reduced in rank months after retiring, leaving him as a master sergeant for benefits purposes.
“Capt. Holly Rockow, a public affairs officer for the Minnesota National Guard, said it is legitimate for Walz to say he served as a command sergeant major.” She 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.
[https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/10/03/tim-walz-national-guard-career-minnesota-governor-race](https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/
Brilliant response, Alan!
From a guy who actually knows what he’s talking about, instead of our resident blowhard and B.S. artist.
In answer to your BS lines of 8/23/24…
“>By the time Walz left the military, he achieved the rank of command sergeant major, one of the top ranks for an enlisted soldier.”
You are wrong Chris! He did not “achieve” the rank, he was NOT promoted to CSM. He was BREVETTED as a CSM. There is a difference. You CANNOT retire under a brevet rank. Upon discharge when you leave the post/position, you are returned to your official rank.
From your own reference… “…it is legitimate for Walz to say he served as a command sergeant major.”” He did SERVE as a CSM, no argument, but never ACHIEVED the rank, therefore he cannot legitimately claim the rank.
Again, from your own referenced article… “She 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.””
In words even you should be able to understand, the man never achieved the rank and therefore is claiming a rank he never earned. In other words…HE LIED!
” Get over yourself and stop disparaging a man for his 24 years if military service.” Show me where I was “…disparaging a man for his 24 years if military service.” I was calling him out for claiming a rank he never earned for political purposes, not over his 24 years of service.
“Really kinda sad given how much you hang your hat on your own service.”
Really? I’ve been there, done that, got the T-shirt and the scars, and I do “hang my hat on my own service” because I’m damn proud of it.
“It’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool then to open your mouth and confirm it.”
From the article: “achieved the rank of command sergeant major…”
Case closed.
********
Whatever article it is that Chrissy is addressing, it demonstrates that he believes whatever some journalist has concocted over the actual experience of Alan Marshall.
My grandfather used to say that the only thing that you know is true in a newspaper is… its price.
Chrissy displays the typical mentality of the Leftist : gullible, conformist, accepting of authority, smug in his certitude, and resistant to any challenge of liberal shibboleths.
In other words, an intellectual sheep.
Thanks Austin
Folks, should I reply to IT, or just let the misinformation and flat out …’incorrect utterances of a person ignorant of the life’ pass.
Probably best to pass over our Village Idiot – unless his lies simply must be refuted.
I agree that Alan’s rants are not really worth the reply, but I am happy to take the time reply to our village idiot(s). Happy to help any time.
Alan, no need to rely to IT.
“Misspoke” = lied.
Did the Information Technology group have input here? Odd for IT to get involved.
Chrie on August 26, 2024 at 11:36 AM
From the article: “achieved the rank of command sergeant major…”
Case closed.
I give up…My Granny said it best…”Never wrestle with a pig. All that happens is you both get dirty but the problem is the pig loves it.”
You can lead a liberal to truth, but you can’t make him think.