Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's military record has come under renewed scrutiny following Vice President Kamala Harris' announcement of Walz as her running mate.
A snapshot of Walz in the military
Tim Walz retired from the Minnesota Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery in 2005 after over 24 years of service. He originally enlisted in the Nebraska Army National Guard in April 1981 and held various positions, including infantry senior sergeant and administrative specialist.
Controversy over a 2005 Iraq deployment
Claims have surfaced regarding whether Walz retired from the National Guard to avoid a deployment to Iraq. Critics asserted that he left just before his unit was mobilized, leading to ongoing debates about his military legacy and commitment.
Walz's rank and retirement
Official records indicate that Walz achieved the rank of command sergeant major but was reduced in rank to master sergeant upon retirement due to uncompleted coursework for the Army Sergeants Major Academy. His retirement paperwork has raised questions given the timeline of his unit's mobilization.
