Harris Campaign Revises Walz Biography Amid Military Credentials Scrutiny
This update follows a day after Republicans intensified their criticism of Walz's service in the Army National Guard, alleging that he exaggerated his rank upon retirement.
TroibNews 
The presidential campaign team for Kamala Harris made a subtle yet significant update to the biography of her running mate, Tim Walz, on its official website, amid critiques from Republican circles about the accuracy of his military service depiction.
Previously described as a “retired command sergeant major” on the campaign's site, the language was revised to simply state that Walz had “once served at the command sergeant major rank.” This adjustment aligns more closely with the factual circumstances surrounding his retirement from the Army National Guard. While Walz, who is currently the governor of Minnesota, did ascend to that rank during his 24-year career in the National Guard, he actually retired with the rank of master sergeant in 2005 before he pursued political office and subsequently served in the U.S. House, becoming the highest-ranking enlisted soldier in Congress.
JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential candidate and a former Marine who served in Iraq, has led the charge in scrutinizing Walz’s descriptions of his military background, hinting that Walz might have overstated his rank by referring to himself as a “retired command sergeant major.” Walz had indeed been a command sergeant major but did not retain this rank upon retirement since he had not completed essential coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, reverting instead to master sergeant.
This issue has surfaced in past elections as well, including during Walz's 2018 gubernatorial race when allegations arose via a paid letter to the editor by two retired command sergeant majors, accusing Walz of misrepresenting his rank.
Amended readings on the Harris campaign website now illustrate, “The son of an Army veteran who served as a command sergeant major, Walz was the ranking member on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, where he passed legislation to address veterans’ suicides.” In earlier renditions of the biography, Walz was also identified as a retired Command Sergeant Major in the Army National Guard.
Requests for comments from both the Harris campaign and Walz’s gubernatorial office in Minnesota went unanswered; the governor's website retains the designation of “Command Sergeant Major Walz.” This title was similarly used on his gubernatorial campaign site.
"Walz attained the rank of command sergeant major and served in that role but retired as a master sergeant in 2005 for benefit purposes due to not completing additional coursework," stated Army public affairs officer Lt. Col. Kristen Augé, providing further clarification on the issue in a prior comment to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
Previously described as a “retired command sergeant major” on the campaign's site, the language was revised to simply state that Walz had “once served at the command sergeant major rank.” This adjustment aligns more closely with the factual circumstances surrounding his retirement from the Army National Guard. While Walz, who is currently the governor of Minnesota, did ascend to that rank during his 24-year career in the National Guard, he actually retired with the rank of master sergeant in 2005 before he pursued political office and subsequently served in the U.S. House, becoming the highest-ranking enlisted soldier in Congress.
JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential candidate and a former Marine who served in Iraq, has led the charge in scrutinizing Walz’s descriptions of his military background, hinting that Walz might have overstated his rank by referring to himself as a “retired command sergeant major.” Walz had indeed been a command sergeant major but did not retain this rank upon retirement since he had not completed essential coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, reverting instead to master sergeant.
This issue has surfaced in past elections as well, including during Walz's 2018 gubernatorial race when allegations arose via a paid letter to the editor by two retired command sergeant majors, accusing Walz of misrepresenting his rank.
Amended readings on the Harris campaign website now illustrate, “The son of an Army veteran who served as a command sergeant major, Walz was the ranking member on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, where he passed legislation to address veterans’ suicides.” In earlier renditions of the biography, Walz was also identified as a retired Command Sergeant Major in the Army National Guard.
Requests for comments from both the Harris campaign and Walz’s gubernatorial office in Minnesota went unanswered; the governor's website retains the designation of “Command Sergeant Major Walz.” This title was similarly used on his gubernatorial campaign site.
"Walz attained the rank of command sergeant major and served in that role but retired as a master sergeant in 2005 for benefit purposes due to not completing additional coursework," stated Army public affairs officer Lt. Col. Kristen Augé, providing further clarification on the issue in a prior comment to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
