Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's military service record has come under scrutiny following his selection as Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate two weeks ago.
According to a commentary published in The Washington Times, Walz, who served in the Minnesota Army National Guard, has been accused of prioritizing his political career over his military responsibilities by retiring from the Guard just before his unit was deployed to Iraq in 2005.
Adam Schwarze, a 21-year retired Navy SEAL and Marine infantry veteran, alleges that Walz, who was serving as the acting command sergeant major of his unit, chose to retire from the National Guard instead of leading his soldiers into battle. Two months after Walz's retirement, his unit was deployed to Iraq.
Walz Accused Of Misleading Public About Military Service
Schwarze claims that Walz has misled the public about his military service, promoting articles and interviews that suggested he had deployed overseas and served bravely in combat. According to the opinion piece, Walz even misstated his retired military rank and told people he "carried guns in war."
The Harris-Walz campaign has responded to these allegations by stating that Walz has "misspoken" about his military service for the past 19 years. However, Schwarze argues that Walz's actions amount to lying about his service, rank, and combat experience for decades.
Schwarze, drawing from his own experiences as a veteran who has deployed to over 80 countries, emphasizes the critical role that senior enlisted leaders play in maintaining a military unit's morale, cohesion, and combat effectiveness. He asserts that Walz's decision to leave his unit just before deployment is proof that he is not capable of serving the country at the highest levels.
Potential Impact On Unit Morale And Cohesion
Schwarze recounts a contrasting example of leadership from his own deployment to Iraq in 2002, where his command sergeant major came out of retirement to lead the unit into combat. He argues that when a senior leader leaves a unit just before deployment, it can have a devastating impact on morale and unit cohesion.
The senior enlisted leader is often the linchpin of the unit's interpersonal relationships, the one who has earned the trust of both the officers and the enlisted ranks. They are not just a leader but a mentor, a confidant and a stabilizing force in the chaotic environment of predeployment preparation.
Schwarze suggests that Walz's departure, while not necessarily a violation of military regulations, raises questions about his character and allegiances.
He contends that leadership in the military is about more than fulfilling a role; it's about commitment to the unit and the men and women under one's command.
Walz's Actions Seen As Prioritizing Politics Over Service
The opinion piece argues that Walz's decision to leave his unit to run for Congress reflects a choice that prioritizes politics over service and leadership. Schwarze claims that while Walz's squad went to Iraq, he stayed home and used his unit as pawns in his political career, lying about his service in the process.
Schwarze emphasizes the importance of unwavering commitment and the value of one's word in the military. He believes that a senior leader who detaches from their unit at the last minute undermines trust and sets a troubling example for others.
Conclusion
The commentary by Adam Schwarze in The Washington Times calls into question Tim Walz's military service record and his decision to retire from the Minnesota Army National Guard just before his unit's deployment to Iraq in 2005. Schwarze argues that Walz's actions prioritized his political career over his military responsibilities and that he misled the public about his service, rank, and combat experience. The article suggests that Walz's departure from his unit could have had a negative impact on morale and cohesion, raising doubts about his character and leadership abilities.
