Tim Walz accused of 'going behind' senior sergeant's back with suspicious retirement request

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA: In 2005, Tim Walz, then a member of the Minnesota National Guard, made a decision that would later spark controversy and accusations of dishonor.

Just as his unit was preparing for deployment to Iraq, Walz retired from his military duties—a move that many within his unit saw as an abandonment of responsibility. His actions, cloaked in secrecy, have since cast doubt on his integrity and military service, particularly considering his subsequent political career.

Tim Walz's unconventional retirement sparks suspicion among fellow soldiers

Tim Walz's retirement from the Army National Guard took place under circumstances that many of his fellow soldiers found both unexpected and suspicious.

According to Thomas Behrends, who took over Walz’s position in the summer of 2005 to ready 500 troops for combat, Walz "went behind everyone’s back" in making his decision to retire.

Thomas Behrends expressed his dismay at how Walz handled the situation. "If Walz had any integrity, he would have told everybody. There was something really fishy about the way he did it," he told the New York Post.

The secrecy surrounding Walz's retirement was evident in how he bypassed the usual chain of command. Typically, a soldier would inform their immediate superior of their intention to retire. However, Walz failed to inform Doug Julin, the senior command sergeant in the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery of the Minnesota National Guard and Walz’s direct superior.

John Kolb, a retired colonel who served in Walz’s unit, noted, "It’s very rare [for Walz] not to have gone to the next level, to the non-commissioned officer who was Doug Julin." Instead, Walz submitted his retirement paperwork directly to two senior officers who outranked Julin, a move that further fueled suspicions among his colleagues.

Fallout within the unit

The repercussions of Tim Walz's actions were felt deeply within his unit. Thomas Behrends recalled the moment when he had to inform Julin of Walz's retirement plans while they were at the Camp Ripley military training center in Minnesota.

Julin, who had expected Walz to join them for deployment preparations, was allegedly shocked and angered when he learned that Walz had already made arrangements to retire.

Behrends described the scene, saying, "You could just see him turn red. That’s what ticked him off the most — the people above him knew [of Walz’s retirement] but he had no idea. Doug got bypassed because, I think, [Walz] knew that he would say ‘no.’"

“There was some kind of shady, behind-the-scenes dirty dealing,” Thomas Behrends alleged, saying that Walz likely presumed other senior officers would be more accommodating.

The manner in which Walz handled his retirement left many in his unit feeling betrayed. Jon Erickson, a former chief warrant officer with the Minnesota National Guard, emphasized the importance of protocol and courtesy in the military.

He said, "There’s a process. We didn’t have anyone who didn’t go to Iraq. Everyone was committed."

Erickson’s comments reflected the broader sentiment within the unit that Walz’s decision was not only irregular but also a breach of trust. “Julin was right to think it should have been run through him. It was irregular that Tim’s request to retire was not made to Doug in the non-commissioned officer chain,” Kolb said.

Tim Walz's retirement controversy deepens amid accusations of stolen valor

The controversy surrounding Tim Walz’s retirement was further exacerbated by accusations of stolen valor, a term used to describe false claims of military service or honors. After retiring from the National Guard, Walz continued to prominently feature his rank of Command Sergeant Major in campaign literature and on his Congressional website.

This angered many veterans, who argued that Walz had not completed the necessary service to legitimately claim that rank in retirement. According to military standards, Walz needed to serve an additional two years to retire with the rank of Command Sergeant Major.

Last week, following renewed scrutiny, the Harris-Walz campaign updated Walz’s online biography, removing the reference to him as a "retired command sergeant major." The biography now simply states that Walz previously served at the rank of Command Sergeant Major.

This change, while correcting the factual inaccuracy, did little to ease the frustration of those who felt Walz had misrepresented his military service for personal gain.

Walz’s decision to retire from the National Guard just before his unit was deployed to Iraq left a lasting impact on his fellow soldiers. Many felt that his actions were a betrayal of the values of duty and honor that are central to military service.

As Kolb remarked, "It’s very hurtful for many people, including for Tom Behrends who took his place at great personal expense. It’s questionable as to whether he lived up to his commitments. In the military, it’s a big deal when someone walks away from their commitments… A sergeant major is a giant and sets the standard and is about holding the standard."