Vance was a combat correspondent, yes. We’ll see how much he tries to press this issue, he has previously stated [1] he was lucky to escape any major fighting, but he was definitely in Iraq.
I don’t think Walz has ever claimed to have seen active combat, so the stolen valor accusation falls a little flat - not that that’s going to stop republicans.
Yes, it’s bizarre that this doesn’t get specifically cited in an article where Vance is criticising his opponent’s involvement in a war. All we get is this very vague line:
Vance is a former Marine who was deployed to Iraq.
Walz, on the other hand, served for 24 years and reached the highest possible rank of NCO, which is basically the most badass thing you can be in the military (and in the aggregate the most critical for its good operation.)
You have it one too low - he reached CSM but retired as an SGM because of coursework.
There is actually one rank higher, E-9, which is the singular final boss of all the NCOs, which I guess is a significant asterisk I should put to that “highest rank.” He reached the highest rank there is more than one of allowed to exist at a time.
Ah good catch, I wondered why I googled CSM. Went back to the article and misread his highest rank. Regardless, I think it’s honorable he retired as lower rank.
TLDR: Tim Walz’s record trumps Vance’s any fucking day of the week.
NCO isn’t considered bad ass but is absolutely given all due respect. You’ll salute NCO’s just like any other officer, but you know he’s less likely to give you shit about uniform reqs. My favorite grey beards were always the Short TImer NCO’s that didn’t have 2 fucks to rub together about protocol.
What? You two both are talking like you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. Tim Walz was a Command Sergeant Major, which makes him an E9. This is no longer an NCO, this is a SNCO or Senior Non Commissioned Officer. You also don’t salute any enlisted members; E1 or E9, it doesn’t matter, you don’t salute them. Becoming E9 is quite prestigious though as it is the only enlisted rank to get DV status at bases (at least Air Force bases which I can attest to having spent 10 years in the Air Force myself).
Maybe not in the air force but it’s totally a thing for secret agent Delta Recon SEAL Raider Green Berets like aodhswhateverthefuck up there. They’re so elite, they’ll even salute civilians.
Lol, I don’t think they ever claimed to be the military. They’re both just confidently incorrect. Technically, there is one civilian who regularly gets saluted, the president.
That’s a fair point, I was just enjoying the image of the average “I was gonna join but…” doing sloppy dive rolls down supermarket aisles and saluting anything that moved.
He’s trying. For reference, Vance did 4 years active duty in the USMC in Public Affairs.
I saw that and immediately thought of Tom Cruise’s character in the beginning of Edge of Tomorrow.
But like the meme version. Erdge erv Termerrerr.
Vance was a combat correspondent, yes. We’ll see how much he tries to press this issue, he has previously stated [1] he was lucky to escape any major fighting, but he was definitely in Iraq.
I don’t think Walz has ever claimed to have seen active combat, so the stolen valor accusation falls a little flat - not that that’s going to stop republicans.
1 ↩︎
I give it a week before Republicans start building conspiracy theories about Walz’s time in China and facilitating student trips to China.
Don’t forget he speaks a little Mandarin.
The Mandarin-ion Candidate!
Ask a Marine, still a pog.
Yes, it’s bizarre that this doesn’t get specifically cited in an article where Vance is criticising his opponent’s involvement in a war. All we get is this very vague line:
Walz, on the other hand, served for 24 years and reached the highest possible rank of NCO, which is basically the most badass thing you can be in the military (and in the aggregate the most critical for its good operation.)
You missed the part where he reached SGM but retired as MSG because he didn’t complete a course. I don’t think many people would drop rank.
Also, I think CSM is technically higher rank?
You have it one too low - he reached CSM but retired as an SGM because of coursework.
There is actually one rank higher, E-9, which is the singular final boss of all the NCOs, which I guess is a significant asterisk I should put to that “highest rank.” He reached the highest rank there is more than one of allowed to exist at a time.
Ah good catch, I wondered why I googled CSM. Went back to the article and misread his highest rank. Regardless, I think it’s honorable he retired as lower rank.
FWIW, Vance was a CPL
I’m asphyxiating.
TLDR: Tim Walz’s record trumps Vance’s any fucking day of the week.
NCO isn’t considered bad ass but is absolutely given all due respect. You’ll salute NCO’s just like any other officer, but you know he’s less likely to give you shit about uniform reqs. My favorite grey beards were always the Short TImer NCO’s that didn’t have 2 fucks to rub together about protocol.
What? You two both are talking like you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. Tim Walz was a Command Sergeant Major, which makes him an E9. This is no longer an NCO, this is a SNCO or Senior Non Commissioned Officer. You also don’t salute any enlisted members; E1 or E9, it doesn’t matter, you don’t salute them. Becoming E9 is quite prestigious though as it is the only enlisted rank to get DV status at bases (at least Air Force bases which I can attest to having spent 10 years in the Air Force myself).
Maybe not in the air force but it’s totally a thing for secret agent Delta Recon SEAL Raider Green Berets like aodhswhateverthefuck up there. They’re so elite, they’ll even salute civilians.
Lol, I don’t think they ever claimed to be the military. They’re both just confidently incorrect. Technically, there is one civilian who regularly gets saluted, the president.
That’s a fair point, I was just enjoying the image of the average “I was gonna join but…” doing sloppy dive rolls down supermarket aisles and saluting anything that moved.