For the record, everything we've posted about Walz has not only been verified by multiple sources (normally video of himself and interviews with people he worked with), but the campaign is walking back a couple of his lies, saying he "misspoke."  Funny how the misspoken facts were done consistently and always tend to embellish and exaggerate experiences and events in his favor -- never the other way around.

When one lies, it's hard to remember said lie.

I mean, being involved in GWOT, being deployed to a war zone, and being deployed elsewhere are all diff things.  I mean, the armorers (support staff) at Kaneohe MCB or many other bases are involved in GWOT as stuff leaves there to go to A-stan/Iraq.

Maybe he was in harms way in Italy.  I had a friend get deployed to the Philipines for GWOT.  There are lots of Filipino Al-Quada there.  Was he in harms way, yes.  Was he ever shot at, no.

I don't blame a man for taking retirement and missing out on going to A-stan/Iraq.  Is it disappointing, as in to leave your men as a senior NCO...yes, but depends.   I don't know what his role was with his unit.  Was he like a warrant officer who kind of comes and goes and no one questions it?  Or was he hands on training with his men, then dug out?  At some point, retirement options are available and one weights it.

he was command sergeant major of his unit
senior NCO
able to speak plainly to CO...

When one lies, it's hard to remember said lie.

I mean, being involved in GWOT, being deployed to a war zone, and being deployed elsewhere are all diff things.  I mean, the armorers (support staff) at Kaneohe MCB or many other bases are involved in GWOT as stuff leaves there to go to A-stan/Iraq.

Maybe he was in harms way in Italy.  I had a friend get deployed to the Philipines for GWOT.  There are lots of Filipino Al-Quada there.  Was he in harms way, yes.  Was he ever shot at, no.

I don't blame a man for taking retirement and missing out on going to A-stan/Iraq.  Is it disappointing, as in to leave your men as a senior NCO...yes, but depends.   I don't know what his role was with his unit.  Was he like a warrant officer who kind of comes and goes and no one questions it?  Or was he hands on training with his men, then dug out?  At some point, retirement options are available and one weights it.

Question is:  did he retire because he didn't want to go?

I think only he knows the answer.  No matter what comes out of his mouth.  He knows the truth in his heart.

he was command sergeant major of his unit
senior NCO
able to speak plainly to CO...

My point exactly. E3's-E5's don't normally get much contact with a CSM.  I'll even bet that a platoon leader (O1-O3) doesn't even speak directly to a CSM.  I mean, the CSM might be there at  briefings, but prob doesn't speak to an O1.

My point exactly. E3's-E5's don't normally get much contact with a CSM.  I'll even bet that a platoon leader (O1-O3) doesn't even speak directly to a CSM.  I mean, the CSM might be there at  briefings, but prob doesn't speak to an O1.

That's opposite of the job description for a CSM.  Their position is to be an advocate for all members of the unit, enlisted and officer, taking their issues to the commander.

So, in that role, everyone in that unit regardless of rank is allowed to talk to the CSM.  Not much different than the First Sergeant in the Air Force, usually a MSGT or above (E7 - E9).  The Air Force also has the ability to appoint a Command Chief Master sergeant, which is obviously at the command level (Wing, Headquarters, etc.).  Still an E-9 slot.

https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_cv/publication/afi36-2113/afi36-2113.pdf

My point exactly. E3's-E5's don't normally get much contact with a CSM.  I'll even bet that a platoon leader (O1-O3) doesn't even speak directly to a CSM.  I mean, the CSM might be there at  briefings, but prob doesn't speak to an O1.

CSM's talk to a lot of lower enlisted.  It's their job to ensure the Soldiers are dioing well.  But a BN CSM oversees 200 to 600 lower enlisted, so they can't see them all all the time.

As far as Walz's retirement.  If he was upfront and honest about retiring to pursue politics I could understand.  I'd give him a small gripe but that's it.

But it appears he misled Soldiers that he was going to deploy with them, then went around the chain of command to slip his retirement through.  It may have caused problems with the deployment and morale issues.  That's a bad thing to do and he is rightfully called out on it.

That's opposite of the job description for a CSM.  Their position is to be an advocate for all members of the unit, enlisted and officer, taking their issues to the commander.

So, in that role, everyone in that unit regardless of rank is allowed to talk to the CSM.  Not much different than the First Sergeant in the Air Force, usually a MSGT or above (E7 - E9).  The Air Force also has the ability to appoint a Command Chief Master sergeant, which is obviously at the command level (Wing, Headquarters, etc.).  Still an E-9 slot.

https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_cv/publication/afi36-2113/afi36-2113.pdf

Allowed vs. actually does are 2 diff things.  I mean, you do have some good CSM's who still "mingle" with the men.  But these are rare. 

There's some articles out there that says he wasn't aware that his unit was going to be deployed.

And there was an earlier video of his fellow guard members who claim he made some inquiries about the potential deployment of his unit and knew beforehand.  Something about he knew those who were in the know that told him his unit will be deployed.

CSM's talk to a lot of lower enlisted.  It's their job to ensure the Soldiers are dioing well.  But a BN CSM oversees 200 to 600 lower enlisted, so they can't see them all all the time.

Why I made my statement is I was having a chat with random soldiers from various units.  The discussion would be what if a butter bar told the SMA to go rake the leaves on the grass.  Would the SMA obey an order from the officer?  The consensus would be that he would, but not after he made a phone call.  Then said LT would quickly get a call or a runner with a phone saying some general is on the line and so on.  Then LT's career would be over.  Prob stationed in Antarctica for 6 years.

Then the convo shifted to how often they talk to their senior NCO's.  I think the highest ranking solder in the group was an E6. 

i also hear that he did have the years for retirement, but he signed back up for 6 years and had only served 4 of them...

there was an alert order in november or december
it takes a long time to get units ready for battle
NG soldiers need to get their affairs in order
they need to get fully staffed and equipped, and train at NTC or the equivalent most times too
and another notification in spring, at which time walz told his men that he would deploy with them
he put in for retirement after that, but before the official orders came, so this is why he specifies they hadn't been ordered yet...

There's some articles out there that says he wasn't aware that his unit was going to be deployed.

And there was an earlier video of his fellow guard members who claim he made some inquiries about the potential deployment of his unit and knew beforehand.  Something about he knew those who were in the know that told him his unit will be deployed.

whoa

You either have, or you haven't.

General Kellogg is 100% correct.

Be careful when you imply something.  It will come back to bite you in the a$$.

sounds like gen'l kellogg would have ordered the code red...

You either have, or you haven't.

General Kellogg is 100% correct.

Be careful when you imply something.  It will come back to bite you in the a$$.