Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

Showing Original Post only (View all)

LonePirate

(13,947 posts)
Tue Aug 6, 2024, 01:09 PM Aug 2024

Some background info on Walz's military rank [View all]

I am posting this simply because I thought it provided some good background information on Walz's military service.




Mark Hertling @MarkHertling

Many followers not familiar with the military are asking me “so what’s the big deal about a command sergeant major?”

Walz joined at 18 as a private. Rose through the NCO (sergeant) ranks, each requiring extreme competence at increasingly demanding jobs with more people & responsibility at every rank.

When you reach “Master Sergeant” you are selected to serve as a First Sergeant (1SG) of a unit…if you’re good enough. Then, those 1SGTs compete for selection to Sergeant Major. Only the best Sergeant Majors are selected for Command Sergeant Major (CSM) billets.

CSMs serve as the senior enlisted person in the unit and the advisor to Commanders at battalion and above. Having served with dozens of CSMs as my unit & command “battle buddy” I will attest they were all awesome.

They know what they’re doing. They uphold standards. They speak their minds to all ranks (private to generals). They’re not afraid of getting bad news because they know how to fix things when they go wrong. And they serve the command (their commander and their soldiers) with a selfless integrity and a complete dedication.

During social events and informal occasions, they’re usually a whole bunch of fun. And they always have great stories. But they’re always professional.

So, those are my thoughts on Command Sergeants Major. While I don’t know the details of @GovTimWalz career wearing the cloth of our country, just the fact that he volunteered to serve and wore the CSM rank tells me a lot about him.
65 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
He's a born leader. Irish_Dem Aug 2024 #1
That is where he honed his LEADERSHIP skills. ProudMNDemocrat Aug 2024 #3
From the age of 17, he learned what being a leader meant. Irish_Dem Aug 2024 #7
Leading people COL Mustard Aug 2024 #52
Exactly. Irish_Dem Aug 2024 #53
Yup. Those guys are a big deal. If military members tolerate unfounded attacks on his service, they need to brewens Aug 2024 #2
I totally agree! This is a HUGE accomplishment. jimfields33 Aug 2024 #4
Since he earned a college degree, why didnt he become an officer? Mosby Aug 2024 #5
He was an officer Johnny2X2X Aug 2024 #12
I'm not taking about semantics. Mosby Aug 2024 #15
It is not semantics Johnny2X2X Aug 2024 #25
OK sure, but a 22 yo second lieutenant would be his superior. Mosby Aug 2024 #28
My brother is a master sergeant Metaphorical Aug 2024 #30
Not sure that's true Johnny2X2X Aug 2024 #33
I agree with AKFemDem, Johnny. Aristus Aug 2024 #38
Fair enough Johnny2X2X Aug 2024 #42
Thanks for clearing this up! ShazzieB Aug 2024 #48
Not an officer in the officer vs enlisted sense AkFemDem Aug 2024 #31
No, that is NOT what commissioned means AkFemDem Aug 2024 #32
Yeah, but Dotard won a "Bowling Participation Trophy" AZ8theist Aug 2024 #50
A CMSgt is not an officer. AkFemDem Aug 2024 #34
Tons of people in the enlisted ranks have degrees AkFemDem Aug 2024 #29
I think he enlisted at 18, so he went to college after his military service. TBF Aug 2024 #45
Those were in parallel Shermann Aug 2024 #55
Ah that makes more sense! nt TBF Aug 2024 #65
He didn't get the college degree until he used his gi benefits questionseverything Aug 2024 #54
Didn't need to be. He's a non-commissioned Officer. haele Aug 2024 #58
This message was self-deleted by its author Mosby Aug 2024 #59
I expect that was solely his choice soldierant Aug 2024 #64
If he was a CSM - he's the man, the top dog....and the person that everyone (enlisted and Officers) listen to.. Dan Aug 2024 #6
You want someone to walk point? Tim is the man. ProudMNDemocrat Aug 2024 #10
He's not a "sucker and a loser" like the republican draft-dodging felon thinks BoRaGard Aug 2024 #8
Am I understanding it right, Tim Walz was once the higheet NCO in the Army? brush Aug 2024 #9
No, he was a Command Sergeant Major, but not the Sergeant Major of the Army. rsdsharp Aug 2024 #20
Thanks. Now I'm clear on it. brush Aug 2024 #23
Not quite. He was a CSM in the National Guard, not the Army. bluesbassman Aug 2024 #21
Thank you. brush Aug 2024 #24
Not to be too protective of the reserve components, TomSlick Aug 2024 #61
Oh I wholeheartedly agree and meant no disrespect to the Guard or Reserves. bluesbassman Aug 2024 #63
yyou mean its something tsf's caddy couldn't do? or maybe the guy who runs his pro shop? getagrip_already Aug 2024 #11
Very interesting. StarryNite Aug 2024 #13
This message was self-deleted by its author WarGamer Aug 2024 #14
Vance was a corporal in the Marines. Neither would salute the other, rsdsharp Aug 2024 #16
My bad... I could have sworn Vance was a 1LT... deleting. WarGamer Aug 2024 #19
Any good officer recognizes and respects the experience of the NCO's under his command. Aristus Aug 2024 #39
great story, thanks!! I can picture it. WarGamer Aug 2024 #40
During my time in the US Army, I encountered many full bird colonels and a numerous generals. Only one CSM. bluesbassman Aug 2024 #17
That's why I really object when high-ranking officers and NCO's Aristus Aug 2024 #41
This message was self-deleted by its author kimbutgar Aug 2024 #18
Vance was a Marine Corporal. rsdsharp Aug 2024 #22
Opps my bad I forgot ! kimbutgar Aug 2024 #26
He attained the rank of CSM geardaddy Aug 2024 #27
First and Command Master Sergeants Metaphorical Aug 2024 #35
Thanks for the explanation geardaddy Aug 2024 #36
I always noticed field grade officers deferred to Command Sergeant Majors. Kingofalldems Aug 2024 #37
Command Sergeant Major is equivalent to. . . AverageOldGuy Aug 2024 #43
This is a great post. Thank you for sharing it. PatrickforB Aug 2024 #44
Thanks for the very interesting and relevant information. Martin68 Aug 2024 #46
Sergeant Major --- my uncle rose through all ranks from private to Lt. Colonel. beginning as a 17 year old, joining 3Hotdogs Aug 2024 #47
Thanks for this. ShazzieB Aug 2024 #49
All this information must be wrong or a fabrication of facts. KS Toronado Aug 2024 #51
This story is going around vet circles DetroitLegalBeagle Aug 2024 #57
Sounds like FQX started it. KS Toronado Aug 2024 #62
Excellent! I just heard his sound bites from a week to 10 days ago on Sirius XM progress and they were electrifying! BamaRefugee Aug 2024 #56
a navy perspective OldSWODog Aug 2024 #60
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Some background info on W...