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LonePirate

(13,805 posts)
Tue Aug 6, 2024, 02:09 PM Aug 6

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