A former division commander has accused Minnesota Governor Tim Walz of planning his military retirement to avoid deployment to Iraq.
Breitbart reported that retired Army Command Sergeant Major Doug Julin describes how he and his team were informed of potential deployment, an operation that would soon involve Command Sergeant Major Tim Walz, who would later shift his career towards politics.
Julin recounts a meeting with the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion to notify them of the possible Iraq deployment.
This early communication was critical in setting the stage for preparation and potential action abroad. Walz, then a key figure within the unit, was privy to these discussions, embedding him directly in the forthcoming military developments.
In February 2005, a critical meeting shifted the narrative when Walz expressed his intentions to run for Congress.
His political ambitions, however, did not immediately seem to deter his military commitments. Over the next months, an assurance was made to Julin that Walz would lead his battalion to Iraq, holding steadfast to his role despite his congressional aspirations.
However, as preparations continued, the situation began to evolve. By spring, Walz repeated his commitment to deploy with his battalion, a pledge made during another set of communications and planning at Camp Ripley.
The sense of certainty that Walz would stand with his battalion as they deployed began to waver by June 2005. It became apparent that Walz was no longer slated to head to Iraq; Command Sergeant Major Tom Behrends was set to take his place. This replacement signified a significant deviation from previous plans.
The crux of Julin's accusation lies in the process surrounding Walz's retirement. Allegedly, Walz bypassed the usual channels, seeking approvals from higher up within the chain of command, circumventing Julin entirely. This maneuver allowed Walz to retire without participating in the deployment he once promised to lead.
Julin reflects on the procedures that were overlooked, emphasizing that proper military protocol was not followed.
According to him, Walz’s actions represented a strategic retreat from frontline duties through a backdoor method that evaded conventional military processes.
Walz's retirement came into effect even before the official deployment orders were issued. This timing is critical, as it implies that Walz had orchestrated his exit well in advance of the battalion’s departure, prompting Julin to assert that Walz was fully aware of the deployment that lay ahead.
Before stepping into the political arena, Walz had a distinguished military career, ascending to the rank of Command Sergeant Major.
His tenure in the Army ingrained in him a thorough understanding of the bureaucratic and operational workings of military service.
Walz’s transition from a military leader to a political figure was marked by this pivotal phase where his decisions about deployment and retirement intersected with his emerging political goals. The dates and decisions leading up to his retirement paint a picture of someone strategically navigating through both military and political landscapes.
As these events unfolded from the fall of 2004 to the summer of 2005, they crafted a narrative of dual aspirations pulling in different directions - one toward service and the other towards governance.
The timing of Walz’s military retirement and his subsequent political career raise questions about the interplay between military obligations and political ambitions.
The implications for leadership, trust, and duty are profound, extending beyond personal decisions into the broader spectrum of responsibility carried by public figures.
In reflecting on these sequences, Julin’s perspectives shed light on a contentious moment in Walz's career. His allegations suggest a calculated approach to avoid deployment, revealing layers of strategic planning that went beyond the barracks to the ambitions of Capitol Hill.