this post was submitted on 08 Aug 2024
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top 41 comments
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[–] SilentStorms@lemmy.dbzer0.com 101 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Falsely accusing your opponent of stolen valor could very rapidly bite you in the ass when you piss off a bunch of veterans, a lot of whom would likely vote Republican.

[–] eestileib@sh.itjust.works 49 points 1 month ago

It's not like Walz stomps around demanding that people call him Sarnt Major or lies about having a purple heart either.

[–] Cerbero@lemmy.world 24 points 1 month ago

And an officer saying an enlisted has stolen valor won’t help either.

[–] tempest@lemmy.ca 10 points 1 month ago

If veterans are voting for Trump then what he says about them must be true

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 92 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Did he attain the rank of "Command Sergeant Major"? - Yes.

Did he deploy under the rank of "Command Sergeant Major"? - Yes.

Did he meet the requirments to retire with benefits appropriate for that rank? No. His benefits are for the next rank down.

That doesn't mean he didn't serve under that rank.

[–] GBU_28@lemm.ee 24 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Can you explain the last point? Do you have to carry a given rank for x time to earn the veg's Benefits?

[–] BaronVonBort@lemmy.world 39 points 1 month ago (2 children)

According to the Guard you have to have 3 years time-in-service to retire as that rank. He chose to retire as an E-8

[–] mjhelto@lemm.ee 45 points 1 month ago (1 children)

That's crazy! When I was in the guard, we had E-7+ that would squat their position just to retire as that rank. I know he had started his family around then, but wow that's almost unheard of.

That dude is fucking dedicated to his family. That, right there, should be enough to prove he's genuine and not just blowing smoke. To give up that pension to dedicate time and safety for family is aspiring! This is what a true Chad looks like.

[–] redhorsejacket@lemmy.world 20 points 1 month ago

For what it's worth, having a lower retirement grade shouldn't actually affect his pension at all, at least in so far as I understand it.

Walz joined up in 1981, which was the year after the "High-36" retirement system was adopted. Under that system, the army looks at your career and plucks out the 36 months where you earned the most money. In the vast majority of cases, these are the final 3 years of your career. These are averaged out, and then multiplied by a percentage (2.5% per year of service, e.g. 20 years of service = 50%) to determine your monthly payment.

All of which is to say that his pension calculations do take into account the time he was an E9, even if his paperwork and other privileges rflect the lower pay grade.

Caveat: it's been several years since I retired, and it's a very complex process. I could be off base as it applies to Walz's case specifically, but what I've described is generally true.

[–] mojofrododojo@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

which people still don't realize is retiring at one of the highest ranks that can be attained on the enlisted side of the house after decades of service. ridiculous that a corporal and a dodge drafter can have anything to say about it. FUCK THEM. Bullshit pogues.

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 15 points 1 month ago (1 children)

In order for the promotion to have full benefits, he would have had to have served for 2 years at that rank. He didn't have enough time.

So even though he earned the rank, and served in that rank, his retirement rank is 1 notch lower.

[–] jaybone@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago

It’s just this kind of petty shit republicans love to split hairs over. It’s like the long form birth certificate all over again.

[–] MagicShel@programming.dev 83 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

If you're going to swiftboat someone, you have to set up the swiftboaters, too, not just expect them to be with you.

Trump has done nothing to ingratiate himself with the military, and they've been a much softer right wing block for him after 2016.

[–] ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world 41 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Yup. I guess referring to veterans as "suckers" and "losers" didn't sit too well with many of them. Imagine that!

[–] aaron@lemm.ee 24 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Let's be fair, the "suckers" and "losers" he referred to were only those who died

[–] mjhelto@lemm.ee 17 points 1 month ago

... or got captured or won a Medal of Honor or didn't vote for him (probably).

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

He's the best ever at everything though. Nobody has ever seen anything like it.

[–] teamevil@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

I mean he is the biggest asshole narcissistic windbag I've ever seen, and he lies more too

[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 11 points 1 month ago (1 children)

They still have the New York Times. Rest assured that they’ll be banging the drum, making insinuations about Walz’ service record until November 7.

[–] jaybone@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Do the republicans run hit ads in the NYT? I would figure they consider that a liberal rag, and that anyone reading it would already be a decided voter.

[–] PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works 79 points 1 month ago

Now do Trump the draft dodger, if your sacred cow is military service. I’ll wait.

I’ll probably be here awhile, but let’s not forget about that.

[–] AFKBRBChocolate@lemmy.world 77 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'm relieved to hear that. I figured it would be the case, but nice to see from a veteran's group.

[–] NegativeInf@lemmy.world 61 points 1 month ago

Beyond that, he was well within his rights to retire when he did. Especially since his first child was being born around that time. If I was the wife I'd put my foot down on that shit real quick. No. You already served. You ain't deploying to Iraq.

Apparently some vets are saying this is all sour grapes from a different officer that got passed over for the position Walz earned.

[–] NoiseColor@startrek.website 49 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Walz could never go to Iraq cause of hearing issues of his long artillery career. Or so I've heard.

BTW, why does vance always wear the eyeliner. It's creepy.

[–] IphtashuFitz@lemmy.world 25 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Not creepy. Just plain weird.

[–] teamevil@lemmy.world 14 points 1 month ago

They're cosplay as humans

[–] NoiseColor@startrek.website 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's not only him! A surprising amount of Republicans are wearing makeup.

[–] ValenThyme@reddthat.com 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

what's wrong with wearing makeup?

I love makeup it isn't responsible for the right's horribleness.

[–] Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 19 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Being anti trans and pro make-up is weird.

[–] ziggurat@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Also being anti make-up and pro trans... Just saying

(I'm not anti trans, im anti hate)

[–] lepinkainen@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Also anti drag-queen 😀

[–] SkybreakerEngineer@lemmy.world 30 points 1 month ago

Hey JD, remind us all again of your glorious accomplishments in your 4 years in the military as a reporter? Barely even checking the box there

[–] InternetUser2012@lemmy.today 22 points 1 month ago

Let's not forget about that weird orange guy that had "bone spurs" lol. Fucking clown.

[–] carl_dungeon@lemmy.world 17 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Jorken Depeanus Vance wears a stolen face he cut off a homeless man in 1998

[–] Goodmorningsunshine@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It was only fair. The homeless man was trying to use his couch.

[–] Timecircleline@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 month ago

Hey. That couch is his ex-wife.