National guard has been used to avoid war since at least Vietnam........ Smart move maybe,,,,
To retire you put your papers in months in advance.....Although some, like George Jr can get out when they want, lol...Some use bone spurs or college deferments etc....
The National Guard was a safe haven up until Iraq and Afghanistan when the guard was relied on heavily.......Walz got his retirement through faster than most who retire.....Claiming he was in combat to boot gives more fodder to the right on top of the timing of his retirement.