Los Angeles, California – Criticism arose almost immediately when Tim Walz joined the race as a Democratic presidential candidate: Is the Governor of Minnesota exaggerating his military history for political gain? This became a central point of attack for Republicans, who, just one day after Walz was announced as Kamala Harris’ running mate, challenged his 24 years of service in the National Guard. JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, questioned, “I wonder, Tim Walz, when were you ever at war?” He went on to falsely accuse Walz of abandoning his unit before a battle. “What concerns me about Tim Walz is this ‘stolen valor’ nonsense. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not,” Vance stated.

As Republicans continue to criticize Walz, experts suggest that the significance of military service may be diminishing, particularly in mobilizing voters. Wayne Lesperance, a political science professor and president of New England College, pointed out that the debate regarding Walz’s military background highlights how rare military experience has become in presidential elections. Since the end of the George W. Bush presidency in 2008, there have been no military veterans in the White House as president or vice-president. “There was a time in American history when such service — any form of military service — was deemed absolutely necessary,” Lesperance commented.

In the current presidential campaign, neither of the two leading candidates has a military background. Vice President Harris has spent almost her entire career either as a prosecutor or in politics, while former President Donald Trump avoided military service through multiple deferments during the Vietnam War.

This shift indicates a significant change from earlier times when military experience was the norm among presidents. Since Bill Clinton was elected in 1993, only one veteran, Bush, has reached the White House. Lesperance explains that previous generations wanted their commander to understand the serious implications of sending young Americans to war, and this service was seen as a test of patriotism.

However, a generational change has occurred in the United States. Conscription was once a common part of American life, especially during World War II when over 10 million men were drafted. This number, however, has dramatically decreased. The U.S. military is currently struggling to meet its recruitment goals; for fiscal year 2023, the Department of Defense reported a shortfall of 41,000 recruits.

Jeremy Teigen, a former member of the Air Force and a political science professor, believes that the public has not lost interest in electing veterans. The issue is that there are simply fewer available candidates with such backgrounds. “The decrease in military veterans as candidates is largely due to the fact that we have stopped generating such large pools of veterans,” Teigen stated.

Some critics speculate that the nature of modern warfare has also altered perceptions of veterans and their suitability for public office. According to veteran advocate Rory Riley-Topping, every presidential candidate who was a veteran of the Vietnam War failed to win. “The Vietnam War changed our perception of who veterans are,” she wrote.

With fewer veterans in American society, there has also been a decline in veteran representation in Congress since the 1970s, with the number now under 20 percent. “The path used to be military service, followed by a position at the state level, and eventually to the presidency,” said Christian Grose, a political science professor.

Although the number of military veterans in the public domain has decreased, Teigen points out that the current vice-presidential candidates still hold an advantage. “Both vice-presidential candidates have military experience. We certainly wouldn’t expect that if we only looked at the raw numbers of veterans who could become political players,” he remarked.

Military service continues to be viewed as a positive trait among voters. A study from the Pew Research Center showed that military service ranked as the most positive trait a presidential candidate could possess. “There are certain things voters generally infer from military service, such as public service, sacrifice, and patriotism,” said Teigen.

While both Democrats and Republicans still regard military service as a value, Lesperance wonders if perceptions have shifted, especially since Trump, who lacks military service, has simultaneously shaped the Republican Party. “For Tim Walz, this may be one of the advantages he has electorally,” Grose concludes.