Republican candidate JD Vance is accusing Democratic candidate Tim Walz of "stolen valor" -- a serious accusation that Walz's supporters consider to be an exaggeration.

The accusation also carries legal consequences. It is against federal law to falsely claim military service to deceive individuals.

Although there's no proof that Walz committed such a crime, there are doubts about how Walz has described his service, including claims that he carried a gun "in war," despite never having seen active combat.

The Harris-Walz campaign released a statement declaring that "during his 24 years of service, the Governor has carried, fired and instructed others in the use of weapons of war countless times. Governor Walz would never disrespect or belittle any American's service to this country - in fact, he appreciates Senator Vance for risking his life for our nation. It's the American way."

On Thursday, during a conversation with reporters in Detroit, Michigan, Harris stated, "Look, I commend anyone who has volunteered to serve our nation. And I believe we should all do so."

Here's what you need to know:

Walz retired from the Army National Guard as the crisis in Iraq was growing to run for political office.

By 2005, Tim Walz had completed 24 years of service with the Army National Guard and had achieved the rank of command sergeant major, the highest enlisted position in his unit, a role with significant responsibilities.

There was a chance his unit could be deployed to war, as Pentagon officials hoped that having U.S. troops in Iraq would protect the newly formed government and prevent a civil war.

Walz, a vocal critic of the Bush administration's war policies and a father of a 4-year-old girl at the time, decided to submit his retirement papers that May and run for public office instead.

Walz was successful, flipping a Minnesota House seat from Republican to Democrat for the first time in years and becoming the highest-ranking enlisted veteran to serve in Congress.

According to National Guard records, the 1st Battalion of the 125th Field Artillery received an alert order on July 14, 2005, two months after Walz's retirement. The mobilization order arrived in August and the unit was deployed in October.

Joseph Eustice, another retired command sergeant major who served with Walz, tells
that while there was speculation of a deployment around that time there was no firm indication that Walz’s unit would be sent to Iraq until that July alert order.

Eustice recalls Walz grappling with the timing of his desire to serve as a legislator while also avoiding seeking a deferment to do so.

"He had a window of time. He had to decide. And in his deciding, we were not on notice to be deployed. There were rumors. There were lots of rumors, and we didn't know where we were going until it was later that, early summer, I believe,” Eustice told
.

Vance asserted that Walz, as a command sergeant major at the time, should not have permitted his unit to be deployed without him.

"I find it appalling to prepare a unit for deployment to Iraq, make a promise to follow through, and then back out right before the actual deployment. I also believe it's dishonest,” Vance stated.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre stated that his record, as someone who enlisted at age 17 and spent over two decades in the Army National Guard, "speaks for itself.”

Walz served as command sergeant major but didn't stay in that role long enough to keep it in retirement.

There is no proof that Walz violated any regulations by retiring when he did. After serving in the National Guard for over 20 years, a person can retire at any time, regardless of their contract status, according to the National Guard.

Walz enlisted in the Nebraska National Guard at the age of 17, subsequently transferring to the Minnesota National Guard, serving a total of 24 years in the military.

According to experts, Walz's retirement would have required approval from his commanding officer. Officials indicate that retirement requests can be rejected if a Guard unit is mobilized, although the final decision rests with the unit commander.

It's notable that Walz still uses the title of command sergeant major on his website.

Walz did achieve that rank in service in September 2004. But regulations require serving in that specific position for three years to officially retire as one, according to the National Guard.

"Command Sergeant Major Walz concluded his 24-year tenure with the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in the Army National Guard in 2005,” according to the governor's website.

Walz said he carried a gun "in war,” but he also has acknowledged he was never in direct combat.

In a video clip shared on Twitter by the Harris campaign on Tuesday, Walz tells an audience that he carried guns "in war” while advocating for restrictions on gun access.

"We can make sure that those weapons of war, which I carried during my service, are confined to their intended purpose," Walz said.

Walz would have carried a gun during his service, which coincided with the U.S. being at war following the 9/11 attacks, including a deployment to Italy in 2003 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

However, there is no evidence that Walz was ever involved in active combat, a fact he has acknowledged in a 2018 interview with Minnesota Public Radio.

"I recognize that many individuals have contributed significantly more than I have. I acknowledge that," Walz stated. "I readily admit that I received far more from the military than they received from me, from the GI Bill to leadership opportunities and beyond."

Despite this, Vance contends that Walz's statement about carrying a gun "in war” and not "during war” amounts to stolen valor.

"What concerns me about Tim Walz is the misrepresentation of his military experience. One shouldn't claim to be something they're not,” he said.

Vance, a former Marine who served in Iraq, wrote in his memoir that he was "fortunate to avoid any significant combat.”

"I served in a combat zone. I've never said I personally engaged in a firefight, but I've always been honest about my Marine Corps service. That's the distinction," Vance said Wednesday.

' Isabella Murray and Alex Presha contributed to this report.