Service vs. Policy

Five deferments (four educational, one medical 1-Y in 1968 reclassified to permanent 4-F) avoided Vietnam-era service. The 1968 "bone spurs" diagnosis was, per a December 2018 New York Times investigation, given as a favor to Fred Trump by Queens podiatrist Larry Braunstein. Braunstein's daughters Elysa Braunstein and Sharon Kessel went on the record stating their father issued the diagnosis without examination as a quid pro quo for Fred Trump's ownership of the building containing his medical office.

No military service. Rubio (b. 1971) graduated from Santa Fe Community College, then University of Florida (BA 1993), then University of Miami School of Law (JD 1996). His published biography and Senate disclosures contain no military service of any branch. Was too young for the draft and never enlisted voluntarily.

No military service on public record. Karp (b. 1967) completed undergraduate at Haverford College, JD at Stanford Law, and a PhD in Neoclassical Social Theory from the Goethe University in Frankfurt. No registration, training, or service in any branch of the U.S. armed forces appears in his published biographies, Palantir investor disclosures, or interview record.

No military service. Cruz (b. 1970) earned a BA from Princeton (1992) and JD from Harvard Law (1995). Served as law clerk to Chief Justice Rehnquist, then in the George W. Bush administration as Associate Deputy Attorney General. No branch of US armed forces appears in his official Senate biography or campaign disclosures.

No military service on public record. Thiel (b. 1967) emigrated from West Germany to the United States as a child, attended Stanford undergraduate (philosophy 1989) and Stanford Law (JD 1992). No registration, training, or service in any branch of the U.S. armed forces appears in his published biographies, court filings, or extensive interview record.

No military service on public record. Patel earned a JD from Pace University Law School and an LLM from University College London; his federal career began as a public defender, then DOJ National Security Division terrorism prosecutor, then House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence senior counsel, then various Trump-administration national-security advisory roles, and most recently FBI Director (confirmed 2025). All public-record roles are civilian.

No military service on public record. Andreessen (b. 1971) attended University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (BS Computer Science 1993), worked at NCSA Mosaic, co-founded Netscape Communications (1994), Opsware, and Andreessen Horowitz (2009). No registration, training, or service in any branch of the U.S. armed forces appears in his published biographies or extensive interview record.

Vance enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps after high school in 2003, served four years as a combat correspondent (military journalist; MOS 4341), and deployed to Iraq for approximately six months in 2005-2006 in that role. Discharged as Corporal in 2007. Service is verified by DD-214 he has repeatedly referenced and is a central biographical element of his memoir Hillbilly Elegy.

Bannon served seven years in the U.S. Navy as a surface-warfare officer aboard the destroyer USS Paul F. Foster in the Pacific Fleet, including support of the Iran hostage rescue operation and Eagle Claw aftermath. Later assigned to the Pentagon as special assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations. Separated as Lieutenant to attend Harvard Business School.

Gabbard enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard in 2003 at age 21; volunteered for deployment to Iraq with the 29th Brigade Combat Team in 2004-2005 (Logistical Specialist with the 29th Support Battalion). Second deployment to Kuwait 2008-2009 as Military Police platoon leader. Continues to serve in the Army Reserve as Lieutenant Colonel.

Pompeo graduated first in his class at West Point in 1986, served five years on active duty as a cavalry officer (M1 Abrams platoon leader, 4th Squadron 7th Cavalry Regiment), deployed to West Germany before the Berlin Wall fell, separated from active duty as Captain in 1991 to attend Harvard Law.

Cotton commissioned as an infantry officer in 2005 after attending Harvard College (BA 1998) and Harvard Law School (JD 2002), and worked briefly in private practice. Served as a platoon leader with the 101st Airborne in Iraq (Baghdad, 2006) including duty with The Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery, then as a Provincial Reconstruction Team member in Afghanistan (2008–2009). Awarded the Bronze Star. Combat-veteran status — included in the ledger as a Veteran Advocate (his pro-military hawkishness is consistent with his own service record).

McConnell enlisted in the Army Reserve in August 1967 at Fort Knox while Vietnam-era draft was active. After approximately five weeks of basic training he was discharged for medical reasons (optic neuritis). His own 2016 autobiography 'The Long Game' confirms the short tenure. Question of whether the discharge was facilitated by his father's political connections has been raised periodically but never substantiated to the standard of documented_evasion; recorded here as served_no_combat per the public record.

Graham served on active duty as an Air Force Judge Advocate (JAG) 1982-1988 including assignments in Germany. Continued in the Air Force Reserve and SC Air National Guard until 2015 retirement as a Colonel. Reserve deployments during senatorial tenure (Iraq 2007, Afghanistan 2009/2014) were as legal officer, not combat-arms. Audit note: a 2015 Air Force inquiry examined whether his Reserve duty had been falsely characterized; the inquiry's findings were never publicly released but no charges followed.

Crenshaw commissioned through the Naval Academy (2006), completed SEAL training, deployed five times across Iraq and Afghanistan. Lost right eye to IED blast in Helmand Province 2012; medically retired 2016 as Lieutenant Commander. Awards include two Bronze Stars (one with Valor), Purple Heart, Navy Commendation Medal.