Arizona Sen. Jeff Dial's military record questioned

State Sen. Jeff Dial touted his military service during successful campaigns for the Arizona House and later the Senate.

Gov. Jan Brewer endorsed him as a "veteran of the Armed Forces." And he serves on the Legislature's veterans caucus, formed to help create bipartisan solutions for problems involving veterans.

But what Dial doesn't say about his military experience is that soon after joining the U.S. Army Reserve in 1996, he got in trouble for his weight, triggering a personnel action against him and making him ineligible for promotion. Four years into his eight-year commitment, he was transferred to the inactive list for "unsatisfactory participation."

While other reservists were being called up to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dial remained on the individual ready reserve list from 2000 to 2004. Dial, a Republican who represents parts of Ahwatukee Foothills, Tempe, Mesa and Chandler, received an honorable discharge when his service commitment ended in 2004.

Exactly how long Dial showed up to drill with his unit can't be determined unless Dial releases his full military record. The Arizona Republic asked Dial to do so in March, and he declined.

The definition of what exactly constitutes a veteran is murky, but in order to qualify for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, guidelines call for 24 months of active military service or the "full period" for which a service member was called to active duty. There are some exceptions to this rule.

When The Republic first interviewed Dial about his military service in March, he said he had no idea what unit he had been assigned to in the Army Reserve, didn't know his commanding officer, didn't know how long he served with the unit or when he was transferred to the individual ready reserve. Dial said he didn't know anything about his unit, 315th Psyop Company, being called up to go to Kosovo in 1999-2000.

When asked about his rank, Dial said: "I think PFC," which is private first class.

When asked to submit a form to request his full military file, he declined.

The one thing he was clear about was that he had an honorable discharge, and he showed his honorable discharge certificate and order to The Republic. Dial also gave The Republic his discharge document from active duty training in 1996, his DD Form 214, which listed his character of service as "uncharacterized" after serving less than 180 days of active duty in the Reserve.

During a second interview in April at the Legislature, Dial said he didn't name specifics about his military service because he didn't know who the reporter interviewing him was, even though the reporter clearly identified himself.

Dial said he only obtained the rank of E3 — private first class — after eight years in the Army Reserve. Dial said his weight prevented him from being promoted.

"Unfortunately, I had a lot of problems with my weight after a couple years," Dial said. "I am still proud of my service, but it was one of the things holding me back from rising in rank."

Two military experts who reviewed Dial's file at the request of The Republic concluded Dial has overreached by campaigning as a veteran.

Gregg Maxon, a retired brigadier general for the Arizona Army National Guard, said he believes Dial is "greatly exaggerating his service to the country."

Maxon said he doesn't have high regard for individuals who commit to serve in the military and complete only a portion. Signing up to serve counts for something, he said, but "he didn't follow through, that's the thing that's troubling."

"He's not somebody I would stand next to and say I'd go to combat with this guy," Maxon said. "If that was the strength of what he was running on, I'm not impressed by that."

Larry Bailey, retired after 27 years as a Navy Seal, said he believes the idea that Dial is a veteran is "laughable." He said Dial should not have an honorable discharge with his military record.

Bailey is on the Stolen Valor team of B.G. Burkett, an author and military-service watchdog who investigates fraudulent claims of military service.

He said Dial is a veteran in technical terms since he went through basic training. But Bailey said Dial "did nothing" after that, so it was "pitiful" for him to campaign on being a veteran.

"I don't understand why anyone would claim to be a veteran" with that record, Bailey said.

Typically, one would expect someone who was in the Army Reserve for eight years to have gotten to at least the rank of E4, specialist or corporal, but more likely to the rank of E5, sergeant, Maxon said. Obtaining only the rank of private first class, E3, after eight years of service typically means there was a problem with his service such as being in a weight program or unsatisfactory participation, Maxon said.

Dial said his "unsatisfactory participation" was because of his inability to make the weight required by the Army Reserve.

He declined a final interview with The Republic and instead provided this statement:

"I am proud of my eight years of service in the US Army Reserves. I swore a commitment to defend the United States and was committed to go anywhere my country sent me. I graduated from basic training and honorably served for eight years in the Army reserves, before receiving an Honorable Discharge for my service.

"I believe anyone who swears to defend the United States, attends basic training, serves out their eight year commitment to the Army Reserves, and receives an Honorable discharge is a veteran. I have always struggled with my weight, but am very proud of my country, and stand by my eight years of service in the military."

This is not the first time Dial has had his records questioned. In an unsuccessful run for the House in 2004, Dial promoted himself in the Republican primary as an Arizona State University graduate.

ASU said Dial was not a graduate, and Dial blamed the situation on an administrative error. However, ASU said Dial knew his status when he claimed he was a graduate. He later received a degree from ASU.

Maxon said it's most likely that Dial's "unsatisfactory participation" meant he stopped showing up to his unit. "To me, that means he quit going to drill," he said.

Maxon said Dial's unsatisfactory participation could have gotten him removed from the military altogether. But at the time, the Army was reducing numbers, and it was likely much easier to administratively put Dial on the individual ready reserve than convene a discharge board and remove him from the military, he said.

"Commanders were under pressure to get their numbers down," Maxon said. "A lot of times they went pretty easy on these folks — more than they would have otherwise."

Maxon said it is odd that Dial could get a honorable discharge given his military history. However, he said it is possible to get an honorable discharge the way Dial did because he was transferred to the individual ready reserve through the Mobilization Asset Transfer Program, which allows for those sent to the inactive list to be eligible for an honorable discharge.

"It seems counterintuitive," Maxon said.

In his most recent Senate run, Dial touted fliers sent out by Brewer that featured her photo and a statement from her saying that as "a veteran of the Armed Forces, Jeff Dial has the conservative values that our state needs."

Dial is considered a moderate Republican in the Legislature. He voted for Brewer's expansion of Medicaid in 2013 while in the House and voted against Gov. Doug Ducey's budget this year in the Senate.

Leading Republicans in the state Senate didn't return calls for comment about Dial. Senate President Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, did not return several requests for comment.

Republican state Rep. Sonny Borrelli, a member and former co-chair of the Legislature's veterans caucus, said in his view Dial is a veteran because he went through basic training and received an honorable discharge. Borrelli served for 22 years in the U.S. Marine Corps.

"He is legitimately a veteran," said Borrelli of Lake Havasu City. "I know a lot of guys like that."

He called Dial's portrayal of his service a "stretch" because of his lack of involvement after basic training. However, he said that unless Dial was claiming to have served in places he had not or said he had earned medals he had not earned, then Dial was not embellishing or exaggerating his record.

Borrelli said Dial rarely came to Legislative caucus meetings when he was in the House and came even less when he was in the Senate.

"He never shows up," he said. "He really doesn't consider himself like the rest of us."