Marine Corps Questions Candidate's Military Service in Tennessee Primary

In the Tennessee Republican primary, candidate Brian Stewart has emphasized his Marine Corps service as part of his campaign. However, Marine Corps records indicate that Stewart's service ended prematurely due to 'failure to participate,' and he left as a private, which is the lowest rank. The Marine Corps stated that 'the character of his service was incongruent with Marine Corps standards.' Stewart's campaign portrays him as a conservative businessman and community leader, but military experts have raised concerns about the implications of his service claims. Retired Colonel Mark Cancian compared Stewart's situation to claiming a college degree after failing out, suggesting it is misleading. Stewart's military records show he enlisted in 1998 and served less than 36 months, with a discharge characterized as 'under other than honorable conditions.' Stewart is not eligible to reenlist and does not qualify as a veteran under certain federal programs. His campaign has faced scrutiny regarding the accuracy of his military service claims, and the Marine Corps has declined to provide further details due to privacy regulations. Stewart's campaign has received support from organizations like the AFC Victory Fund and Americans for Prosperity, despite questions about his military background.