UFC veteran Tim Kennedy admitted in a social media post on Monday to fabricating a part of his U.S. Army history, previously claiming to have received a Bronze Star Medal with Valor. The National Guard Green Beret is now reportedly under investigation following the news coming to light.
Kennedy, 45, spoke out after Army and Pentagon authorities began receiving questioning from reports about inconsistencies in his service record, first highlighted by YouTubers within the veteran community. Kennedy’s claims initially came from a July 2017 episode of “The American Warrior Show,” when he answered yes to a question about having earned a Bronze Star for Valor.
I want to take full and unequivocal responsibility for a serious mistake.
Over the years, I made public statements and gave interviews in which I unintentionally misstated aspects of my military service. Most notably, I implied directly or indirectly that I had been awarded the Bronze Star with Valor. That is not true, and there is no excuse for it. I never received that honor, and I deeply regret ever suggesting otherwise.
That kind of recognition is sacred. It represents extraordinary courage under fire acts that risk or cost lives. To those who truly earned it, and to their families and brothers-in-arms, I offer my sincere and direct apology. What I said disrespected your service, and I take full ownership of that.
I was young when I stepped into the public eye, and while I wasn’t prepared for the scrutiny or pressure that came with it, that doesn’t absolve me. I should have known better. Integrity is not situational, and I failed to uphold the standards I claimed to represent.
To the military and veteran community, especially those who’ve served in combat or lost people they love. I am deeply sorry. I know I’ve let many of you down. You had every right to expect more from me, and I didn’t live up to that.
This apology is not the end, it’s the beginning. I am committed to rebuilding trust through honest reflection, visible accountability, and ongoing service to the community I misrepresented myself to. I will no longer speak about my service in a way that elevates me beyond what I actually did. From now on, my words will be guided by truth, humility, and respect.
I understand that words alone don’t heal disappointment or restore trust. Only time and action will.
Thank you to those who have held me accountable. I will do my best to honor that accountability from this point forward.
Advertisement
Speaking to Military.com, Major Benjamin Hughes, a Guard spokesperson, responded to Kennedy’s admission with the following statement.
The Maryland National Guard takes these matters seriously. Integrity is a core value of our organization, so an investigation is currently underway to review the facts surrounding these public misstatements.
Although Kennedy never earned the Bronze Star for Valor, he was given a 2006 Bronze Star by the Army for “exceptional leadership” in his planning of combat operations within his role as a junior noncommissioned officer.
Per Military.com, Army and Pentagon officials noted that Kennedy caught their attention as he continued to rise in notoriety throughout the veteran community. Specifically, his praise for Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer and General Randy George became a point of frustration.
Multiple Army and Pentagon officials told Military.com that his role as a cheerleader for Weimer and George has frustrated much of the service’s public affairs apparatus, which viewed his overt Republican partisanship and exaggerated record as a liability.
With Kennedy currently a consistent speaker at public events, there has yet to be any action taken against having him continuing doing so. The former UFC middleweight hasn’t commented on the situation since his initial statement and has yet to face any repercussions.
Advertisement
“Everyone thought this was a terrible idea,” one Army official said to Military.com, referring to senior service leaders using Kennedy as an unofficial spokesperson. “There is no shortage of awesome soldiers we could have found to deliver the same messages.”
Kennedy retired from MMA in January 2017 after a third-round knockout loss to Kelvin Gastelum. The fight was his first after a two-year layoff following his infamous Yoel Romero bout at UFC 178.
Kennedy currently serves with Special Operations Detachment-O, a small National Guard unit based outside Baltimore that liaises with NATO special operations forces. He is a part-time master sergeant.
