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Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL running for Senate in Montana, has cited medical reasons for his departure from the military. However, recently obtained discharge paperwork tells a different story. The two-page document, heavily redacted and reviewed by NBC News, indicates that Sheehy voluntarily resigned his commission rather than being medically compelled to leave the Navy.

While campaigning, Sheehy has portrayed his military service as a cornerstone of his candidacy. In his memoir, "Mudslingers: A True Story of Aerial Firefighting," he details a bout with decompression sickness, contracted during a training exercise in Hawaii, which led to a "tiny hole in my heart." Nonetheless, Sheehy himself notes in the book that his decision to resign was due to an unwillingness to serve in a limited capacity and not because he was forced out by a medical condition.

The Sheehy campaign has provided a more nuanced explanation, stating that he was declared medically unfit for active duty as a Navy SEAL in 2014 and entered the Navy Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) until his honorable discharge in 2019. The campaign, however, did not provide an explanation for the inconsistencies between Sheehy's statements and his discharge paperwork.

Sheehy's contest against Democratic incumbent Jon Tester is one of the nation’s most closely monitored Senate races. Sheehy, who is leading Tester in the polls, operates an aerial firefighting company and has emphasized his military background throughout his campaign. On conservative podcasts, Sheehy mentioned that injuries he sustained, including shrapnel, a bullet wound, and a head injury, led to his discharge.

Sheehy's achievements during his service include earning a Bronze Star for heroism in 2012 during a firefight in Afghanistan, where he ran through enemy fire to aid a wounded comrade. He also received a Purple Heart for being knocked unconscious by an IED later that month. However, details around the gunshot wound he sustained are contentious; while Sheehy attributes it to a 2012 battle in Afghanistan, other reports suggest he may have injured himself accidentally in 2015 at Glacier National Park.

Despite the discrepancies, Sheehy remains a strong contender, with a campaign firmly tied to his narrative of military service and sacrifice. The unfolding details concerning his discharge and injuries inject an element of complexity into this crucial Senate race.