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Buttigieg also expressed that he believed President Trump faked a disability to get out of serving in the military and attacked him for pardons like that for US Army officer Michael Behenna, who was convicted of killing an Iraqi prisoner, stating pardons like that are "disgusting." However, Buttigieg defended athletes who choose to kneel in protest during the national anthem, stating that freedom to do that was something that he put his life on the line to defend.<ref>CNN, May 23, 2019 [https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/23/politics/pete-buttigieg-national-anthem-defense/index.html Pete Buttigieg reflects on his military service in defense of national anthem protests]</ref>

Buttigieg also expressed that he believed President Trump faked a disability to get out of serving in the military and attacked him for pardons like that for US Army officer Michael Behenna, who was convicted of killing an Iraqi prisoner, stating pardons like that are "disgusting." However, Buttigieg defended athletes who choose to kneel in protest during the national anthem, stating that freedom to do that was something that he put his life on the line to defend.<ref>CNN, May 23, 2019 [https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/23/politics/pete-buttigieg-national-anthem-defense/index.html Pete Buttigieg reflects on his military service in defense of national anthem protests]</ref>

While Buttigieg often invokes his military service in support of his presidential qualifications,  veterans such as U.S. Marines Greg Kelly and Katie Horgan "roll their eyes” when Buttigieg talks of his time in the Navy.  Writing in the Wall Street Journal, both criticized Buttigieg as circumventing the years of intense training and preparation that most must go through to achieve such the status of a military officer, having chosen instead to a fast-track to this status through a direct commission in the reserves. “Mr. Buttigieg skipped all that—no obstacle courses, no weapons training, no evaluation of his ability or willingness to lead...” “Paperwork, a health exam and a background check were all it took to make him a naval officer.”

While Buttigieg often invokes his military service in support of his presidential qualifications,  the former Navy SEAL responsible for killing al-Qaeda leader Osama bin advised him,  “Stop playing war hero. You’re gonna get called out." And some veterans such as U.S. Marines Greg Kelly and Katie Horgan "roll their eyes” when Buttigieg talks of his time in the Navy.  Writing in the Wall Street Journal, both criticized Buttigieg as circumventing the years of intense training and preparation that most must go through to achieve such the status of a military officer, having chosen instead to a fast-track to this status through a direct commission in the reserves. “Mr. Buttigieg skipped all that—no obstacle courses, no weapons training, no evaluation of his ability or willingness to lead...” “Paperwork, a health exam and a background check were all it took to make him a naval officer.”

They also belittled Buttigieg counting 119 times that he went outside the wire of the base in guarding a vehicle or ferrying other staffers around in his five months spent in Afghanistan, while speaking of times there being a relaxing contrast from his day job as mayor.  <ref>Tristan Justice (February 13, 2020) [https://thefederalist.com/2020/02/13/navy-seal-who-killed-bin-laden-tells-buttigieg-stop-playing-war-hero/  Navy SEAL Who Killed Bin Laden Tells Buttigieg: ‘Stop Playing War Hero’] The Federalist. Retrieved February 14, 2020 </ref>

They also belittled Buttigieg counting 119 times that he went outside the wire of the base in guarding a vehicle or ferrying other staffers around in his five months spent in Afghanistan, while speaking of times there being a relaxing contrast from his day job as mayor.  <ref>Tristan Justice (February 13, 2020) [https://thefederalist.com/2020/02/13/navy-seal-who-killed-bin-laden-tells-buttigieg-stop-playing-war-hero/  Navy SEAL Who Killed Bin Laden Tells Buttigieg: ‘Stop Playing War Hero’] The Federalist. Retrieved February 14, 2020 </ref>