Is it just me, or this an inside joke?
From what I understand, no, it's not a joke. There are folks who've been there, done that, and they can help. They are vet organizations and active duty help resources. he's got a lot better chance in the "tender mercies" of the service than he does counting on the civilian court system.
Think about it.
The robbery sounded like a fishy stunt to me and I was thinking, He should be turned back over to the military code. Yeah, I think it will be a bit harsher, too, than the touchy-feely-what-is-really-wrong attitude in the civilian world.