When a soldier’s status is POW, he or she is automatically promoted to the next grade as soon as eligible. This rule has been in place since Vietnam and is not subject to any interpretation or judgment. If Bergdahl were to be court martialed then he could be reduced. But, he will not be court martialed, he will not even be subjected to an Article 32 investigation. He is the new military poster boy for the Obama Administration and they will probably parade him out for the State of the Union Address.
SOmewhere out there, RIck Rescorla is shaking his head in dispair
They would if they could. But I think this is getting so much pad press they won't...and it's going to get worse.