“The man was acquitted on the serious stuff. All things considered, if the man wanted to continue in the Navy, the remaining infraction could be handled administratively. But, since he’s retiring, it ain’t no thing.”
Give him an Article 15, leave his Trident alone and let him retire with grace and dignity. That’s what should have happened.
To my thinking, even an Article 15 is excessive given that the man is retiring. Article 15s and other administrative actions are not supposed to be punitive, they’re supposed to be disciplinary. And, concern for discipline ends upon retirement.
Think of Lt. General Stanley A. McChrystal. When he trash talked the Vice President of the United States, the President recalled him from Afghanistan and simply accepted his resignation (and retirement). McChrystal left the service with his rank, honors and benefits intact.
I suppose the Secretary of the Navy thinks he should be trusted with maintaining the good order and discipline of his branch of the service short of theater-level commanders (such as was McChrystal), and normally I suppose he is. But, the President is the commander-in-chief and has concerns above even the pay grade of the Secretary of the Navy.