It implies that the army didn’t allow him CO status and entry as a medical. Maybe the movie does.
I saw a documentary on him. Initially, the army did not grant CO status. He had to work for it. He did encounter quite a few bad attitudes. He had a CO that very much disliked him and another who cared for him a great deal so there is a lot of turmoil. I guess I hear what you are saying, the movies often sensationalize and the sensational is constant turmoil.