IIRC there was a several hour "discusion" between EM and either NCOs or officers over whether or not to complete this mission. This says to me that there alrady was a breakdown in leadership in this unit. Either at the NCO or Officer level.
A little known position of the new army is that we tell our young troops that they CAN stop a mission if they see a gross safety violation. We teach them that.
We also teach them they better damn well be right.
Most know that we tell them never to obey an unlawful order, but many don't know the "safety" thing that we teach at all levels. It isn't loudly proclaimed publicly by the army.
But I've got a recently completed 20 year career that says I've heard it over and over again, and that I'm certain of what I say.
That said, the article 15 instead of a court-martial says they were NOT right...but were partially supported by some evidence.