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.
Never in the Army. I was dicharged from the Navy 40yrs. ago this coming Christmas Eve.
Perhaps because of the isolated circumstances of a ship at sea or the passage of time, no "dicussion" of an order was permited. You could bring something to the attention of the order giver that he may not have been aware of, but as you said, you had better be RIGHT.
I just fnd it difficult to believe that proper discipline could be maintained in an atmosphere where "discusions" of this lenght are entertained.