Complex operations...I must confess I was not a military type person, a short timer, not a lifer. In my short term I had great appreciation for the lifers but still disdain for most that could subject themselves to the system.
My first few years in I hated to be sat down and given the "Big Picture" talk. I had a better eye for what was really going on then those crusty old farts.
Then one day when I was a little older and a bit higher in rank something we were doing became almost FUBAR because of a young hotshot who knew it all. We recovered because of the experience of all the players but it did cause a few exciting moments.
I sat him down and started to give him a good talking to and I realized it was the "Big Piture" crusty old fart talk. Kinda like when kids grown up and learn "Oh No, I've turned into my parents".
The key to miss steps is how it is handled. In the case of the pilots I think it was handled well. The CO chewed a little butt, got all the unit to refocus on the unit mission and everybody drives on.
To focus on the pilots and make them into heros would send the wrong message to "individuals" in the military.