You would have a completely different attitude had you ever experienced the military. Your perspective, while I sort of see it from a distance, is something I cannot digest.
You do not understand the seriousness or ethos of military and command. You cannot and will not ever understand.
Presented for your edification.
THE SOLDIERS CREED
I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.
My son was in the Army so I am somewhat familiar with the Soldier’s Creed, tho admittedly I personally never served. I also have a passing acquaintance with the U.S. Constitution and its requirements of presidential eligibility to serve as CinC.
For your edification, Article II, Section 1, Clause 5:
“No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.”
Didn’t your OATH require you to support and defend the U.S. Constitution, even before its command to follow orders? Officers, such as Lakin, have a further burden, “to bear true faith and alliance” to that Constitution.
Perhaps Col. Lakin, who does have lengthy experience with the Soldiers Creed, has taken his oath too seriously.
And what is the mission?
A major part of it is to "..support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic".
LtCol. Larkin is putting that part of the mission first, and his own career and liberty second. He may be wrong, but that's what he is doing.
And they/you don’t swear an Oath to the Constitution then???