You can protest on active duty as long as you're not in uniform, or don't claim to be representing the military. Hutto is a nut. He was a college graduate that came in as a Seaman Recruit, which should tell you something. He has a "background in activisim", so likely joined the Navy simply as a way for his incompetent rear not to starve to death and it had the added benefit of enhancing his credibility.
He's not a sailor that "turned against the war". He was a left wing nut job before he came in the service.
In other words, if you are just a talentless ingrate, you get stuck (protesting) Iraq?