<p>The term “expelled” was a recommendation for Eckel to be separated from the academy, which didn’t happen - he graduated (albeit - as the anchor man - the lowest ranked graduate.)</p>
<p>Recently, most recently, he was allowed to tender his resignation and pay for his college costs. Probably a mutually beneficial arrangement to both.</p>
<p>I would like to point out that several years ago, the Navy released from active duty a number of officers who failed pipeline training. For example - I know of a Class of 2004 grad was in flight school - and at the 18 month point in his service - he was carrying a 87% class average. (But the Navy had determined that there were too many in the training pipeline - many planes being retired faster than previously scheduled, and new planes not coming on-line as soon as scheduled - resulting in a glut. So the “pass” was raised to 94%, and those under this score were “terminated”. Pink slip. Good bye.</p>
<p>Some didn’t want to go - but no choice. Other communities (Surface Warfare, Nuclear Power Training, etc.) stated that they had adequate numbers, didn’t need more, and didn’t want other service “rejects.” So these officers were let go, and their 5 year commitments were canceled.</p>
<p>If Eckel is let go in favor of retaining someone who has more “drive” - I am all for it!!</p>
<p>Now - more recently, the decision was that those failing pipeline training wouldn’t be let go immediately - they might go to special training for 3 - 6 weeks and then be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan for 12 - 16 months as part of the Individual Augmentation (IA) program. Now - these individual know that they don’t have a “safe community” that they belong to, and a chance of promotion and staying for 20 years is slim to non-existent, and they will likely resign their commission at the earliest opportunity.</p>