One of the things that was drilled into us when I was a young 2LT going through IOBC was questioning illegal orders. My Lai was still fresh on people's minds and William Calley was still in Columbus after being released. He served as a cautionary tale to us.
With that said LTC Vindeman wasn't ordered to do anything illegal or not. His "opinion" is irrelevant. It appears he went beyond testifying just about the facts.
I don't see him moving beyond Colonel, if he makes it that far. I have seen military careers ended for less.
That's how I see it too.
If LTC Vindeman has already had a successful Battalion/Squadron Command tour, he might get selected for promotion to COL, but he probably wouldn't be selected for Brigade Command because of this smudge on his record and a successful Brigade Command is a box that almost certainly has to be checked before a COL is considered for promotion to General Officer rank. My guess is that his career has stalled and he'll retire as either an LTC or a staff COL.
