Okay... just got back from my buddies cottage in Michigan. (sunburnt and hung-over), and talking to him it occurred to me that there are some significant cultural differences between the US and Canadian military.... so I'll try to explain some of the reasons why this whole court-martial thing really yanks my chain.
The Canadian Military follows the British regimental tradition; this tradition is close to the Fraternity system in a way. Every regiment has its own traditions, rituals, and history... all of which are very important. The regiment is your fraternity/family, a little more so than the US military (look this is what has been said by the Marines I know). Each regiment has alumni (invited to anniversary/memorial dinners) that are always treated with respect; each regiment has a badge which is more or less a coat of arms, with a latin (Scots gaelic, French, Huron, or Irish gaelic on some others) motto that represents the ideal of the unit; each regiment has a song, usually a mascot, a museum, a standard (think battle flag from Napoleonic or Civil War), and a number of messes.
The "Mess" is a cross between a chapter room and pub, with three messes for each regiment; one for the junior ranks (every enlisted man below Sgt.), a Sgt. Mess which is a little fancier, and finally an Officer's Mess. All of these share common traits; each has it's own traditions and rituals. For example when entering a mess your headdress must be removed, in honour of those who have come before you, and to in effect remove your official rank... everyone is theoretically equal in the mess (what happens in the mess stays in the mess). Another one is that other ranks are barred from the mess; they must ask permission and be escorted into the mess. Each mess also acts as a museum, with photos, trophies, uniforms, weapons, and other relics on display.... this serves to educate the members and impress upon them the weight of history and honour of the Regiment.
Now, every member of the regiment is educated in the history of the regiment's honours and failures (and other regiments will remind you of any dishonour
). For example one artillery regiment lost it's guns during WWI, they were just recently allowed to remove various "marks" denoting this shame.
Now I was attached to the PPCLI (Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry) while on duty with the UN, so a lot of the history and traditions of the unit has been impressed upon me. Because I was an outsider (from another unit) I was basically a "pledge" until I proved myself.... which happened rather quickly when I mentioned that my grandfather's brother had served as a Corporal with the unit during WWII. Now here is the important part - my grandfather's brother was killed as a result of friendly fire - and the regiment has never forgotten this (they still hold a dinner in memorial). The PPCLI lost 160 men to a bombing attack by the US Air Force as they moved to try and relieve pressure on the US front following D-Day..... The PPCLI lost 13 men to a bombing attack by the US Air Force in Korea, after the US unit holding their left flank broke..... The first incident still outrages some of the veterans because the attack was on the rear lines and medic station, some still refuse to allow any US personnel into the regimental chapel. The second was less agonizing because it was in a combat situation, partly because the PPCLI called artillery down on themselves 30 mins. later to keep the Chinese from overrunning he position. All of this came to a boil when the PPCLI suffered the friendly fire again from the Air Force in Afghanistan..... something the unit has tried very, very hard to prevent (because of it's history).
The fall-out of the latest friendly-fire is alot of anger and bitterness towards the US Air Force (not the Army... they still get along quite well). A number of members have resigned, and there is a lot of "barracks talk" about not participating in an US control actions, or at least near US troops for a very long time. So basically all the dark-jokes and black humour about them watching there backs around the US Air Force turned horribly real again.... and some of the family bitterness was brought back to the surface.