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In reply to the discussion: Navy demoted Ronny Jackson after probe into White House behavior [View all]Farmer-Rick
(10,217 posts)"Military guidelines allow a provisional retirement rank if an officer is under investigation for misconduct at the time, as Jackson was during his departure from the Navy. Military officials have the option to downgrade the final rank if adverse findings are made, busting down an officer to the last grade they satisfactorily served."
The simple answer is that downgrade to lower rank due to adverse findings is based on being investigated at retirement date, not date the rank was appointed. It does not matter when he got the appointment. It matters if he was being investigated at the time of retirement.
He did not complete Rear Admiral successfully because of adverse findings of an investigation started before his retirement date as a Rear Admiral.
That's to keep officers who have a lot of power from doing corrupt acts then escaping investigation or reprimands by submitting retirement requests.