According to the Army’s regulations, commanders are not supposed to take “favorable” personnel actions to advance the career of soldiers who are the subject of a serious investigation.

The regulations allow for an exception: Commanders can seek a waiver so that soldiers under investigation can attend special military schools.

General McMaster was reluctant to interfere with the soldiers’ training before any guilt was established, according to the investigation’s report. It said he was not aware that he was required to apply to the Army’s deputy chief of staff for a waiver so they could go to the Ranger School, where soldiers are taught combat leadership and tactics under grueling conditions.

The criminal case against the two soldiers was later dropped after a Fort Benning trial counsel determined that the accuser’s account was not credible. Instead, the counsel recommended that administrative action be taken against the soldiers for various improprieties.

At first, General McMaster ordered that an official reprimand be inserted into the officers’ files after they graduated from Ranger School. The officers were allowed to challenge that decision. After hearing their rebuttal, General McMaster concluded that the “misconduct had not occurred as alleged,” according to his official record of the case, and ordered the letters of reprimand to be destroyed.

General McMaster later received his own chiding from Gen. Daniel B. Allyn, the vice chief of staff of the Army, though it fell short of a formal reprimand. Describing it as a “memorandum of concern,” General Allyn said that General McMaster should have been better informed about the Army regulations.

“I understand that you were unaware of the ability to request a waiver in this case, and that you did not want to delay the officers’ training,” General Allyn wrote. “I also recognize that you ultimately decided to take no action against the officers after carefully considering the evidence. However, professional judgments may not supplant Army policy under any circumstances. I am disappointed with your actions.”