A Rose Garden Ceremony, a “hero’s welcome”, and automatic promotions to a person that deserted is nothing more than a slap in the face to every service member who has served honorably.
This Texan sounds like what a military man might say. As a Vietnam veteran I completely agree with him.
There is no automatic promotion for time served, EXCEPT for those that are confirmed POW's.
Every one else has to pass the tests, and get the recommendations.
Proof of this is that Bergdahl has NOT been given his next scheduled promotion, while his actual past 5 years are being investigated.
But it seems indisputable that he left his outpost without authorization and without protective equipment. That does not seem to be the actions of a soldier out for an afternoon stroll.
I'm not taking any stance on the Bergdahl case, as the whole thing just seems like a huge mess, but people should be aware that Bergdahl's promotion was a standard procedure, and not some special honor.