He wasn't really in the services. He was a weekend warrior desk jockey in a special program, that required no actual experience or service record, and didn't have to go to boot camp. It was a special program that allowed the services to bring in older people with specific skill sets to help train and coordinate within the service.

He was in his 40's when this happened. He wasn't some deck hand who got caught with a hot piss test after a good shore leave.