Sounds like an officer enlisted relationship, but grounding the guy, I have no understanding of that at all.
You've obviously been out far too long Matt!
Quite possibly, but looking back at what I posted (it was after I came in from night shift) I can see I did not express myself too well. What I meant to say was, why ground the guy, why not just post the other party away. That way the team as a whole does not suffer. It could be made clear that this would be his last season too. Guess I am getting to be a bit liberal in my old age....................Sh#t, I am turning into my dad

Matt
PS Do they only have 6 pilots and six aircraft. No back up pilot who trains in the back ground with them in case of illness, death..........sexual transgression etc?
They usually have 7 pilots and 7 birds, but the seventh is strictly for public relations and a backup bird (the two seater) but the pilot of #7 isn't a formation flyer/solo/opposing, so even if they have a backup plane, they still need the pilot. Correct me if I'm wrong please.
As far as the case goes:
Fraternization is rather serious and him being a pilot and senior officer he really went out of bounds by having a relationship with an enlisted member. At a distance it doesn't seem serious but once you get into the politics of it, it's a huge deal. Favors getting done for each other, people getting screwed over in favor of the boyfriend/girlfriend, all this creates a hostile work environment, something the Angels DO NOT need...theres more to it than boy meets girl.
And the pilot being a senior officer, he should have friggin known it was going to risk his career and image. Im glad he got grounded, even if he was a fellow Marine. Just making the rest of us look bad. Bummer about missing a bird at the shows, but they need to make an example out of him, show the future pilots there's no messing around.