I am not an aviation lawyer and ready to be corrected. But I think the analogy is probably apt. I personally see distinct similarities between the power of an aircraft commander and the powers of a military superior.

My main gripe with threads like this, speaking personally, is that I despair of people who seem to think there is some intrinsic moral good in being obedient. It may be prudent, or indeed right because what is being commanded is right, but it is not a good in itself.

I am reminded of the row about switching on mobile devices on the inward taxi. The law was self evidently silly and not fit to be obeyed. Many of us respected the cabin crew and switched on out of their sight. But the idea that there was some moral right in obeying orders as orders...[something occurs to me but Godwin's Law would engage...]