It's not about punishment. It's about keeping the Initiative's army from cutting off its own legs before it even gets to the battlefield.

And why wouldn't they allow it? [ Asked honestly, frown growing deeper. ] They send people home arbitrarily already—people who might have been able to actually help, people who maybe even wanted to be here—so what difference does it make whether there's slightly more rhyme and reason to it than before?

[ Realizes his tone has slipped right off the ledge into bitterness and makes a face, smoothing his expression back down to something more neutral. ]

... It makes sense in my head, at least.