I agree.
But that's not quite the point.
Let me rephrase it. Regardless of whether he is achieving what he intends, why is he trying to promote military loyalty?
Answers
a) Because Trump is patriotic and admires people doing public service, regardless of the law.
b) Because Trump has a potential private use for a loyal military, and particularly of trained specialists who are willing to break the law.
I think the answer is b) and it is scary.
Context. Who pushes people off the sixth floors of Russia's buildings? How does Putin recruit them?