Well...yes it can be hard. There are COs who would not take favorably to a a thoughtful, honest post and could respond poorly. I worked with one who eventually made the news (CAPT Holly Graf) but not before she’d destroyed dozens of fine American’s careers.
I worked for her (kinda) in between her CO rides. Everyone knew and no action was taken until they’d given her another ship.
Holly Graf - Wikipedia
Holy **** she has a Wikipedia page...
Remember, if you are attached to an operational command, you have no right to refuse mast.
Toxic leaders get promoted because “results”
‘I’m House’ — inside the case of the commander in flip-flops who got canned
It’s not just line officers. The MC has its share of toxicity too.
Medical Treatment Facility Commanding Officer Relieved of Duty aboard Mercy
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2008-10-01-0809300417-story,amp.html
We even had a SG who faked his cv. Neither he not the “university” could find his PhD thesis when asked. He claimed a masters that he didn’t finish and a JD from a diploma mill. You’d trust that guy?
But, in general, MC bad behavior doesn’t make the news because we have far fewer command billets. I witnessed a fair bit of lower level retaliation. For example, an orthopod who filed an IG complaint, was immediately PCS’d overseas, filed another IG complaint for retaliation, tried to separate and was held over beyond his obligation until he withdrew the allegations.
My take is to stay anonymous as much as possible but only post what you believe to be true.