Admiral Chegwidden heads the selection board for captains this year. SecNav tries to get a member of his staff promoted. Meanwhile Harm tries to help a former drill instructor who faces a long prison term under the three-strikes law.

A Marine sergeant major, on trial for attempted murder, invokes a supernatural event; Bud prosecutes, and Harm defends. A priest from the Vatican investigates the alleged involvement of a chaplain who died during a firefight in Vietnam.