So as a veteran I can certainly remember the annoying kids in basic training that couldn't really keep up. I think every veteran can remember some folks they went to training with that could barely hack it.

But what's the point of harping on it years later? I don't think anyone would be surprised that Manning was a 'bad soldier'.

Then there is a bunch totally unrelated stuff that happened much later, took a huge amount of courage, and led to arrest and imprisonment.