Ben Murphy and Joe Lando have worked together previously in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993-1999).
Admiral Chegwidden states that Lt. Colonel Farrow is due for administrative separation from the Marine Corps, which is when a superior officer initiates the process of involuntarily separating a soldier from the military in a non-judicial process, in civilian terms it is equivalent to being fired. Administrative separations are not always done because of bad conduct, a few examples of reasons for it are: medical issues, minor misconduct like Col. Farrow's situation or reduction in staff (usually budget cuts).