I agree with everything you said, but that ship sailed 11 years ago in Trek 2009 turning Kirk from Cadet to Captain. Kurtzman is the common factor in both. I assume he figured he got away with that unrealistic plot element before, so he can get away with it again.That's not how it works in the military, or in the real world. No they don't owe her, she did her job/duty. That's how experience works, you work hard, and over time you learn and improve and get better. You don't do one good thing and get handed the diploma just because, gosh, we're just so gosh darn impressed that you did a thing and didn't give up halfway through.