The problem is that "command experience" doesn't mean that you did a good job at it. The impression I've got from friends who have observed this process first hand is that people get shuttled into a job to get "command experience", do a crappy job but everyone hunkers down and waits because they know they'll be gone to a better gig in 6 months so why rock the boat, and then the person gets promoted with their newfound "command experience".
Some of those same officers get relieved due to "poor command climate" one somewhat recent example;
"[Navy Captain] was fired as commanding officer of Navy [a] Health Clinic after a survey found a poor command climate."
Doesn't happen as much as it should, perhaps, but its not unknown.
