2 Officers Tied to Navy Skit Reinstated : Scandal: Three others have been stripped of command over incident involving sexual references to a congresswoman.

In a rare move, the Pacific Fleet’s top admiral reversed himself Friday and reinstated two Navy officers who were stripped of command for their roles in the Tomcat Follies, which featured a skit that included sexual references to a congresswoman.

Pacific Fleet commander Adm. R. J. Kelly, who had initially rejected two other admirals’ recommendations of leniency for the officers, announced that he was reinstating Capt. Richard F. Braden and Lt. Cmdr. Dale A. Bruetting.

Three other officers who were removed from command for their ties to the offensive skit--Capt. George L. Moe, Cmdr. Robert H. Clement and Cmdr. David M. Tyler--were not reinstated. The careers of the three officers are, for all practical purposes, over, Navy sources said. The five are aviators based at Miramar Naval Air Station.

Critics, including Rep. Randy (Duke) Cunningham (R-San Diego), a former Navy pilot, had complained that Kelly’s decision last month to permanently strip the five men of command was an attempt to appease politicians critical of the Navy’s investigation of the 1991 Tailhook sex scandal.

The Tomcat skit had targeted Rep. Patricia Schroeder (D-Colo.). Schroeder, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, who has been a vocal critic of the Navy’s investigation of the Tailhook incident. More than 25 women charged that they were fondled, groped and sexually assaulted by drunken Marine and Navy aviators at the Tailhook Assn. convention in a Las Vegas hotel.

Last month, Kelly said that Braden, a 24-year Navy veteran, was relieved of command because he was the senior officer present during the performance of the skit and failed to stop it. Braden, 45, was chief staff officer of Fighter Airborne Early Warning Wing at Miramar when he was removed from command.

Braden, who had nothing to do with the planning for the skits, said in an interview that he had decided at the last minute to go to the Officers’ Club for a drink on the afternoon of the Follies. The admiral who supervised the investigation had recommended that no action be taken against him.

Braden said he had “mixed emotions” about Kelly’s decision to reinstate him. He noted that Kelly’s recommendation also included the caveat that Braden “be reassigned . . . according to the needs of the Navy,” which means he will not be returned to his old position.

“I regret that this incident ever occurred,” said Braden in a written statement. “ . . . I can only hope that we in the Navy can address the Tailhook incident rationally, conscientiously and appropriately and put it behind us.”

In a written statement Friday, Kelly said that “after a thorough review,” he concluded that “Braden’s actions were not inconsistent with his position as senior officer present.”

As for his decision to reinstate Bruetting, Kelly said Bruetting did not have “the opportunity to view the squadron’s skit before it went on.” Bruetting was executive officer of VF 111, a fighter squadron, when he was removed from command.