Because if you had actually been in anything remotely resembling a combat outfit, you'd know better than to go around pontificating with these "facts" of yours.
And considering that there are cases of world-class athletes who smoke, I have a hard time imagining you have a clue at all.
You are mixing things up, for a rather comical effect. Administrative regulations, of which militaries have a lot, have very little to do with restricting the personal freedoms of soldiers. And your average grunt doesn't bother with those if he can help it. Other than how and when to salute, what's the insignia for a Sgt. and, depending on their assignment, ROE and prisoner treatment stuff (there's always at least an NCO to remind them, anyway) "regulations" in the sense you are speaking are of very little concern to soldiers outside offices. They are not civil servants, trust me on that.
But yeah, I guess it makes sense. If you ignore all evidence to the contrary, that is.
You are the one insisting that military rules have to do with maintaining discipline and that anything above that, specifically the smoking ban, constitutes misuse of power. I think they call that 'stating opinion as fact'. I basically agree with your opinion, but for purposes of definition, the right to smoke on the job is not guaranteed anywhere in the constitution.
I'm curious, whats your stand on the Weyco smoking ban. They are the ones who offer health insurance to their employees, don't they have the right to make sure they can have the best bargaining position with their insurance carriers.