A top female Sandhurst instructor shocked recruits by kicking a male trainee who kept making mistakes, a court heard.
Decorated Captain Ruth Cork lost her temper during a field exercise, booting the kneeling cadet and telling him 'get a grip'.
Officer Cadet Charles MacAllister didn't report the assault as he 'thought it was part of being in the Army'.
But 35 year old Capt Cork has been hauled to a court martial and fined £600.
The blonde Royal Engineer claimed it was an 'overzealous attempt of reinforcing training'.
The court martial heard Capt Cork is 'held at the highest regard' at the world-famous Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Berks, which Princes William and Harry attended.
On March 30 last year, Capt Cork was leading a field exercise but MacAllister repeatedly made mistakes.
She grew 'frustrated', was 'pacing up and down', told him 'come on' then deliberately kicked him and told him to 'get a grip'.
At Bulford Military Court, Wilts, prosecutor Commander Peter Barker said: "OC MacAllister made mistakes and they were repeated.
"Capt Cork was shouting at him and there came a time where she steadied herself and threw a kick at his left side as she was standing over him.
"Witnesses describe seeing the cadet wobble and described being shocked and angry at what happened but nobody raised it at that time.
"Capt Cork did not apologise."
A welfare officer later reported the incident and Capt Cork told investigators she couldn't remember kicking him. Barrister Matthew Simpson, defending, said Capt Cork is now 'remorseful' and that it was a 'moment of madness'.
He said MacAllister had no injuries and claimed the Covid-19 pandemic and a family tragedy meant Capt Cork was under stress at the time.
Capt Cork, who has over 10 years service, remained stony-faced as Assistant Judge Advocate General Darren Reed fined her £600.
Judge Reed said: "This was an abuse of position and you only felt you could do this was because of the position you were filling."
Capt Cork has had a 'glittering' career, with service medals from Iraq, Syria, and the Queen's Jubilee Medal.
The court was given extensive character references from senior Sandhurst officers as Capt Cork pleaded not to be dismissed from the force.
Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Morton MBE, commanding officer at Sandhurst's New College, said: "I'm unequivocal in stating that in the period of time I have known and worked with Capt Cork she has been an outstanding member of staff.”
Capt Cork, single with no children, admitted ill-treatment of a subordinate on the first day of her trial. She has one previous offence of drink driving from 2004.
She plans to leave the Army next month to become a project manager at a company closely associated with the force.
