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TEd, falling on your sword is something you do when you've lost dreadfully and don't want the enemy to take you alive, isn't it? In which case, it's not a possibility you'd gladly admit, and definitely not a statement of pride, even for individualists.
These people were using it in a different context, though I agree with you as to its origin. What they are really saying is they would not confront a superior officer on such an issue since it would be the career equivalent of falling on one's own sword, even if one is correct! "General Lee, sending Pickett to attack Meade on Seminary Ridge is the WRONG way to do it. Instead you should..." Might as well poison yourself. Proving once again that one man's Meade is another man's poison.
In the military there are apparently NO issues on which one is willing to risk his or her career.
