Can a CO make a company wear eye protection all day to prove a point?

What do you hope to achieve here? If the standard is eye protection, wear it and take care of those around you. What would the conversation be had there been an eye injury caused by lack of standards enforcement for PPE? CO fails to enforce standards, Soldier has one eye, medical discharge, disability and looking for openings for a pirate.

CO can make you wear what ever he wants.

Why was this even a question? Of course the CO can.

Duh, yes.

the failure of this soldier to wear proper ppe, could cause him to not be capable of fulfilling his role in the team, leading to an injury or death of another member of the team. You succeed as a team and you fail as a team. There are no individuals. If he were a gunner, or if his task was to watch a ridge for enemy movement and he had sand in his eye he could miss a movement. the team concept is reinforced in this company wide exercise to remind him and the rest of the company that eye protection is very importante to the success of the mission.

You know what's worse than an insubordinate soldier who isn't wearing his eye pro. A uselessly blind insubordinate soldier that can no longer perform his regular duties be it dire or routine...

Wear your damn eye pro Carl. That isn't a whole lot to ask.

Because that has been the way for EVER. Now the entire squad, platoon, whatever will make sure NO ONE will forget. It makes sure the team looks out for each other

seems like everyone got off light to me

I hate to say this but ones actions could affect others. Was it done to put pressure on an individual by having thier peers mad at them for not following protocol. I hated dropping in boot for someone not doing what they are supposed to. On a ship it could cost peoples lives. Of course its a case by case scenario.

Yup. While in A'Stan, the 82nd took over RC-South from 10th Mountain. 82nd SOP was for eyepro whenever one was outside a building. Our BN CSM did not allow anyone without eyepro to enter the DFAC (the new policy was announced during day shift, when no one knew to have their eyepro with them) So, yeah.