The Navy says the dismissal of a sailors after he was found guilty of attempting to rape a female colleague, should not tarnish the reputation of others within the organisation.
Able Chef Penehe Sola, 22, was sentenced by a court martial in Auckland on Friday to two years in prison.
He also faced a charge of unlawful sexual connection but was acquitted of that by the five member panel.
The incident happened in San Diego last July, after the pair had been drinking with other sailors.
A navy spokesperson says while it is a disappointing way for a sailor's career to end, he does not believe there is a problem of a drinking culture developing within the navy.
He says this was an isolated incident.
