Not a lot different than the US practice of having the President "pardon" a turkey at Thanksgiving time, I'd guess.

I think it's to establish/reassert a precedent in case of need by Cabinet members here...

I don't know if the attitude persists, but in past times some troop commanders considered a few demotions for someone in enlisted ranks as suggestive of possible "potential for showing initiative." The ones with the most yo-yo careers often got selected for "special duties." Maybe the goat did it on purpose to position himself for a new assignment.

John