See, to me, the whole reason the military was even there was to protect the scientists of the expedition. Sure, once they had an enemy to fight, the military had another primary purpose ... but that doesn't lessen their duty to protect their people-resources. Which makes leaving civilians alone — in the sense of "not having an expedition guard" — inexplicable.

So Rodney might not be alone in that he's got someone to talk to ... but what if the village guy had actually been a Genii spy or something, out to kidnap a nuclear scientist? Feh.