LA Times Crossword
June 28, 2019
Michael Paleos
(Title shown below)

Each word in Column I can be paired with a word in Column II according to a certain pattern. What is the pattern, and can you think of the clever title of this puzzle that reveals its theme? The word are in random order.

Column I               Column II
RECAP                 JORDAN
EUGENE              NELSON
PICCOLO             TAINTED
DILEMMA           RALLIES

HINT:
It  has to do with the military.

Answer:

The last two, three, or four letters of each word in Column I can be paired up with the first three or four letters of one of the words in Column II to name a military rank:

reCAPTAINted
euGENERALlies
picCOLONELson
dilemMAJORdan

HINT to the title and theme of the puzzle:
Splitting with one's group 

Puzzle title and theme:
BREAKING RANKS