Rygart only lost his chances againt Cleo because he for some unfathomable reason judged the whole battle was over once he disabled Zess's mecha. Instead of shifting his attention to the remaining enemies, like any real soldier would have done, he just decided to stop there to stare at the wreckage. If he doesn't get rid of ridiculous and extremely dangerous habits like that, he won't ever be much of a spearhead - at least beyond an expendable one.