I noticed something similar during a Veterans Day parade thru downtown Chicago. There were many ROTC and JROTC units marching, mostly high school kids and even a few junior high. They meant well, of course, but they were . . . not at all impressive. A shocking percentage were significantly overweight, they were out of step, sloppy in ill-fitting uniforms, mostly minority (of course this was Chicago), and at least 50% female. Yes, I know the children are our future, but it’s just as well warfare is going high tech.
Several years ago at a seminar on manpower, or is it person power, at Randolph a general told the assembly that less than 1/3 of the age eligible population would make the first cut for screening let alone for aptitude / capability for job placement in the service.