You left-out that the military chooses its student fliers from the top 20% of the population (although in the 1960s it was from the top 3% of the population). Standards have dropped thanks to Affirmative Action, but not yet down to the level of average civilian flight training.
Must be a college graduate and test well on the entry exam (for USAF, AFOQT, I think).
From there you get your commission (ROTC, OTS, Academy) and then go to UPT.
Top 20%? How is that measured and assessed?
I was second from the bottom of my HS graduating class and failed my first year in college. . .that places me in the “top 20%?”
I did eventually graduate and went to OTS and UPT, and served a career where I flew two different fighters.
When I was in pilot training the classes were around 40-60 students per class. Of that, usually about 5 or so were women. Most all washed out, it was a warrior course, natural aggression was essential to perform well, but yet, we ALWAYS had a female graduate. . .no matter how bad and dangerous she was. If need be, they would staple a Samsonite handle on her back and carry her to graduation. . .yup, affirmative action from the start.