Reduction in Force, is a thing. I saw it in my time in service (Army). It was targeting fat bodies. If I recall they were given every opportunity to meet standards, if not able or willing they were discharged. I’ve read of it happening in the AF and Army since. Who initiated the RIF, I don’t know. I assumed it came from the top dog, CIC. I may have seen reference to congressional action but don’t care enough to go searching.
You should have seen reduction in force at the end of the Vietnam war, those battlefield officer commissions didn’t offer much protection.