The pilots of today that you mention are all college graduates. Then, you must become an officer through the Air Force Academy (USAFA), Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC), or Officer Training School (OTS) . and must undergo 18 months of flight training.
There is a major difference between today's fighter pilots and the pilots of WW-II.
To become a US military pilot in WWII, candidates generally needed to be male, aged 19–27, with 20/20 uncorrected vision, high physical fitness, and intelligence. Requirements included at least a high school diploma, though college was preferred, and a willingness to undergo intensive training that evolved from 9 months to shorter, accelerated programs.
In other words, if you were old enough, could see and were willing to put your life on the line for the US, they made you a pilot.
OK ... so you just graduated from AFA or AFROTC! Congratulations! Youve just been commissioned a 1LT, and you’re about 21 years old.
18 months of flight training? That makes you about 23 years old.
We’re talking about 26 year olds ... just about the right age to be flying a military aircraft for any of the services that have aircraft. That would be everybody except Space Force. And old enough to be getting pretty good at it.
I’m not sure what your point is, if any ... and the incident we’re talking about here occurred during the Korean WAR ... so also not sure why you’re going on about WWII.
Outside of the service academies, all college does is create hate America attitudes among young adults. With a few notable exceptions.