In I.T. we call this "root cause analysis" and done properly and well, usually delivers amazing results. I'm one of the people left at the large multi-national bank I work for that happens to excel in it due to my 35+ years in the field and actually liking that type of work. You'd be amazed at how sometimes the most simple, basic changes deliver big results.
There are also times where herculean efforts are required to "fix things" which involve process, technology and occasionally swapping people out to make the process changes required.
As someone noted above, people tend to get stuck in the "we've always done it this way" rut where change becomes far more difficult than it needs to be. In those cases, getting those people out of the way is required. Hate doing it, but if someone refuses to change, off they go to another system, project, or out of the bank entirely if necessary.
I kind of see this entire military exercise in the same sort of light. Of course, I have zero military experience so I could be 1,000% wrong. (Wouldn't be the first time, ask my GF.)
Like you, I have zero military experience, but the military was long known as the organization most resistant to change. That’s why the adage “they are always fighting the last war.”
What’s amazing is how fast the military got on board with all the social experiments and perversions when, on the face of it, they did nothing but cause morale to deteriorate and offered no upside.