I believe the military was the last institution one might have considered an apolitical meritocracy. I remember reading a few years ago in US Naval Institute Proceedings of someone congratulating themselves that the incoming class for the Naval Academy represented the racial and ethnic mix of the country as a whole. In 1969 I came within .06 of the GPA needed to Graduate Magna Cum Laude from Linfield College, but at Navy Officer Candidate School I managed only a C+. And I was one of those white Anglo-Saxon Christians who was supposed have an advantage.
I love the term apolitical meritocracy, though I have never heard it before you mentioned it in your post. Non-political and merit (ONLY) based are wonderful things! :)
It sounds near impossible to even pass Navy OCS judging by what you said. That must have been some seriously grueling coursework, classes, etc.!!