When the military accepted the best they could find they could trust that barring some hotdogging or a plainly stupid act any crash likely went beyond human ability to avoid it. As an Officer his ability and judgement could be trusted. THATS rather the point of his existence and presence l in the fighting order. When standards are lowered for any reason including political pressure the trouble will start. In the case ofA politically preferred pilot you CANNOT e sure of the skill level or judgement. Look at the career of John McCain. He got a slot because his dad was a big shot. He wrecked 3 or 4 fighters and I’d guess that in some of those incidents the result was failure to support the mission.The likelihood that Hultgren or any other political or especially “ preferred “appointee was or is the absolute best next in line, is down there below slim and none. The people who count on these officers in battle deserve the best available candidates .
Was the accident rate among Navy pilots better in the years before 1996 or after 1996?