Some of the best leaders and fellow soldiers I served with in the Army were not HS graduates (obtained GED in service),mandated jail or serve (crimes expunged),non citizens (obtained citizenship while in) and “Green to Gold” officers (enlisted to commission program).The worst were college fund soldiers,affirmative action NCOs and most officers especially a West Point officer. Of course I am biased against ticket punching officers and outside of combat arms.
I believe it.
Some used to say that green O-1’s got a lot of guys killed in Vietnam when it was the Sergeants that knew proper combat.