[justshutupandtakeit]

That graph illustrates the different educational levels affect on elistment. Well educated men generally don't join while those with less do and gain an opportunity to further their education.

[bourbon]

That graph illustrates the different educational levels affect on elistment.

I'm sorry, but that is simply not what the graph I posted shows. The graph merely shows regional variations in recruitment. It says nothing about education's putative effect on recruitment.

Also....The DoD's own analysis says, "no one factor can explain variations in enlistment rates between different sections of the country; they are more likely attributable to a wide array of economic, social, and demographic factors." I take it you disagree with them?

Besides, the same report notes that there were only "minor" regional differences in the so-called "high-quality accessions" (H.S. graduate recruits who scored better than 50% on the AFQT). There were, by contrast, significant regional differences in total accessions. For instance, the South and West region's contribution of accessions totaled 65.6% of all accessions (the South, 42.6% and the West, 23.0%). Whereas, the Northeast and North Central's accessions totaled only 34.4% of all accessions.

The only point I was trying to make in my posts on this thread is that Southerners are presently over-represented in the Armed Forces.