Just because you are a vet or serving currently

[skyfall123]

Taken from a study on the demographics that make up the current military:

Any discussion of troop quality must take place in context. A soldier's demographic characteristics are of little importance in the military, which values honor, leadership, self-sacrifice, courage, and integrity-qualities that cannot be quantified. Nonetheless, any assessment of the quality of recruits can take place only on the basis of objective criteria. Demographic characteristics are a poor proxy for the quality of those who serve in the armed forces, but they can help to explain which Americans volunteer for military service and why.

Who Serves in the U.S. Military? The Demographics of Enlisted Troops and Officers | The Heritage Foundation

30 or 40 years ago I would imagine that most enlistees weren't too bright

Ouch