Decreasing share of officers and left-leaning policies

The U.S. service academies are producing fewer officers while adopting more policies from left-leaning civilian schools. This trend is raising concerns about the military's readiness. The percentage of officers being produced by the service academies has significantly dropped since World War II, now accounting for fewer than one in five officers at the Naval Academy and West Point. Additionally, the rising costs of non-military colleges have made the taxpayer-funded service academies comparatively more affordable. Some observers argue that by expanding ROTC programs, which are less expensive, we could achieve the same number of officers, questioning the need for the academies. Furthermore, the service academies have also experienced changes in demographics and curriculum, with the integration of women and the introduction of majors. Despite attempts to align with societal changes, critics argue that excessive control and a lack of flexibility hinder the development of officers who can think critically and adapt to diverse situations.