Exactly as Pima and usna mentioned. When the academy wants MORE of a specific minority; they do it in recruiting. The go out and try and get MORE people to "Apply" to the academy from that minority group. Thus: If "X%" more women apply to the academy, and they appoint the same amount as last year, then there's a greater chance that more women will be appointed. E.g. If this year; 15% of the applicants are women, the mathematical logic says that approximately 15% of the appointments will be women. Not because of shifting or affirmative action, but because when dealing with 10,000+ applicants, and only accepting 13-14%, it will be a wash and work out somewhat evenly. If the next year 20% of the applicants are women, then chances are that there will be an increase in women receiving an appointment.