Rock math in your future?
Think about the timeline to graduation of a current applicant. Add 6-9 mths for training post grad. Then their future units deployment status. Zero odds they will be fighting 5 yrs from now. (5.5 to 6 >5)
And only a few percent will receive appts. And even less in combat roles after grad.
Put another way, DS applied at close to the peak of Iraq and A'stan. Since then, those wars were declared "won", troops pulled back. Cold war declared dead, Russia a friend. Spending cut, forces reduced.
And now they are quietly ramping back up, plus we are dealing with threats unheard of at the time in Iraq, Jordan, Yemen and Africa. And somewhat in eastern Europe. Russia buzzing UK, Norway, Finland, and Poland. Tanks being shipped back to germany pulled back 3 yes ago