We have been in a War since 9-11-2001.
The military have enacted many "waivers," in order to reach enlistment goals.
In my family and my wife's family, both involving a good amount of historic military service, enlistments since *-11-2001 have been in total, two females, no males.
I say that with noo joy or pride.
My niece served over ten years in the AF, and came out entirely indoctrinated with leftist entitlement, victimhood etc.
Reassuring to see that the Air Force hasn't changed that much over the past 40 years.
I had a great tour in Germany, from 77-81. Our ADA battalion had the short range air defense responsibility for Hahn, Spangdahlem, and Bitburg air bases. My first post was at Hahn. During my two years there, I was one of two officers in my battery with a Top Secret clearance, so I was in the Wing CP for the entirety of their alerts. The other officer was my CO, so he was unavailable to handle liaison duty.
It was no big deal for me, I'd bring a few sets of fatigues and shaving gear, and caught cat naps during the night...I was 23-24 at the time, lack of sleep was never an issue.
It always cracked me up to hear my Air Force brethren complaining about having to work twelve hour shifts.
No doubt about it, though. Air Force facilities are the best in the military. Back then, we had a joke we liked to tell:
What's the difference between being on welfare, and being in the Air Force? When you're on welfare, you have to go get your check.