> To what extent do you think these programs filter a population with an innate distribution to find a subset versus train people to develop these characteristi

> To what extent do you think these programs filter a population with an innate distribution to find a subset versus train people to develop these characteristics? I think the bias is very strongly towards training. The recruiting pipeline sucks up everyone with enough intelligence to pass some standardized tests. However, everyone who enlists knows that they are going to be facing a hard life. The fact of the matter is that if you are smart enough to become a nuke, you're probably also smart enough to work as an engineer. The vast majority of enlisted nukes got there in order to get a second chance at life. Most of my shipmates either flunked out of college or couldn't get into college due to shenanigans in high school. I was in the latter category.