I think that's part of the reason why the military in America tends to have a much better reputation than any other part of government. Just like the regular population there are some bright people and some idiots, some good people and some bad... but that culture of "taking care of your people before yourself" tends to create more leaders than other areas. While the American military has a growing problem with more people "out for themselves" and focused more on promotion than doing what's right, on average they still outshine any other government sector. Even when a leader isn't the sharpest tool in the shed or isn't the best decision maker, staying true to that ideal helps compensate for those deficiencies.