You're not wrong. I agree, it's not easy to do either of those things. I also can't imagine trying to work during school to pay for tuition and rent; sounds grueling, but people do it. It's not impossible.

Besides, if you're competitive enough in ROTC to garner a pilot slot, you're almost certainly eligible for a scholarship; if not before you enroll, then certainly after your first year or two. AND, if you have the sort of grit required to sustain yourself and get decent grades, again, you're probably highly competitive for a scholarship.

I'll concede that ebbs and flows... but in today's climate, I think that correlation largely holds true. I can't speak to the Academy; doubt I was smart enough to get in.