The Jewish Press conducted an excellent interview with MK Yisroel Eichler... you really should read it in its entirety.

I always enjoy Eichler. He is often entertaining.

In this interview he says some interesting things and makes some good points.

The one comment he says I want to question is when talking about the inefficiency of the army...

Eichler says "Those who object to my approach are saying that in order to get the best soldiers, you have to put all of them in a basket and naturally, the best ones will rise up. They don’t understand that the schleppers are weighing down the gifted ones in the system.”

 my question is - the yeshiva system as it exists today is founded on a statement of 1000 go in, 1 comes out. Meaning, the yeshiva system needs a lot of people to put out one great person. Even if 1000 are wasted, learning when they are not cut out for it, it is worthwhile because one gem will come out of them.

 So, can Eichler's statement not be said about the yeshiva system as well? and perhaps vice versa - can the same justification perhaps apply to the army? If one is inefficient and must be changed, perhaps they both are? Or, if one isn't, or if that inefficiency is either good or necessary, perhaps it works the same way in the other?

I think the situations are fairly similar for both. The reality of both situations can be attacked [as inefficient] or justified and promoted [as necessary] for both.