When I was involved in RAF training, I once calculated that the percentage of people who finally made it to a squadron from those who went to initial selection was startlingly low, about 4%. Bearing in mind that people were filtered out for reasons of personal qualities, leadership etc as well as flying ability, it still means that filter mesh was pretty fine. These people were then very closely supervised in their early flying life and crucially tended to get in their flying at an even rate in these years.
When I was similarly involved in sponsored CPL/H training, the percentage was about twice as great between application and the left seat in a North Sea helicopter, but the applicants had to have at least a PPL and the same education qualifications as the military to be even considered.
All I am perhaps saying is that now in the civilian world, which generally pursues the self improver route, selection is mainly by ability to pay or willingness to take on a large debt, so the spread of ability and qualities, hour for hour have much greater variables. I am definitely not saying that military pilots are better, it's just that it is more difficult to make decisions without reference to a complete (and honest) flying history.