Oh wow, it's heartbreaking that last part. To realize that things could have changed, might have changed. But in the end, all it did was reinforce the old fail safe and not only did he lose his brother, but he can't enlist because of a familiy member's action. That he wouldn't be seen as an equal when he's been training for it all his life.

The last line clinches what he's been trying to avoid the entire chapter.